Top Ten Musical Legends of All Time

Many people have quoted others in the business as their source of inspiration, people they looked up to and wanted to emulate in their own musical careers. The list i have compiled is in no particular order. It may echo your own views or it may bear little resemblance to your opinions. Things like this are entirely subjective and will inevitably cause debate and argument.

Although in no particular order i have started off with my personal favorite Roy Orbison. In my opinion there is no one to touch this man as a true legend of his industry. A native of Texas he played in bluegrass groups which were popular at the time. He was first given a guitar at the age of six by his parents. He had no formal training either as a musician or as a singer and yet he is held in such high esteem by people such as Bono and Elvis. At a time when no one was writing their own material Orbison was unique. His style of songwriting was entirely his own and followed no set format as was the fashion of the time. The industry then was dominated by the recording studios who dictated what the artists would perform based on what they thought would sell. Orbison penned great ballads and also rock and roll songs. He was as popular in the UK as he was in the US unlike Elvis Presley who was never given that opportunity because of his strict management regime. Orbison toured the UK and played with the hottest UK acts of the time including the Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers. There were no frills with Roy. He came onstage and performed with his own unique voice which later in life he described as "baritone with an unusual range." He had a string of number one hits on both sides of the Atlantic. He is most famous perhaps for "Crying", "Pretty Woman", "Blue Bayou", "You Got It " and "In Dreams". His personal life had its own share of tragedy as seems to be the case with so many people in the recording business. He lost his wife in a motorbike accident at the young age of 25 and later on in his career while he was on tour in the UK his home in the US was destroyed by fire. He lost two of his three sons in the tragedy. He later remarried and had other sons. Despite his personal tragedy Roy was a very humorous man and was also very well mannered and quietly spoken. There was no ego about Roy Orbison. It is probably his huge talent alongside his modesty that makes him a true legend and so widely admired by his contemporaries. His trademark dark glasses and black clothes have been copied by many since. Even late in his career he maintained that natural "cool" look. Echoing his tragic personal life he was taken from us at the relatively young age of 52. He suffered a heart attack just before he was about to return to the UK to complete an album in 1988. However the " Big O " lives on through his songs and his musical influence on today's artistes.

Roy`s fellow American and Southerner, Elvis Presley is held on high as maybe the most influential artist of all time by many, many, people. Although not the inventor of Rock and Roll he could certainly be said to be its most innovative performer. Born in Memphis in 1935 Elvis Presley went on to be known as the " King " and what an appropriate epithet that was. His style of performance bridged the gap between the black and white audience in America which was still very much a divided and segregated society particularly in the North. There is no doubt his career was enhanced by the controversy that surrounded him. Despite his career being cemented in the US his records sold worldwide and of course his film career boosted those sales. Girls everywhere swooned at the sight of him. His management ensured a steady stream of number one hits on both sides of the Atlantic. His iconic status ensured a huge entourage wherever he went in such stark contrast to Roy Orbison mentioned earlier. For sure there was nothing bigger than Elvis`s ego. The strict management of his career under Colonel Parker ensured Elvis was a very rich man but inevitably his career started to wane as music fashions changed constantly. In his later career he enjoyed success in many live shows in Vegas performing his many many hits but his poor eating habits led to him piling on weight. At the age of 42 Elvis was no more. The victim of a heart attack mainly due to his excess weight and poor eating habits the " King" was no more. Elvis today has many many fans all over the world and Elvis impersonation conventions abound. Tourists flock in their droves to his former palatial mansion "Gracelands". Whenever you hear an Elvis ballad pelted out at full throttle the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, a sure indicator of a legend. Elvis had 18 number one hit singles in the US his first being in 1954 and 17 number ones in the UK, his last number one being released only weeks before his death in 1977. "Way Down" was his last number one while living. Subsequent singles and albums were released after his death ensuring his popularity would continue.The Beatles were heavily influenced by the Rock and Roll era of the early and late fifties in the US so it is ironic that the success of the Beatles on the world stage really led to the demise of the "King".

