Who are the most influential American musicians of all time ?

[the other mike]

We're always hearing about the British invasion greats...the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and from Canada there's Neil Young, Rush, Triumph to name a few, then there's ACDC from Australia.

I'll leave it open and just start with the band that pushed thrash metal to the forefront and gave us a foothold in the category of great metal bands in the same league with Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath.

James Hetfield was determined this band would go places, even when all the chicks were flocking to see Poison, Motley Crue and Winger around the corner. We see who outlasted the pack, and kept their integrity through some seriously tough times.

1983

 

[Justin Richardson]

Deep Purple was good back in the days...

 

[the other mike]

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Frank Zappa

Miles Davis

 

[the other mike]

Deep Purple was good back in the days...

Sorry...
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford, Hertfordshire in 1968

 

[WelfareQueen]

Hendrix

 

[Justin Richardson]

Jim Morrison & The Doors

 

[Tijn Von Ingersleben]

Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Johnny Cash, Michael Jackson. There are just so many influential artists.

 

[Maxdeath]

If they had lived longer Morrison, Hendrix and Buddy Holly would have made probably the greatest impact on the music world. Unfortunately they only had a smaller impact because their time was cut short

 

[bluzman61]

We're always hearing about the British invasion greats...the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and from Canada there's Neil Young, Rush, Triumph to name a few, then there's ACDC from Australia.

I'll leave it open and just start with the band that pushed thrash metal to the forefront and gave us a foothold in the category of great metal bands in the same league with Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath.

James Hetfield was determined this band would go places, even when all the chicks were flocking to see Poison, Motley Crue and Winger around the corner. We see who outlasted the pack, and kept their integrity through some seriously tough times.

1983

Wow, great thread idea, Angelo! I'd have to say Bob Dylan was OBVIOUSLY a huge influence on musicians who came after he started in the music business. And of course Jimi Hendrix, who revolutionized the way the electric guitar could be played. And Les Paul, who invented the solid-body guitar. And Louis Armstrong, who greatly popularized jazz music, and made the music popular to ALL people. And of course, my favorite musician all-time, Muddy Waters, who helped popularize the electric blues sound in the northern US cities, and was an influence on blues musicians AND rock musicians who came after him.

 

[WelfareQueen]

Stevie Wonder. Jerry Lee Lewis. Little Richard. Chuck Berry. There are many.

 

[the other mike]

 

[the other mike]

 

[the other mike]

How many people, especially women did this woman influence ?

 

[CrusaderFrank]

SRV

Chicago

 

[the other mike]

You can't really talk about Metallica without mentioning
these guys in the same breath.

 

[WillowTree]

Simon and Garfunkel.

 

[shockedcanadian]

Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, Elvis Priestly, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Madonna

Of late, I don't follow much of todays music to know.

 

[the other mike]

Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, Elvis Priestly, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Madonna

Of late, I don't follow much of todays music to know.

You beat me to it on the old blues guys.

 

[the other mike]

1971