Most influential Individual in Music

Yep, I'm with you there. In one of my more cynical moments today, I thought that the most influential people might be the producers/promoters who "discovered" and made us all aware of the influential musicians (was listening to a radio show about Billy Holiday and how she wouldn't have succeeded without the discovery of the microphone and good promoters). Before anyone gets their hackles up, I understand the argument against this claim--it was a cynical moment. But, I pretty much agree that to try to name the most infuential musician, even in a single genre, is probably futile.
 
I love Lou Reed, brings back memories of first year at Uni.

Most influential in my opinion is James Brown. He took the soul and gospel music of the day and transformed it, influencing many artists in many different genres to this day. :)

It's interesting how gospel music was so inspiring considering it's religious context. I actually quite enjoy it though.
 
Ug the Cro-Magnon was very influential in being the first to grunt and clap his hanRAB in time... but then again there was Og who prefigured cave-beat with his innovative jawbone/rock arrangements?
Music has moved on since of course, but I think everyone from Haydn to Jelly Roll Morton to McCartney would doff their cap to Ug.

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I can't believe yu can't write Marvin's surname. Since when is ***e, or g'a'y'e a curse word? that is ridiculous!! Sort it out. What about Gloria ***nor as well? And Michelle ***le?
 
QFT


The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Led Zepplin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bonnie Rait, Elvis, the list goes on and on... Of the legendary musicians this guy influenced.

And he was among the most technically accomplished guitarists in the world when he was alive, no doubt.
 
to me (this might sound funny) kiss were hair metal, and glam rock mixed into one.. they weren;t in it for the fans for the music.. they have said in interviews that they thought being in a rock band would get them chicks, and all the drugs, and they were right.. they all admit to not being that great at what a band is suppose to do.. but like Alice Cooper there a good stage band.. they were fun adn kept up with the times.. (but i personally like alice cooper i there there/he's good.. and a awesome writer)
 
Arguably it has to be Elvis Presley, as far as modern music is concerned.
No Elvis...no John Lennon...no Beatles etc.

Having said that...it's a tough one and I'd like to see an argument for just one individual.

You could argue for one artist for each genre, but for music in general...
 
It's really an unanswerable question, you could just keep going farther back, but as far as modern, non-classical music is concerned...


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...Louis Armstrong is the key figure, and has more influence than any musician of the 20th century.
 
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