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.

[Tim]

What I drafted for the top 100 so far:

1. Elvis Presley (recording artist)
2. James Brown (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
3. Bob Dylan (recording artist; songwriter)
4. Chuck Berry (recording artist; songwriter)
5. Alan Freed (deejay)
6. Berry Gordy (Motown) (label executive; producer; songwriter)
7. Paul McCartney (Beatles) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
8. John Lennon (Beatles) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
9. Sam Phillips (Sun Records) (label executive; producer)
10. Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
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. Leo Fender (electric guitar inventor; manufacturer)
19. Les Paul (electric guitar inventor; manufacturer)
20. Little Richard (recording artist; songwriter)
21. Stevie Wonder (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
22. Ray Charles (recording artist; songwriter)
23. Fats Domino (recording artist; songwriter)
24. Prince (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
25. Aretha Franklin (recording artist; songwriter)
26. Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones) (recording artist; songwriter)
27. Bill Graham (impresario; concert promoter)
28. Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) (recording artist; songwriter)
29. Buddy Holly (Crickets) (recording artist; songwriter)
30. Clyde McPhatter (Dominoes; Drifters) (recording artist)
31. Carole King (King & Goffin) (songwriter; recording artist)
32. Bob Marley (Bob Marley & the Wailers) (recording artist; songwriter)
33. Bill Haley (Bill Haley & His Comets) (recording artist)
34. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller (songwriters; producers)
35. Dr. Dre (N.W.A) (producer; songwriter; recording artist)
36. James Jamerson (Funk Brothers) (bass player)
37. Sam Cooke (recording artist; songwriter)
38. Jim Stewart (& Estelle Axton) (Stax) (label executive; producer)
39. Marvin Gaye (recording artist; songwriter)
40. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
41. Pete Townshend (Who) (recording artist; songwriter)
42. Eric Clapton (Yardbirds; John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers; Cream) (recording artist; songwriter)
43. David Bowie (recording artist; songwriter)
44. Kanye West (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
45. Jay-Z (recording artist; songwriter)
46. Bruce Springsteen (recording artist; songwriter)
47. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
48. Grandmaster Flash (Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five) (deejay; recording artist)
49. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) (recording artist; songwriter)
50. Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel) (recording artist; songwriter)
51. Afrika Bambaataa (Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force) (deejay; recording artist)
52. DJ Kool Herc (deejay)
53. Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield; CSNY) (recording artist; songwriter)
54. Chuck D (Public Enemy) (recording artist; songwriter)
55. Rev Run (Run-D.M.C.) (recording artist; songwriter)
56. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) (recording artist; songwriter)
57. Freddie Mercury (Queen) (recording artist; songwriter)
58. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) (recording artist; songwriter)
59. Lou Reed (Velvet Underground) (recording artist; songwriter)
60. Brian Eno (Roxy Music) (producer; recording artist; songwriter)
61. Taylor Swift (recording artist; songwriter)
62. Elton John (recording artist; songwriter)
63. Mariah Carey (recording artist; songwriter)
64. Whitney Houston (recording artist)
65. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
66. Don Everly (Everly Brothers) (recording artist)
67. Phil Everly (Everly Brothers) (recording artist)
68. George Harrison (Beatles) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
69. Otis Redding (recording artist; songwriter)
70. Sly Stone (Sly & the Family Stone) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
71. George Clinton (Parliament-Funkadelic)(recording artist; songwriter)
72. Beyoncé (Destiny's Child) (recording artist; songwriter)
73. Tupac Shakur (2Pac) (recording artist; songwriter)
74. Eminem (recording artist; songwriter)
75. Janet Jackson (recording artist; songwriter)
76. Curtis Mayfield (Impressions) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
77. John Fogerty (Creedance Clearwater Revival) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
78. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
79. Don Henley (Eagles) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
80. Roy Brown (recording artist; songwriter)
81. Wynonie Harris (recording artist)
82. Diana Ross (Supremes) (recording artist)
83. Tina Turner (Ike & Tina Turner) (recording artist)
84. Lamont Dozier & Brian Holland (Motown; H–D–H) (songwriters; producers)
85. Eddie Holland (Motown; H–D–H) (lyricist)
86. George Martin (Beatles) (producer)
87. Nile Rodgers (Chic) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
88. Bernard Edwards (Chic) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
89. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen) (recording artist; songwriter)
90. Jeff Beck (Yardbirds; Jeff Beck Group)(recording artist)
91. Angus Young (AC/DC) (recording artist; songwriter)
92. Isaac Hayes (Stax) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
93. Hal Blaine (Wrecking Crew) (drummer)
94. Earl Palmer (drummer)
95. King Curtis (sax player; recording artist)
96. Rakim (Eric B. & Rakim) (recording artist; songwriter)
97. The Notorious B.I.G. (recording artist; songwriter)
98. Melle Mel (Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five) (deejay; recording artist)
99. Kendrick Lamar (recording artist; songwriter)
100. Nas (recording artist; songwriter)

[Fido]

I dunno, some spots are head scratchers. Why should Jeff Beck be there over Robert Fripp or Zappa, much more influential figures, and more acclaimed considering their importance outside guitar playing? Clash would be very against Page one spot over Townshend, and honestly I'd agree. It's good to see somebody like Jamerson on the list (it's one of the advantages of this kind of project), but over Cooke?

Good job nonetheless, this list is a very difficult one to make.

