USA
169 artists
Elvis Presley
The King of Rock and Roll. Over 1 billion records sold worldwide. Sam Phillips at Sun Records discov...
Michael Jackson
The King of Pop. Over 400 million solo records sold. Thriller is the best-selling album of all time ...
Bob Dylan
Won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016. Went electric at Newport Folk Festival in 1965 and was bo...
Jimi Hendrix
Widely considered the greatest guitarist of all time. The Monterey performance where he set his guit...
Nirvana
Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl. Smells Like Teen Spirit killed hair metal overnight. Never...
Metallica
James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich founded the band. The Black Album sold 30 million copies. Napster law...
Madonna
The Queen of Pop. Over 300 million records sold. Like a Virgin at the first MTV VMAs was scandalous....
Prince
Over 150 million records sold. Purple Rain sold 25 million copies. Changed his name to an unpronounc...
Bruce Springsteen
The Boss. Born to Run saved his career in 1975. Born in the USA was misinterpreted as patriotic by R...
The Beach Boys
Brian Wilson was a musical genius who never toured with the band after 1965. Pet Sounds inspired Sgt...
R.E.M.
Pioneers of alternative rock. Losing My Religion was their biggest hit despite having no chorus. Ove...
The Ramones
Invented punk rock in New York. All members adopted the surname Ramone. Over 100 million records. Bl...
Guns N Roses
Axl Rose and Slash created the last great rock band. Appetite for Destruction sold 30 million copies...
Aerosmith
Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were called the Toxic Twins. Over 150 million records. Walk This Way with...
Eagles
Their Greatest Hits is the best-selling album of the 20th century in America. Hotel California is th...
Simon and Garfunkel
Paul Simon songwriting and Art Garfunkels angelic voice. Bridge Over Troubled Water is one of the mo...
The Doors
Jim Morrison was a poet who became a rock god. Light My Fire was their breakthrough. Over 100 millio...
Janis Joplin
The greatest white blues singer. Pearl was released after her death at 27. Over 40 million records. ...
Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul. 18 Grammy Awards. Respect became an anthem of the civil rights and womens movemen...
Stevie Wonder
Blind from birth, signed to Motown at age 11. 25 Grammy Awards. Songs in the Key of Life is a master...
Marvin Gaye
Whats Going On was a protest album that Motown initially refused to release. Over 50 million records...
James Brown
The Godfather of Soul. Invented funk music. Over 50 million records. The hardest working man in show...
Ray Charles
The Genius. Blended gospel and R&B to create soul music. Over 60 million records. Hit the Road Jack ...
Whitney Houston
The Voice. I Will Always Love You is one of the greatest vocal performances ever. Over 200 million r...
Beyonce
Over 200 million records as a solo artist. Lemonade was a cultural event. The first woman to headlin...
Taylor Swift
Over 200 million records sold. The Eras Tour is the highest-grossing tour ever at over 1 billion dol...
Kanye West
Over 160 million records. 24 Grammy Awards. The College Dropout changed hip-hop away from gangster r...
Jay-Z
Over 140 million records. 24 Grammy Awards. First hip-hop billionaire according to Forbes. Reasonabl...
Eminem
Over 220 million records. The Marshall Mathers LP sold 1.76 million copies in its first week. Won an...
Tupac Shakur
Over 75 million records. All Eyez on Me was the first double hip-hop album. Died at 25 in a still-un...
The Notorious B.I.G.
Over 30 million records. Ready to Die is considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums. Killed at 24...
Dr Dre
Founded NWA, then Aftermath Entertainment. Discovered Eminem and 50 Cent. The Chronic defined G-funk...
Kendrick Lamar
Won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018, the first non-classical or jazz artist. Over 70 million re...
Frank Sinatra
Ol Blue Eyes. Over 150 million records. My Way and New York, New York are standards. The Rat Pack de...
Miles Davis
The most influential jazz musician of all time. Kind of Blue is the best-selling jazz album ever. Re...
John Coltrane
A Love Supreme is considered the greatest jazz album ever made. Over 30 million records. Played with...
Nina Simone
The High Priestess of Soul.. Mississippi Goddam was a civil rights anthem. Feeling Good is one of th...
