Top 10 "Fathers" of Rock & Roll

Rock and Roll didn't just show up one day fully formed. It kicked, screamed, and danced its way into existence during the 1950s. And it had help. A lot of it. From bluesmen with haunted guitars to piano players who treated their instruments like percussion grenades, the genre was shaped by a wild and gifted crew who knew how to shake things up.

These so-called "Fathers of Rock and Roll" weren't all cut from the same cloth. Some could barely read music. Others were virtuosos who laid down tracks in single takes that still haven't been matched. They weren't all on the radio, but their sounds bled through jukeboxes, basement dance parties, and back-alley record stores. Each of them added a piece. Guitar licks, vocal howls, stage antics, or a kind of swagger that hadn't been seen before.

So who really built Rock and Roll? That's where you come in. Scroll through the list, weigh the legends, and cast your vote for the ones who, in your opinion, didn't just play the music. They made the music.

1. Chuck Berry

   

   Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. He is known for songs such as "Johnny B. Goode," "Roll Over Beethoven," and "Maybellene." Berry died on March 18, 2017.

   Elvis himself said that he only wished he could write a song like Chuck Berry. Literally, anybody and everybody associated with rock (and pop music in general) since the '50s can be traced back to Chuck Berry. John Lennon said, "If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'."

   Elvis was easily more popular, but I'd argue that Chuck left a much bigger impact musically. No one can claim to have invented rock 'n' roll, but Chuck Berry comes the closest.

   Chuck Berry is the father, and then comes the king. Jimi Hendrix will be next.

   Even though whoever wrote this has all the album and publication facts, back in that time most mainstream radio stations and studio producers were not trying to support black people making music. Most of them stole the rhythm and flow by putting their own lyrics on music that was already playing in juke joints, on street corners, and in churches years before these men were trying to figure out if music was a good choice in life. Facts.

2. Elvis Presley

   

   Elvis Aaron Presley was an American singer and actor, widely dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll" and regarded as a pivotal cultural icon of the 20th century. His energetic musical interpretation and provocative performance style, bridging racial music traditions in a shifting era, both fueled his fame... read more

   When Elvis recorded his SUN sessions, he really invented a new style. When you listen to these records, they have the ability to make you forget all others, to banish the gentrified pop that came in its wake, as well as the raggle-taggle blues that came before it. These records are one of those things that just can't be argued with, a pop-cultural milestone of huge importance.

   Elvis was the major teen breakthrough, the universal hero, a symbol of teenage rebellion. In this way, without even trying, he became one of the people who have radically affected the way that people live and think. This was new, fresh, nervous cutting music that exploded all over the place. But above all, it was the sexiest thing that anyone had ever heard or seen. Elvis is really the trigger of Rock and Roll and therefore rightfully proclaimed as the King of Rock and Roll.

3. Buddy Holly

   

   Buddy Holly, born Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 - February 3, 1959), was an American musician and singer-songwriter who was a central figure in mid-1950s rock and roll. He was a rising star when a tragic plane crash killed him at age 22.... read more

   Buddy Holly was definitely the "Father of Rock and Roll." He was a huge influence on many musicians around the world and had a lasting effect on music. Not to mention, he was a brilliant singer who didn't need any vocal enhancements and tricks that so many musicians these days use to make themselves sound better.

   Buddy wrote all of his own songs, sang his own music with no vocal enhancing tricks, and was an amazing talent by playing lead guitar while the Crickets provided the background vocals and music. If anyone should be considered the Father of Rock and Roll, in my eyes at least, it definitely has to be Buddy Holly!

   Buddy Holly must have been the most efficient, hands-on, do-it-all kind of guy to have accomplished what he did in the time he had. He had already completed 15 tours (probably short ones considering it was the 50s) by the time of his death.

   Everything he did was innovative for that time, from his instrument choice to the way he must have communicated his thoughts to get the sound he wanted from his sidemen and the talent he surrounded himself with. He was in the process of being in control of his marketing and royalties at the time of his death, another first.

   During his road tours, he was in charge and preferred not to drink, nor did he encourage it. Just a responsible, straight-laced guy doing what he loved and doing it in a legendary way.

4. Little Richard

   

   Richard Wayne Penniman, known by his stage name Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in rock and roll history. His dynamic music and flamboyant performance style helped shape the genre in the 1950s.

   I was there to hear Little Richard and Chuck Berry. Chuck Berry got all the press, but the true Father of Rock and Roll is Little Richard.

   He preceded Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, and Elvis in breaking out into rock and roll. He was a big influence on John Lennon.

   So different, so cool, so original. I heard his religious album, which shows how versatile the guy really is.

5. Bill Haley

   

   Bill Haley and the Comets were the best and first Rock and Roll band with their hit Rock Around the Clock in 1953. It was the theme song used in the movie Blackboard Jungle. Crazy Man, Crazy was another hit, and Shake, Rattle and Roll sold a million copies in 1954. I still remember his great performance at Festival Hall Brisbane, Queensland, in 1957.

