Greatest Figures in Rock

[Tim]

In order to be eligible, the person has to be directly involved in either creation, distribution or promotion of rock music, i.e. record label executives, producers, engineers, deejays, recording artists, session players, songwriters, journalists etc. These figures are ranked by their influence, critical and peer acclaim as well as popularity.

1. Elvis Presley (recording artist)
2. James Brown (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
3. Bob Dylan (recording artist; songwriter)
4. Alan Freed (deejay)
5. Berry Gordy (Motown) (label executive; producer; songwriter)
6. Paul McCartney (Beatles) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
7. John Lennon (Beatles) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
8. Sam Phillips (Sun Records) (label executive; producer)
9. Chuck Berry (recording artist; songwriter)
10. Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)

[Fido]

I see we are attempting again Bones' idea of the Greatest Rock Individuals

[Tim]

It's not a bad idea even if Bones was in his Rock N Herbs era. Feel it's a nice add-on to artists' list.

[Fido]

It's a great idea actually, though it feels like the biggest endeavor one could make. How do you accurately judge how much credit should every person get for the music and impact that an artist had, considering not only bands, but songwriters, session musicians, producers, etc? Not opposed to trying it though. I remember I had the idea back in the day of going through the artists list and ranking each individual related to each artist and making the list that way. Of course that would exclude the people not related to the actual music making, but I mean how do you actually compare them to the actual artists? Is Alan Freed actually acclaimed? In the same sense that Paul McCartney is acclaimed? How do we judge the popularity of Berry Gordy?

[Tim]

I guess I was thinking I would use popularity more of a tiebreaker/also-criterion here because guys like Freed and Gordy, non-performing producers, songwriters etc. do not have popularity the same way artists do, with possible exception of someone like Phil Spector. Acclaim also would be a judgement call and so would be influence but I do think it's a bit easier to research acclaim and influence for non-performers (think lifetime achievement awards, hall of fame inductions, as flawed as these things are).

I would rather not exclude non-musicians here cause otherwise it would be a bit of remaking greatest artists with band members getting separate placements, yay and I was aiming for something broader than this.

[ManPerson]

I feel like influence would have to be the main criteria for the list to make sense. Acclaim and popularity seem too apples and oranges.

[Tim]

Of course if Fido wants to attempt this for musicians only I am not gonna dissuade him, more lists the merrier.

[Tim]

What I drafted for #11-20 though I may miss some major non-performer.

11. Ahmet Ertegun (Atlantic) (label executive; producer)
12. Phil Spector (producer; songwriter)
13. Leonard Chess (Chess Records) (label executive; producer)
14. Michael Jackson (Jackson Five) (recording artist; songwriter)
15. Madonna (recording artist; songwriter)
16. Smokey Robinson (Miracles; Motown) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
17. Jimi Hendrix (Jimi Hendrix Experience) (recording artist; songwriter)
18. Little Richard (recording artist; songwriter)
19. Stevie Wonder (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
20. Ray Charles (recording artist; songwriter)

[Tim]

And if popularity is downplayed I can see Chuck as high as #4.

[Dubrow555]

Quincy Jones next?

[Tim]

I'd say not yet, undeniably great figure overall but I'd say a good deal of his greatness comes from his film scores & jazz work. Was not ranked near the top of rock producers list either, for similar reasoning.