Full Answer
Who is the greatest singer of the 20th century?
Top 10 Best Singers of All TimeRankSingerGenre1Michael JacksonPop, Soul, Funk, R&B, Rock, Disco, & Dance2Stevie WonderSoul, Pop, R&B, Funk, & Jazz3Marvin GayeSoul, R&B, Funk, Pop, & Jazz4Freddie MercuryHard Rock, Music Hall, Glitter, & Prog Rock6 more rows•May 31, 2022
Who is considered the greatest musician ever?
In both versions of the list, the top three positions are held by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Elvis Presley; rounding out the top ten (in descending order) are the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles.
Who is the most successful singer of the 21st century?
Adele's 21 is the best-selling album of the 21st century to date, with sales of over 31 million copies worldwide. Her third album 25, is also on the list with sales of over 23 million copies.
Who has the most gold records in music?
With 146.5 million cumulative Album Awards, spanning 101 separate Gold (or higher) albums, Elvis has earned the most Gold Album Awards of any artist in RIAA history.
Who is the king of music in the world?
Michael Jackson, he has the bigger impact and more hits than Prince. 5 of his studio albums made the 100 biggest albums of all time list more than any solo act.
Who is the best selling artist of all time?
The BeatlesPerhaps unsurprisingly, British rock band The Beatles are top of the list for best-selling artists worldwide, with 183 million units certified sales. Second is Garth Brooks with over 157 million units sales, followed by Elvis Presley with 139 million units.
Who is best selling solo artist of all time?
The 10 Best-Selling Solo Music Artists of all TimeElvis Presley. ~ 1.5 billion units sold. ... Michael Jackson. ~ 1.0 billion units sold. ... Madonna. ~ 340 million units sold. ... Elton John. ~ 305 million units sold. ... Rihanna. Photo credit: EJ Hersom. ... Eminem. ~ 227 million units sold. ... Taylor Swift. ... Whitney Houston.More items...•
Who is the best singer in the world?
Below is our list of the 33 best singers of all time:Aretha Franklin. Genre: R&B, Soul, Gospel, Jazz. ... Freddie Mercury. Genre: Rock. ... Stevie Wonder. Genre: R&B, Soul, Pop, Jazz, Gospel, Funk. ... Michael Jackson. Genre: Pop, Funk, Rock, Soul, R&B, Disco, Dance Pop. ... Mariah Carey. ... James Brown. ... Frank Sinatra. ... Elton John.More items...•
Who is the greatest solo artist of all time?
The 10 Best-Selling Solo Music Artists of all TimeElvis Presley. ~ 1.5 billion units sold. ... Michael Jackson. ~ 1.0 billion units sold. ... Madonna. ~ 340 million units sold. ... Elton John. ~ 305 million units sold. ... Rihanna. Photo credit: EJ Hersom. ... Eminem. ~ 227 million units sold. ... Taylor Swift. ... Whitney Houston.More items...•
Is Michael Jackson the greatest of all time?
Referred to as the "King of Pop", he is certified and known as the most awarded and nominated recording artist in the history of popular music. Michael Jackson is considered to be the greatest entertainer of all time and the most influential artist of the 20th century.
Who is the greatest rock star of all time?
1. Elvis Presley. Is this too obvious? He is known as the King of Rock 'n' Roll, but setting aside many nicknames that were offered to this inexplicable force, Elvis was gonna do Elvis.
Who is the greatest pianist of all time?
Lived: 1873-1943 Rachmaninoff is often said to be the greatest pianist of all time, hands down. Rachmaninoff considered himself a romantic, and had a strong desire to continue the romanticism of the 19th century into the 20th century, unlike his Russian counterparts, who were mostly composing modern pieces at the time.
1 Michael Jackson
The King of Pop and an international superstar, Michael Jackson was a musical entertainer whose work – both with Jackson 5 and solo – won accolades and hearts worldwide. Equally popular were his unique dance moves that created sensation and shaped future dance styles.
2 Eminem
Amongst the biggest rappers of all time, Eminem gained worldwide popularity with the release of albums like The Slim Shady LP and The Marshall Mathers LP. His subsequent albums became huge successes further making him a bigger sensation and one of the bestselling music artists of all time.
3 Prince
Singer-songwriter, dancer, and musician, Prince is is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation. He was considered a guitar virtuoso and could also play several other instruments. With worldwide sales of over 150 million records, he is ranked among the best-selling music artists of all time.