   As a former Comet, I say Bill Haley is the one that brought Rock and Roll to the mainstream of American life. The others mentioned here mostly rode his coattails into the mainstream of acceptance.

6. Roy Orbison

   

   Roy Kelton Orbison, professionally known as Roy Orbison and nicknamed "Big O," was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and musician. He was known for his complex vocal style and hits such as "Oh, Pretty Woman." Orbison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

   The originator of the rock ballad. He wrote most of his own material. Elvis said Roy had the greatest voice in the world, and Elvis was the king, so... Listen to Roy on YouTube and you'll see why.

   He actually recorded many upbeat rockabilly songs while at Sun Records. Later on, he focused more on ballads and pop.

7. Jerry Lee Lewis

   

   Jerry Lee Lewis (1935-2022) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and pianist. He was famously nicknamed "The Killer" and was known for his dynamic stage presence and wild performances. Lewis was a pioneer of both rock and roll and rockabilly music.... read more

   Jerry Lee Lewis is playing on Beale St. in Memphis on New Year's Eve. That's Jerry Lee Lewis in Memphis, New Year's Eve 2017. Only 125 tickets are available. 125! The Killer has been playing up and down the Mississippi since the late '40s. He is the undisputed King of Rock 'n' Roll. This is not a commercial! It's just an insane phenomenon!

   The Killer himself proclaimed he played the Devil's music. And he was incredibly good at pumping that piano!

   He once lit his piano on fire. If we're talking about the rock 'n' roll attitude, Jerry Lee is where that comes from.

8. Robert Johnson

   

   Robert Leroy Johnson was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a powerful combination of expressive singing, skilled guitar work, and original songwriting that has deeply influenced later generations of musicians. Johnson died in 1938 at the... read more

   Maybe more of a grandfather of rock and roll. I just want to see him get the credit he deserves.

   He sold his soul to the Devil so rock and roll could be born! He's #1!

   The man sells his soul for rock and roll and he gets number 9!

9. Bo Diddley

   

   Elias McDaniel, known as Bo Diddley, was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and music producer who played a key role in the transition from blues to rock and roll. He was famous for his distinctive rhythm and homemade guitars. His influence can be heard in the work of many rock and pop artists... read more

   Dr. Bo Diddley took Chicago blues and gave it a rock and roll beat. When the Beatles landed in NYC, they asked, Is there a chance we can see Bo Diddley?

   He trained them all by teaching them his new lick. He even built a special guitar to produce that unique sound.

10. Johnny Cash

    

    John R. "Johnny" Cash (1932-2003) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and author. He is widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with more than 90 million records sold worldwide.... read more

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Lead Belly

    
12. ?

    Meat Loaf

    

    Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday. September 27, 1947 - January 20, 2022), better known by his stage name Meat Loaf, was an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He was recognized for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live performances... read more

The Contenders

13. Big Joe Turner

    

    To belt 'em out, like the Stones, began in the nightclubs and taverns of Kansas City when Big Joe (the Rock) and his pianist Pete Johnson (the Roll) needed to compete with cross-town likes of Count Basie or Lester Young and all the others there at the time. Beginning about 1930, the two collaborated for twenty years. Two of my favorite hits performed by Big Joe are Boogie Woogie Country Girl and Flip Flop and Fly.

    Big Joe Turner in KC was the first with "Shake, Rattle and Roll." Then across the state of Missouri, Chuck Berry came along as the second Rock and Roller. Then the rest of the nation followed in Missouri's footsteps.

14. Alan Freed

    

    Alan Freed coined the term "Rock 'n' Roll," and people who say that Chuck Berry did it are incorrect. Chuck Berry began his career after the first "Rock 'n' Roll" song was released in 1951 by Jackie Brenston, named "Rocket 88." Chuck Berry's first hit, "Maybellene," was released in 1955.

    Bill Haley and His Comets made "Rock 'n' Roll" popular with "Rock Around the Clock." Elvis was the king, but he was not the first to sing "Rock 'n' Roll." Buddy Holly was one of the world's most talented artists, but his career started in 1956. Buddy Holly was the father of "Rock Music," not "Rock 'n' Roll" music.

    In my opinion, Jackie Brenston was the first to sing "Rock 'n' Roll," but he didn't have good hits. The first "Rock 'n' Roll" hit was "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets. I give credit to Alan Freed because he was the one who had the power to create a whole new music term. None of the "Rock 'n' Roll" singers we know today would have known "Rock 'n' Roll" if it were not for him.

    Jackie Brenston heard what Freed was doing and made a song. Later, in 1953, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley, and others came and made that kind of music too. So, in my opinion, Alan Freed deserves credit for coining the term "Rock 'n' Roll."

15. Eddie Cochran

    

    Edward Raymond "Eddie" Cochran (October 3, 1938 - April 17, 1960) was an American musician and rock and roll pioneer. He died in a car crash at the young age of 21.