This brings me onto the Beatles nicely. The problem with the Beatles is the disputes over the authorship of many of their hits. Many songs penned by Paul McCartney appear on the records under Lennon/McCartney. In theory you could say that Lennon was the major influence but McCartney went on to have a massive career post Beatles. Because of this and the later contributions of George Harrison, also an excellent musician and songwriter, it makes more sense to treat the Beatles collectively. The Beatles were influenced by the rhythm and blues and soul singers that came out of the American market in particular Elvis, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis etc. Many of their songs were cover versions of other Rock and Roll artists. Although influenced by these people the thing is about the Beatles that they took on board the style of previous artists and made it their own . The Beatles were constantly evolving throughout their career. In the early and mid sixties the music scene in their native Liverpool was exploding. Every teenager it seemed at the time was in a band or wanted to be in a band.. Groups played dance halls regularly on Friday and Saturday nights. Invariably the groups had the same format. Lead guitar, bass guitar, drums and lead vocalist . Band members jumped from one group to another. The influence of the pop charts and TV contributed to thew explosion of popular music in the S. Ringo Starr was originally drummer with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes before being snapped up for the Beatles by their management. Other groups included Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Searchers, The Tremeloes, The Hollies, Freddie and the Dreamers, Herman`s Hermits, The Dave Clark Five and dozens of others. The Beatles had 17 number one hits in the UK singles chart but because of the official compiler "Please Please Me" never showed at number one although it was number one in all the other UK listings of the time. Because of the way that record sales have been recorded in the past it is difficult to say which artist has sold most records. It just depends which statistics you look at but undoubtedly the Beatles are up there along with Elvis and Michael Jackson. The Beatles longevity contributed a great deal to their popularity as did the way they evolved. Lennon and McCartney's songwriting influenced many people that followed.

Michael Jackson is next on my list. Described as a musical genius his "Thriller" album remains the number one selling album of all time. The youngest of the Jackson brothers, Michael went on to carve out an enormous career in his own right. With his riches earned through the music business he bought out the copyrights to all the Beatles music from the Sony corporation. He was a massive Beatles fan and heavily influenced by them. He achieved 13 number ones in his solo career which started in 1971 while still with the Jackson Five. Jackson`s influence on the video in the music business cannot be surpassed. He made pop videos an art form in his own right. Coupled with the development of MTV music channel this one artist changed the face of popular music for good. Now artists put more capital resources into the making of an accompanying video than ever before. He also put dance moves into the videos that had never been seen before. The S and 90s were dominated by Jackson with videos such as "Bad," "Thriller" and "Scream" changing the musical scene forever. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice Michael Jackson definitely has legend status. It is a shame that in more later years the news has been more dominated by his personal problems rather than his musical talent. His influence on contemporary Hip Hop and R and B artists cannot be disputed.

Strangely enough my next artist died just after Michael Jackson was born and also was born within months of Roy Orbison a fellow Texan and also Elvis Presley. Buddy Holly was a tall ungainly Texan with horn rimmed spectacles. Not the type you would think to become a famous Rock and Roll artist. However Holly`s career, cut short in his prime at the tender age of 22, must surely be the most prolific and influential career of all. Playing country and western in his native Texas he played with different people in his short career before finally being signed as a single artist on the Decca label. After fronting an early Elvis Presley concert Holly decided that Rock and Roll was the way to go. Holly had his first number one "That`ll be the day" in 1957 and followed up with 7 top ten hits in a one year period. Buddy Holly was an immensely innovative performer and gave the world the two guitar, bass and drummer format that many were to follow including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. The Stones` first hit was a cover version of "Not Fade Away." Paul McCartney was a huge Holly fan and bought his whole catalog years after his death. Holly`s other innovations included the use of twin tracking and his orchestral experimentation. Inaugurated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 Buddy Holly will be forever remembered for his influence on artists to come after him.

The next artist predominantly left his mark on the heavy rock scene. Jimi Hendrix has been widely acknowledged as the best ever rock guitar player. His early career was heavily influenced by rhythm and blues artists such as B. B King and he played as a sessions musician with many bands including the Isley Brothers and Little Richard`s band. He once said it was his aim in life to make his guitar play like Little Richard`s voice. Fed up with the Southern States circuit he moved to New York where he was lucky enough to make acquaintance with Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones . He introduced him to Chas Chandler of the Animals and the next thing Jimi was brought to the UK where his career took off as the head man in the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Hendrix`s innovative use of the wah wah pedal and high volume amps marked him apart from others of his era. He headlined the Monterrey Pop festival and is also synonymous with Woodstock and the flower power era. At 28 he was taken from us apparently choking on his own vomit although there is still a mystery about his death. Like all music legends Hendrix`s music is timeless and is just as great today as it was in the 70s.

My next legend is none other than Bob Marley the one man in history who put Jamaica on the map and was the godfather of the reggae style of music. Coming from humble beginnings in the third world country of Jamaica it may be said that Bob Marley was more than music. His philosophy and beliefs gave a meaning to life for many people all round the world and it is said there is a Bob Marley song that will reflect every human situation. There are Bob Marley conventions, Bob Marley Museums and even statues in various places throughout the world. As seems the case with many musical icons he is another who only had a short time on this earth. An urban myth says he contracted cancer via a football wound inflicted by Danny Baker. At only 36 and because of his religious beliefs he refused to have his toe amputated which would have saved his life. The melanoma spread to his brain and other organs resulting in his death in 1981. His album "Legend" sold over 12 million copies after his death and remains the most sold reggae album of all time. As part of the "Wailers" and then "Bob Marley and the Wailers" they churned out hit after hit from 1964 till his death in 1981. His most famous songs are probably "No Woman No Cry," " Three Little Birds," "Buffalo Soldier," "Jamming" and "One Love." He performed in many political concerts and will ever be remembered as the man who brought reggae to the world.