4 Kurt Cobain
Gaining fame as a member of the rock band Nirvana, singer-songwriter and musician Kurt Cobain was often heralded as a spokesman of Generation X. He is considered to be one of the most influential musicians in the history of alternative rock. He enjoyed tremendous professional success, but his personal life was troubled.
5 Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash, the American singer, songwriter and actor, was known for sorrow, moral suffering and redemption themes in his music. His genre was country, rock and roll, blues, folk and gospel sounds and he is one of the best-selling artists of all time. Cash had issues with drinking and drug abuse.
6 Aretha Franklin
Widely regarded as the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin was a singer-songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Aretha was ranked number one on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time list in 2010.
7 Bob Dylan
Singer-songwriter and author, Bob Dylan, is widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Active in the music industry for almost six decades, he is a major pop culture icon who introduced a range of political, social, and literary influences to pop music.
1. Hank Williams
Hank Williams was born in September 1923 in a small Alabama farming community about 70 miles south of Montgomery. His father was a railroad engineer who was also a victim of shell shock after a year of fighting in France in 1918 during World War I and spent many years in veterans hospitals. Hank's ...
2. Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants Natalina Della (Garaventa), from Northern Italy, and Saverio Antonino Martino Sinatra, a Sicilian boxer, fireman, and bar owner. Growing up on the gritty streets of Hoboken made Sinatra determined to work hard to get ahead. ...
3. Bo Diddley
Ever heard "I Want Candy" or "Not Fade Away" or "Willie & The Hand Jive", Shirley & Company's "Shame, Shame, Shame" or U2 's "Desire" or George Michael 's "Faith"? If you have, then you've heard the "Bo Diddley beat", the most famous beat in the world! One of the founding fathers of rock 'n' roll, Bo ...
4. Ray Charles
A tragic fate may have given this visionary a heightened sensitivity, perception, awareness, even expansion to his obvious musical gifts that he may have never touched upon had he not suffered from his physical affliction. Whatever it was, Ray Charles revolutionized American music and was ...
5. Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard, the self-proclaimed "Architect of Rock 'n' Roll", traveled in his early days with the legendary vaudeville star Spencer "Snake" Anthony. One of Richard's early bands had the young, then unknown singer James Brown (the Godfather of Soul), a ...
6. B.B. King
B.B. King was born on September 16, 1925 as Riley B. King. He is known for his work on Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), The Fugitive (1993) and Spies Like Us (1985). He was married to Sue Carol Hall and Martha Lee Denton. He died on May 14, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
7. Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly was born on September 7, 1936 in Lubbock, Texas, USA as Charles Hardin Holley. He is known for his work on Mr. Nobody (2009), Big Fish (2003) and Evil (2003). He was married to Maria Elena Santiago. He died on February 3, 1959 in Clear Lake, Iowa, USA.
Who are the greatest singers of the 20th century?
Find out more about the greatest 20th Century Singers, including Adele, The Weeknd, Fetty Wap, Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber.
Who is the most popular female singer?
Known for her five-octave vocal range and melismatic singing style, singer-songwriter Mariah Carey is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She holds the record for the most number-one singles by a solo artist and a female songwriter. She was ranked second on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music in 2012.
Why is Ice Cube so famous?
Ice Cube played an important role in contributing to gangsta rap's popularity . His lyrics for N.W.A's album Straight Outta Compton redrew boundaries and shaped West Coast rap's identity. Because of his lyrics, that explain black nationalism and black struggle, Ice Cube went on to influence a host of rappers and is considered one of the greatest rappers ever.
What is Tina Turner known for?
Known as the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll , Tina Turner is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time and has had a very long and successful career. Let's Stay Together, What's Love Got to Do with It, Private Dancer and Golden Eye are some of her chartbuster songs. She is also a songwriter and has acted in films too.
When did Bruce Springsteen become famous?
Considered one of the greatest rock stars, Bruce Springsteen’s catalogue of songs over many decades is unparalleled. His fame skyrocketed in 1975 after the release of his third album, Born to Run, and it reached dizzying heights with his seventh album, Born in the USA, in 1984. He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
Who is the godfather of gangsta rap?
Widely regarded as the godfather of gangsta rap, Eazy-E was a rapper and record producer. He played a major role in popularizing gangsta rap and West Coast rap by forming N.W.A, which is considered one of the most influential and greatest hip hop groups of all time. Eazy-E died at the age of 30 after being diagnosed with AIDS.
Who is the greatest rock star of all time?
