The greatest songwriters and composers.

[the other mike]

The Beatles usually come to mind first when it comes to popular music. Steely Dan has a lot of great songs. Carole King. Bob Dylan. Elton John of course. It's been awhile since he could hit those high notes with his voice, but so many great songs....

 

[Billy_Kinetta]

Gershwin.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Frank Zappa — 'All the good music has already been written by people with wigs and stuff.'

 

[Billy_Kinetta]

Bernstein.

 

[Tijn Von Ingersleben]

Jello Biafra-Dead Kennedys--All time favorite.
Becker and Fagen-Steely Dan...Great lyrics.
Manard Keenan-Tool
Neil Peart-Rush

 

[Billy_Kinetta]

The other Bernstein.

 

[Billy_Kinetta]

Ennio Morricone.

 

[bluzman61]

Nice thread idea, Angelo. The greatest pop/rock music composers, at least to my mind are - 1) Lennon and McCartney, perhaps THE greatest songwriting duo ever. 2) Bob Dylan, say what you want about his vocals, he was/is a brilliant songwriter. 3) Paul Simon, just a fantastic songwriter. I love many songs he wrote for himself and Art Garfunkel, and also many songs he wrote after going solo. 4) Willie Dixon, he's my favorite blues music songwriter. He wrote many classics for both Muddy Waters AND Howlin' Wolf. 5) Warren Zevon, a brilliantly quirky and very descriptive songwriter. If you know his work only for his "Werewolves of London", please check out virtually any of his other work. You'll be glad you did. The songwriting team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin just misses my top 5.

 

[Hossfly]

George M Cohan - The Man Who Owned Broadway

Roosevelt presented him with the Congressional Medal of Honor for his patriotic songs during and after WWI.

george m cohan music - AOL Video Search Results

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[Billy_Kinetta]

Hans Zimmer.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Chuck Berry
Brian Wilson
Steve Winwood
Carl Perkins
John Fogerty
Willie Dixon

 

[Harry Dresden]

one person you wont see on this list is the so called king of rock n roll...

 

[bluzman61]

Chuck Berry
Brian Wilson
Steve Winwood
Carl Perkins
John Fogerty
Willie Dixon

Nice list, Harry. Some great ones there!

 

[bluzman61]

one person you wont see on this list is the so called king of rock n roll...

That, of course, is because Elvis Presley wasn't a songwriter. His brilliant interpretations of OTHER people's music is what made him a legend. And deservedly so. The OTHER Elvis, Elvis Costello, IS a brilliant songwriter.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Dave Peverett
Hank Williams
Steve Harris
Ray Davies
Pete Townsend

 

[the other mike]

one person you wont see on this list is the so called king of rock n roll...

Did he even actually write any of his songs ?

 

[Harry Dresden]

one person you wont see on this list is the so called king of rock n roll...

That, of course, is because Elvis Presley wasn't a songwriter. His brilliant interpretations of OTHER people's music is what made him a legend. And deservedly so. The OTHER Elvis, Elvis Costello, IS a brilliant songwriter.

he did not create he was just a good looking white kid who could sing.....if it wasnt for Scotty Moore he would not have sounded so good.....Rick Nelson was the same way......good looking white kid who could sing,James Burton made him sound good......but thats just me.....

 

[Harry Dresden]

one person you wont see on this list is the so called king of rock n roll...

Did he even actually write any of his songs ?

i could not find any....not even the lyrics.....

 

[the other mike]

one person you wont see on this list is the so called king of rock n roll...

That, of course, is because Elvis Presley wasn't a songwriter. His brilliant interpretations of OTHER people's music is what made him a legend. And deservedly so. The OTHER Elvis, Elvis Costello, IS a brilliant songwriter.

Same with Whitney Houston. Amazing voice but not much creativity wise really,

 

[the other mike]