Top 10 Best Musicians of the 20th Century
These are individual artists, not bands. The people you add to the list may be members of a band, though.
John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 - 8 December 1980), was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and political activist. He rose to worldwide fame as the co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in... read more The leader of the biggest-selling and most successful musical act in history. The only other act with sales anything close to The Beatles is Elvis Presley, and he is, in fact, the biggest-selling solo artist of all time. Michael Jackson's total sales are only about one-third of The Beatles' and Elvis' totals, although MJ does have the biggest-selling single record, which is Thriller.
What on earth is John Lennon doing so low down? Michael Jackson is first… Bloody hell!
Lennon is the best! And always will be!
Lennon writes, plays, produces, and sings his work. He is unique due to the variety of songs and music that he has written.
Few on the list are singers only and not musicians.
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara, 5th September 1946 - 24th November 1991) was a Zanzibari-born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter and record producer, known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the British rock band Queen. He also became known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave... read more Beautifully exquisite. The man was perhaps best known for his flamboyance and perceived weirdness. As the singer of one of the most memorable bands in the world and a man who cared little about what people thought of him, it is ironic that his legacy isn't the one to have bitten the dust.
Truly a unique singer, songwriter, and performer, gone too soon. He packed so much experience into a relatively short life and left an impressive legacy of hits with Queen: Seven Seas of Rhye, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Killer Queen. Freddie won two Ivor Novello Awards, dueted with opera singer Montserrat Caballé, and stole the show at Live Aid. He was a talented, versatile, and original star.
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which was ruled a homicide. Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures... read more Music is about reaching the soul, and damn, MJ knew how to do that. His voice and music touched my heart and soul in ways other musicians never could. The depth of songs like Stranger in Moscow, Who Is It, and Morphine goes beyond the lyrics. The mood, the feel, and especially what they make me feel is magical.
As much as I love MJ, I personally must stand with Frank Sinatra as the best singer of the 20th century.
However, from an overall musician standpoint, his dance moves and exposure surely give him an advantage. And who doesn't think he's a thriller?
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, and artist who has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Bruce Springsteen said it best during Bob's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when he said, The way Elvis freed your body, Bob Dylan freed your mind. People don't understand that taking shots at the rich elite really wasn't a thing until Bob Dylan started doing it all the time in his writing. Watch the video Tangled Up in Blue: Deciphering a Bob Dylan Masterpiece. It shows how Bob plays with tenses in his music, yet still is able to tell a story we can all understand. He made it okay to sing in popular music in ways that people don't, and he did it with a voice that stopped being pleasant in the mid-seventies.
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined... read more I can't believe he's not #1 or at least in the top 3. It's hard to rate musicians who were the kings of their genres. In my opinion, it should be:
1. Elvis Presley
2. Michael Jackson
3. Johnny Cash (how the hell wasn't he even in the top 10?)
4. John Lennon
5. Stevie Wonder (don't know why he wasn't here either)
Then the rest are debatable.
Practically every person in our modern world today has heard the name Elvis. Elvis' hairdo, fashion, and even his voice have become iconic! His top songs are recognizable and known by the past three generations. His music was Classic Rock. He truly is the King of Rock 'n' Roll!
John R. "Johnny" Cash (1932-2003) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and author, who was widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. He died of... read more Wait... Johnny Cash is all the way down here?
George Harrison (25 February 1943 - 29 November 2001) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle," Harrison embraced Indian culture and helped broaden the scope of popular music through his... read more One of the most profound songwriters of his generation. He managed to introduce spirituality and love into his songs with true passion, which shows. Only the songs on All Things Must Pass could push him to the top 10 of the 20th century, but coupled with the rest of his career, no arguments could be raised against him.
Another Beatle. You don't really need to say much more.
Most influential band of all time.
Roy Kelton Orbison, professionally known as Roy Orbison, nicknamed Big O, was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and musician, mostly known for his complex voice and for hits such as, "Oh, Pretty Woman". Absolutely the best and my all-time favorite.
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work in the hard rock/metal bands Deep Purple and Rainbow. He was ranked number 16 on Guitar World's "100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time" in 2004, and number 50 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the... read more
Neil Ellwood Peart, (September 12, 1952 - January 7, 2020) was a Canadian musician and writer best known as the drummer and primary lyricist of the rock band Rush. Peart received numerous awards for his musical performances, including an induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1983, making... read more The greatest drummer ever changed the whole drumming scene in music. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are some of the best in power trios ever.
Vote Beatles up, by the way.
The Newcomers
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou, known professionally as Vangelis, was a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, and orchestral music.
Ray Charles Robinson, professionally known as Ray Charles, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and composer.
James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American thrash metal band Metallica. Michael Jackson is so overrated. I bet you, if it was about the best-looking woman, he would come first.
People, James is the writer, rhythm guitarist, and singer.
Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 - August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. She began her career as a child singing gospel at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father, C. L. Franklin, was minister... read more
Stephen Ray "Steve" Perry is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is known as the lead singer of the rock band Journey during their most commercially successful periods from 1977 to 1987 and again from 1995 to 1998. Actually, his name is spelled Stephen. Stephen Perry is an amazing singer.