English singer-songwriter and actor David Bowie is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Dubbed "The Greatest Rock Star Ever" by Rolling Stone magazine, he rose to international prominence in the 1970s with his innovative style of music. Deeply dedicated to his profession, he remained musically active until his death in 2016.
How many vocals did the Greatest Soul vocal group have?
GREATEST SOUL VOCAL GROUP BAR NONE, ALL FIVE HAD MAGICAL VOICES AND PERFORMED WITH AN EASE WHERE THE MOTOWN SOUND SOARED!
Did Elvis write anything?
A TRUE RENAISSANCE ARTIST, ELVIS COULD WRITE ANYTHING, BUT HE ALSO HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO MIX IT UP, THATS ROCK AND ROLL!
Who is the most prolific composer of the century?
Duke Ellington (1899-1974) (Keystone/Getty Images) Ellington was the most prolific composer of the century. A spectacular innovator, he wrote music for all kinds of settings, from the ballroom to the nightclub; the comedy stage to the movie house; the concert hall to the cathedral.
Who was the first composer to say that music could be an art form rather than a music form?
Cage, according to his fellow avant-garde composer Morton Feldman, was the first composer in the history of music “who raised the question by implication that maybe music could be an art form rather than a music form.”.
What was Stravinsky's impact on the world?
Stravinsky’s brilliance had a seismic impact on the rest of the century – not only on classical music, but on jazz, rock, modernist literature, painting, and even movies.
Who was caught in the crossfire between those who see mass culture as the most valid expression of our time?
But Gershwin was caught in the cross-fire between “those who see mass culture as the most valid expression of our time, and those who see it as the end of Western civilization”, as Gershwin scholar David Schiff puts it. Many of his fellow composers, including the likes of Aaron Copland, were scathing of Gershwin ’s populism.
Who is the conductor of Bernstein's music?
One of Bernstein’s proteges, the American conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, says many of his “perfect and iconic” songs “stake out a territory that we recognize as important to our inner lives.”. Speaking to the Washington Post he described Bernstein’s as “music that haunts all of us.
Who was George Gershwin?
George Gershwin (1898-1937) (enato Toppo/Getty Images) Gerschwin was jazz-age prophet whose Rhapsody in Blue (1924) destabilised aesthetic categories and gave listeners a taste of things to come, and whose controversial 1935 opera Porgy & Bess came to define an epoch.
Is new music beautiful on first acquaintance?
New music is never beautiful on first acquaintance.”. Often forced onto the defensive like this, Schoenberg plunged fearlessly – and often beautifully – into the unknown, shattering the seemingly unbreakable rules of Western tonality that had prevailed for centuries.
2. Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants Natalina Della (Garaventa), from Northern Italy, and Saverio Antonino Martino Sinatra, a Sicilian boxer, fireman, and bar owner. Growing up on the gritty streets of Hoboken made Sinatra determined to work hard to get ahead. ...
3. Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby was born Harry Lillis Crosby, Jr. in Tacoma, Washington, the fourth of seven children of Catherine Helen "Kate" (Harrigan) and Harry Lowe Crosby, a brewery bookkeeper. He was of English and Irish descent. Crosby studied law at Gonzaga University in Spokane but was more interested in ...
4. Nat 'King' Cole
Nat King Cole was born Nathaniel Adams Coles (he later dropped the "s" in his surname) in Montgomery, Alabama. He received music lessons from his mother and his family moved to Chicago when he was only five, where his father, Edward James Coles, was a minister at the True Light Baptist Church and ...
5. Dean Martin
Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, to Gaetano Alfonso "Guy" Crocetti, an Italian immigrant and barber, and his Ohio-born wife, Angela (Barra) Crocetti. He spoke only Italian until age five. Martin came up the hard way, with such jobs as a boxer ("Kid Crochet"), a steel mill ...
6. Tom Jones
Tom Jones was born Thomas Jones Woodward in Pontypridd, South Wales, to a traditional coal-mining family, the son of Freda (Jones) and Thomas Woodward. His father was of English descent and his mother was of Welsh and English ancestry. He began singing at an early age in church and in the school ...
7. Al Martino
Al Martino was born on October 7, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA as Alfred Cini. He was an actor, known for The Godfather (1972), The Godfather: Part III (1990) and The Godfather: A Novel for Television (1977). He was married to Judith Martino. He died on October 13, 2009 in Springfield, ...
8. Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett, one of the legends of jazz and popular music who served during the Second World War and then developed a career spanning over half a century, is now giving another concert tour across the United States and Europe. He was born Anthony (Antonio) Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926, in ...