[Tim]

1. Elvis Presley (recording artist)
2. James Brown (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
3. Bob Dylan (recording artist; songwriter)
4. Chuck Berry (recording artist; songwriter)
5. Alan Freed (deejay)
6. Berry Gordy (Motown) (label executive; producer; songwriter)
7. Paul McCartney (Beatles) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
8. John Lennon (Beatles) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
9. Sam Phillips (Sun Records) (label executive; producer)
10. Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
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. Leo Fender (electric guitar inventor; manufacturer)
19. Les Paul (electric guitar inventor; manufacturer)
20. Little Richard (recording artist; songwriter)
21. Stevie Wonder (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
22. Ray Charles (recording artist; songwriter)
23. Fats Domino (recording artist; songwriter)
24. Prince (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
25. Aretha Franklin (recording artist; songwriter)
26. Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones) (recording artist; songwriter)
27. Bill Graham (impresario; concert promoter)
28. Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) (recording artist; songwriter)
29. Buddy Holly (Crickets) (recording artist; songwriter)
30. Clyde McPhatter (Dominoes; Drifters) (recording artist)
31. Tom Dowd (Atlantic) (Recording engineer; producer)
32. Carole King (King & Goffin) (songwriter; recording artist)
33. Bob Marley (Bob Marley & the Wailers) (recording artist; songwriter)
34. Bill Haley (Bill Haley & His Comets) (recording artist)
35. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller (songwriters; producers)
36. Dr. Dre (N.W.A) (producer; songwriter; recording artist)
37. Lamont Dozier & Brian Holland (Motown; H–D–H) (songwriters; producers)
38. Sam Cooke (recording artist; songwriter)
39. Jim Stewart (& Estelle Axton) (Stax) (label executive; producer)
40. Marvin Gaye (recording artist; songwriter)
41. Pete Townshend (Who) (recording artist; songwriter)
42. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
43. Eric Clapton (Yardbirds; John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers; Cream) (recording artist; songwriter)
44. David Bowie (recording artist; songwriter)
45. Kanye West (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
46. Jay-Z (recording artist; songwriter)
47. Bruce Springsteen (recording artist; songwriter)
48. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
49. Grandmaster Flash (Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five) (hip-hop deejay; recording artist)
50. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) (recording artist; songwriter)
51. Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel) (recording artist; songwriter)
52. Afrika Bambaataa (Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force) (hip-hop deejay; recording artist)
53. James Jamerson (Motown; Funk Brothers) (bass player)
54. DJ Kool Herc (hip-hop deejay)
55. Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield; CSNY) (recording artist; songwriter)
56. Chuck D (Public Enemy) (recording artist; songwriter)
57. Rev Run (Run-D.M.C.) (recording artist; songwriter)
58. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) (recording artist; songwriter)
59. John Peel (BBC Radio 1) (deejay)
60. Freddie Mercury (Queen) (recording artist; songwriter)
61. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) (recording artist; songwriter)
62. Lou Reed (Velvet Underground) (recording artist; songwriter)
63. Brian Eno (Roxy Music) (producer; recording artist; songwriter)
64. Robert Fripp (King Crimson) (producer; recording artist; songwriter)
65. Frank Zappa (Mothers of Invention) (producer; recording artist; songwriter)
66. Taylor Swift (recording artist; songwriter)
67. Elton John (recording artist; songwriter)
68. Mariah Carey (recording artist; songwriter)
69. Wolfman Jack (deejay)
70. Whitney Houston (recording artist)
71. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
72. Don Everly (Everly Brothers) (recording artist)
73. Phil Everly (Everly Brothers) (recording artist)
74. George Harrison (Beatles) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
75. Otis Redding (recording artist; songwriter)
76. Sly Stone (Sly & the Family Stone) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
77. Joni Mitchell (recording artist; songwriter)
78. George Clinton (Parliament-Funkadelic)(recording artist; songwriter)
79. Beyoncé (Destiny's Child) (recording artist; songwriter)
80. Tupac Shakur (2Pac) (recording artist; songwriter)
81. Eminem (recording artist; songwriter)
82. Janet Jackson (recording artist; songwriter)
83. Curtis Mayfield (Impressions) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
84. John Fogerty (Creedance Clearwater Revival) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
85. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
86. Don Henley (Eagles) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
87. Roy Brown (recording artist; songwriter)
88. Wynonie Harris (recording artist)
89. Diana Ross (Supremes) (recording artist)
90. Tina Turner (Ike & Tina Turner) (recording artist)
91. Eddie Holland (Motown; H–D–H) (lyricist)
92. George Martin (Beatles) (producer)
93. Nile Rodgers (Chic) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
94. Bernard Edwards (Chic) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
95. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen) (recording artist; songwriter)
96. Jeff Beck (Yardbirds; Jeff Beck Group)(recording artist)
97. Angus Young (AC/DC) (recording artist; songwriter)
98. Isaac Hayes (Stax) (recording artist; songwriter; producer)
99. Hal Blaine (Wrecking Crew) (drummer)
100. Earl Palmer (Wrecking Crew) (drummer)

[ManPerson]

I'd have George Martin higher, and also have Rick Rubin in there somewhere.

[ManPerson]

Also I think Freddie Mercury should be ahead of Plant for sure.

[ManPerson]

To me, Pac and Cobain are very comparable and I don't see why they're 30 spots apart.

[ManPerson]

Curious about Lennon vs McCartney.