He was the lead singer for Journey from 1977 to 1996. He also had two solo albums, one in 1984 and one in 1994. Not only does he have a beautiful voice, but his range is breathtaking.
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. He died on 18 March 2017. Chuck Berry was the original. There is no Elvis, there is no Clapton, there is no rock and roll without Chuck Berry, y'all.
Incredible songs and licks.
Influenced everyone.
Ville Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the lead vocalist and main songwriter of the Finnish gothic rock band HIM. What can I say! The most underrated, amazingly talented singer of all time.
More people should pay attention to just how talented this man is!
Ville Valo is definitely the best. He's every bit deserving of the 20th and the 21st till the end of time.
Enchanting deep voice, great lyrics, perfect face.
He always gives his fans everything he has in his heart.
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits, born December 7, 1949 is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor.Waits has a distinctive voice, with this trademark growl, his incorporation of pre-rock music styles such as blues, jazz, vaudeville, and experimental tendencies verging on industrial music,... read more
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and producer who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide... read more Bing Crosby was the first popular musician to utilize the microphone. Frank Sinatra was the first to master it. He would change his position from the mic to suit the mood. He made it seem like the radio (or record player) disappeared, and it was just you and him in the room. We can also thank him for the invention of the concept album when he made In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning.
Frank Sinatra, in my humble opinion, was the best singer of the 20th century. His voice was pure gold, and I'm not talking about that 98.93745937201113456 pure gold type of brick. I'm talking 100%.
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. With John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame with the rock band the Beatles, one of the most popular and influential groups in the history of pop and rock... read more Paul McCartney's melodies are beautiful and heartwarming. I find that many songs of his I just like to hear them played. His best are the ones that tell a story, where you can see characters or feel an emotion that a circumstance has caused. As I listen to that sort of McCartney song, I learn the words, then I sing along. For the rest of my life, I have a song that corresponds to a certain circumstance of life. You know, like Waterfalls, Put It There, One of These Days, Somebody Who Cares, Baby's Request, Little Willow, or Follow Me.
McCartney is also very good at pop songs, entertaining songs, either heavier rock or dance songs, and rock and roll for fun. And of course, there are the songs with very personal lyrics, messages in them. Very touching, those. And he has written many anthem-like songs, peace songs, like Pipes of Peace and Tug of War. There are so many. The most fantastic thing about McCartney is that his melodies are all so different! He is really good. He has my vote.
Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, often credited as K. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. She also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. She is the all-time best female singer of India. Period.
David Jon Gilmour is an English singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He joined the progressive rock band Pink Floyd as guitarist and co-lead vocalist in 1968. Writer of so many iconic musical passages.
Wish You Were Here, Comfortably Numb.
Eric Patrick Clapton is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, once as a solo artist and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream. He has also been a member of Derek and the Dominos. Why must everyone vote for Michael Jackson? He was terrible, and he was not the king of pop.
Eric Clapton has always been brilliant and is the king of blues rock.
Great guitarist, music writer for guitar, beautiful emotional melodic playing, great style.
Jimi Hendrix (born November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter.Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most... read more
Jimi Hendrix is obviously the greatest guitarist to have ever existed. The people who claim he is overrated are stuck in their narrow minds. Yes, some of his stuff is easy to play, but most of it is not. There's little to no repetition. Instead, there is theme and variation using unique and diverse chord progressions. To memorize the notes and play them the same way he played them is an amazing feat.
He was an insane songwriter who correlated love, psychedelics, mythology, and everyday life and struggles into his songs. He was a great singer for his sound in playing and songwriting. No one would have been fit to sing those songs other than Hendrix himself. He was a humble character, topping it off with the perfect cherry.
People have to keep in mind that in the '60s you had the Beatles, the Stones, and a bunch of Motown and folk artists who played guitar that was either just focused on melody or rhythm. Very uncommonly was it both. Jimi Hendrix just came out of the blue to England with his use of feedback, effects pedals, and the whammy bar. Playing with his teeth, tongue, and behind his back, he made these things massive, which correlated into his style.
He was like all of the Beatles wrapped up into the body of an African-American guitarist and solo songwriter. He set the standard for what rock was meant to be. He raised the bar so high it would take a miracle to have someone change the way any instrument would be looked at the way Hendrix did with the guitar.
Madonna Louise Ciccone, known professionally as Madonna, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She influenced a lot of singers such as: Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Beyonce Knowles and Britney Spears. She is known as Queen of Pop and at modern pop culture specifically... read more Greatest female pop star of all time, second only to the Beatles (a group) and Michael Jackson.
The most iconic female singer of the 20th century! So many iconic hits!
She has ruled for more than 30 years in music and only 18?
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, pianist and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold over 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He has... read more Wow. I can't believe I had to add Elton John to this list. How insulting!
In terms of music artists of the 20th century, there's The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and then there's Elton John. Come on, people, get real!
Composer, hitmaker, singer, consummate live performer… Sir Elton John is absolutely THE BEST musician of the 20th century.
EJ at 98? Puts the entire list in question.
Muddy Waters not on the list puts the list in the trash bin. Period.
Paul Frederic Simon is an American musician, singer-songwriter and actor. Simon's fame, influence, and commercial success began as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, formed in 1964 with musical partner Art Garfunkel. He is fantastic. Shame he's not higher.