    Cochran's rockabilly songs, such as "Twenty Flight Rock," "Summertime Blues," "C'mon Everybody," and "Somethin' Else," captured teenage... read more

    Eddie Cochran was a real rocker of the fifties, a rebellious type of James Dean figure, with sexual arrogance. Most of all, his music and lyrics are still being adopted by contemporary standards. He conveyed the teenage rebel in its most direct form, expressing frustration at the impositions of the older generation, particularly parents and employers, the excitement of adolescent sex, and the arrogance of newfound confidence contrasted with the uncertain tenderness of "real love" experienced for the first time.

    He sang about all these matters with genuine expression. All these emotions - excitement, uncertainty, frustration, anger, tenderness - can be heard in his music, in the way he played the guitar, and the way he sang. He had a big following in the UK, and while on tour there in 1960, he died in a car crash. One of the greatest rockers of the fifties was gone. Luckily, he left us his amazing music and will always be remembered.

16. Jimi Hendrix

    

    Jimi Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Though his mainstream career lasted only about four years from 1966 to 1970, he's widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in popular music.... read more

    He is the best rock and roller in the world, and he is my idol. I don't think this world will ever forget the name "Jimi Hendrix."

    He is by far the greatest guitarist of all time. He literally invented rock.

    Greatest guitar player who ever lived. We probably won't see anybody like him ever again.

17. Fats Domino

    

    Antoine "Fats" Domino, Jr. was a French Creole pianist and singer-songwriter. He released five gold records before 1955 and had 35 hit records in the U.S. Top 40. Fats Domino died on October 24, 2017, at the age of 89.

    Can't believe he's not in the Top Ten list! His earliest recordings, going back to 1949, are very much rock and roll before it was a recognized genre. From the period 1955-1962, he was second only to Elvis Presley in record sales.

18. The Beatles

    

    The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of the 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular... read more

    It's stunning to me when some naive Gen Z folks fail to recognize how original The Beatles were. This band set a new standard for rock that kicked off 30 years of what is now called "classic rock." They were the first of a revolutionary musical generation. No other band or musician (all original music) has influenced our culture the way The Beatles did.

    They changed the face of popular music forever.

19. Gene Vincent

    

    Vincent Eugene Craddock, known professionally as Gene Vincent (March 8, 1935 - October 12, 1971), was an American musician influential in the development of rock and roll and rockabilly. He is best known for the song Be‑Bop‑a‑Lula, which became a rockabilly classic in 1956. His energetic performances... read more

    He had one of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time, Be-Bop-a-Lula.

20. Ritchie Valens

    

    Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 - February 3, 1959), known professionally as Ritchie Valens, was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. A pioneer of rock and roll and a founding figure in the Chicano rock movement, his career lasted only eight months.... read more

21. Muddy Waters

    

    McKinley Morganfield, known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician. He is often referred to as the "father of modern Chicago blues." His influence extended to many genres, including rock and roll, and he played a key role in the development of the electric blues sound.

    It's funny because all of the white people forget that Rock 'n' Roll was considered race music (Black, Urban) and was created by African-Americans only. Just like jazz and blues before it, not one of the white artists named above had anything to do with the creation of the art form. Yes, they helped popularize it because the music gatekeepers hand-picked the faces of white artists they thought would be marketable and provided tons of resources not afforded to Black artists of that time. History will not be rewritten to make these people bigger than they are. The artists listed above stole or borrowed their entire style from the "true" forefathers. SMH, these forums disgust me.

    Muddy Waters is a Chicago Blues legend and helped influence the first Rock 'n' Rollers.

22. Ray Charles

    

    Ray Charles Robinson, professionally known as Ray Charles, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and composer. He pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s by combining blues, jazz, and gospel styles. Charles won 17 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in... read more

23. Ike Turner

    

    Izear Luster "Ike" Turner Jr. was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, arranger, talent scout, and record producer. He was a pioneer of early rock and roll and is known for his work with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Ike Turner won a Grammy Award in 2007 for Best Traditional Blues Album shortly... read more

    A huge jerk, but he made the very first rock and roll record, "Rocket 88," long before he met Tina.

24. Freddie Mercury

    

    Freddie Mercury was a Zanzibari‑born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Queen. He achieved fame for his flamboyant stage persona and remarkable four-octave vocal range.... read more

    Excuse me? Why isn't this amazing man here?

25. Jim Morrison

    

    James Douglas "Jim" Morrison (December 8, 1943 - July 3, 1971) was an American singer, songwriter, and poet best remembered as the lead vocalist and lyricist of The Doors. He became a counterculture icon of the 1960s, known for his flamboyant stage presence and poetic lyrics. Morrison died in Paris in... read more

26. Lloyd Price

27. Bob Dylan

    

    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. He gained fame in the 1960s with songs that became anthems for the civil rights and anti-war movements. In 2016, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in... read more

    A brilliant songwriter in general.