My next legend has been described as one of the icons of the 20th century. Bob Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Minnesota in 1941. He was influenced by all of the musicians of his era but initially was into Rock and Roll. He formed several bands while at college but was more swayed by the folk music of Woody Guthrie. Dylan found the lyrics of rock and roll songs to be pretty petty and meaningless. Maybe Dylan`s artistic nature and intellect required him to compose more serious songs, however that was the route he took. He was signed to Columbia in 1962 but his first album never really took off although many songs by Dylan were hits for other performers, notably Joan Baez, who he was in a relationship with at the time. His albums in the mid sixties had songs which were taken on board as anthems by the American Civil Rites and Anti-War movement. His songs such as " Blowin` in the Wind " and "The Times are a Changing " were sung at peace rallies and anti-race rallies by thousands of young American protesters. Dylan as if by default had become the father of protest songs although there was much more to Dylan than this. Bob Dylan embraced the genre of folk music and made it his own. His musical voice was not to all tastes so unsurprisingly many of his songs were covered by other people. "Mr Tambourine Man" was a massive hit for the Byrds. Not many people know that the Hendix hit "All Along The Watchtower " was originally off a Dylan album. Dylan was recorded as saying he thought Jimi Hendrix`s version was the definitive version, an accolade indeed! Dylan was very much his own man and had many controversial moments. He switched from acoustic to electric guitar and was booed and jeered by many fans at concerts as a traitor to the folk genre. Typically, Dylan gave short shrift to this opinion and when in concert in England his response to being called "Judas" by one fan was to turn to his band and increase the amp volume to deafening proportions.

Dylan`s songwriting reaches epic proportions and his touring has been almost non-stop since the 60s. He did briefly slink into the background after he was involved in a motorbike accident apparently damaging vertebrae in his spine. Although being born Jewish, Dylan actually became a born again Christian in the 70s although his current stance is that he has no particular religion believing more in the words of his songs. Now in his 60s, Dylan continues to tour and continues to be controversial. In some concerts he is almost unintelligible. His advancing years have diminished his vocal abilities so fans never really know which Dylan is going to turn up. The fact remains however if you want to talk about folk music then Dylan is the man. His songs do envelope such a wide range though. Folk, Pop, Gospel, Rock and Roll, R and B, Hip Hop etc. Check out "It`s Alright Ma ( I`m Only Bleeding) if you want to hear his influence on Rap.

The oldest legend i`m including would have been Chuck Berry. So many artists have quoted Chuck as a major influence on their musical career. Although not the founder of Rock and Roll, he was certainly one of the first pioneers. He took the country or hillbilly music of white America and imbued it with the Rhythm and Blues of black America. The result was Rock and Roll. At 83 Chuck still performs today in his native town of St Louis. Unbelievably, Chuck Berry had only one number one hit, "My Ding a Ling, " even though 6 of his songs are included in Rolling Stone magazine`s top 500 Rock and Roll songs. There can`t be an artist worth his salt who hasn`t covered songs such as "Roll Over Beethoven," " Johnny B. Goode," "Sweet Little Sixteen, " "Rock and Roll Music " and "Maybelline. " Chuck Berry unashamedly admitted he wrote his songs round the limited subjects of cars, girls and school which is what the record buying public wanted to hear. The arrival of Rock and Roll is inextricably entwined with the media and the rise of teenage culture. Chuck Berry himself was influenced by the countless black musicians trying to earn extra income plying their musical trade. By adapting to the demands of the record buying public with his own inimitable style Berry ensured a future place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame being inaugurated as the first in 1986.

Paul Simon is a lyricist par excellence. He was perhaps better remembered for his partnership with Art Garfunkel with "Bridge Over Troubled Water" being an all time classic album. They were together as a duo being schoolboy friends and performed at high school emulating their idols "The Everley Brothers". Born in Newark New Jersey in 1941, same year as Dylan, Paul was the son of a college lecturer and musician. His mother was a school teacher. Simon performed solo or with other people after 1957 and the Simon and Garfunkel partnership was finally begun in 1964 when Columbia signed them up. They did four albums together which were all best sellers. Post 1970 Simon again has performed solo or with other collaborations. From time to time he has re united with Art Garfunkel to perform their past hits. Simon has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice , once as a single artist and once as half the partnership in Simon and Garfunkel, Now in his sixties Paul Simon lives in Massachusetts and continues to perform live. He is also a great philanthropist and is part founder of an organization that provides musical education for children,

Well that concludes my ten musical legends of all time. I had no trouble compiling the first half dozen then it became increasingly difficult. I have no real heavy metal guys here and I'm sure there are people out there who think they should be there. Also there are no ladies among my top ten. Madonna almost made it but not quite. Still the list is subjective and i hope you enjoy the article.