Billie Holiday
Lady Day. Strange Fruit about lynching was the first protest song.. Her voice conveyed heartbreak li...
Louis Armstrong
Satchmo. What a Wonderful World became a global anthem. Invented jazz singing and scat singing. Over...
Duke Ellington
Over 1,000 compositions. The greatest jazz composer and bandleader. Over 40 million records. Take th...
B.B. King
The King of the Blues. Over 40 million records. His guitar Lucille was named after a woman who cause...
Muddy Waters
The father of modern Chicago blues. The Rolling Stones named themselves after his song.. His band in...
Talking Heads
David Byrne is one of rocks great eccentrics. Stop Making Sense is the greatest concert film ever ma...
Sonic Youth
Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore were the art-punk power couple. Over 10 million records. Alternative t...
The Velvet Underground
Brian Eno said only 30,000 people bought the first album but everyone who did started a band. Andy W...
Fugazi
Ian MacKaye founded Dischord Records and refused to sign to a major label. Over 2 million records. N...
Nine Inch Nails
Trent Reznor is the only permanent member.. The Downward Spiral was recorded at the Sharon Tate murd...
Tool
Maynard James Keenan is also a winemaker. Over 25 million records. Lateralus uses the Fibonacci sequ...
Snoop Dogg
Discovered by Dr Dre. Doggystyle debuted at number one. Over 35 million records. Gin and Juice defin...
Missy Elliott
The most innovative female rapper. Over 30 million records. Get Ur Freak On used a Japanese sample. ...
OutKast
Andre 3000 and Big Boi. Hey Ya was inescapable in 2003. Over 25 million records. Speakerboxxx/The Lo...
Frank Zappa
Over 60 albums released. Composed rock, jazz, and orchestral music. Over 40 million records. Invente...
Pearl Jam
Eddie Vedder baritone defined grunge vocals. Over 85 million records. Ten is one of the greatest deb...
Soundgarden
Chris Cornell had one of the greatest voices in rock. Over 30 million records. Black Hole Sun was th...
Alice in Chains
Layne Staleys haunting vocals defined the dark side of grunge. Over 30 million records. Dirt is thei...
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Anthony Kiedis and Flea are the only constant members. Over 100 million records. Blood Sugar Sex Mag...
Green Day
Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tre Cool. American Idiot sold 16 million copies and became a Broad...
The Strokes
Julian Casablancas and Albert Hammond Jr. Is This It launched the 2000s indie rock revival. Over 10 ...
Billie Eilish
Over 100 million records. First artist born in the 2000s to win a Grammy. Bad Guy hit number one whe...
Lady Gaga
Over 130 million records. The meat dress is iconic. Bad Romance is a pop masterpiece. Born This Way ...
Bruno Mars
Over 130 million records. 15 Grammy Awards. Uptown Funk was number one for 14 weeks. 24K Magic defin...
Aerosmith detail
See Aerosmith main entry....
Motley Crue
The Dirt autobiography is one of the wildest rock books ever. Over 100 million records. Tommy Lee an...
Bon Jovi
Over 130 million records. Livin on a Prayer is the ultimate stadium anthem. Slippery When Wet sold 2...
Rage Against the Machine
Tom Morello guitar effects sound like DJ scratching.. Killing in the Name is the Christmas number on...
System of a Down
Chop Suey was pulled from radio after 9/11 due to the lyrics. Over 40 million records. Toxicity debu...
Pantera
Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed on stage in 2004.. Cowboys from Hell defined groove metal. Walk ...
Slayer
Reign in Blood is the most extreme album ever released on a major label.. Angel of Death controversy...
Megadeth
Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica and formed Megadeth in revenge. Over 50 million records. Symp...
Johnny Cash
The Man in Black. Over 90 million records. Folsom Prison Blues was recorded live at the prison. Hurt...
Willie Nelson
Over 40 million records. The Red Headed Stranger. Trigger is his beloved nylon-string guitar. Outlaw...
Dolly Parton
Over 100 million records. Wrote I Will Always Love You and Jolene on the same day. Dollywood is a ma...
Patsy Cline
Died at 30 in a plane crash. Over 30 million records. Crazy written by Willie Nelson is her signatur...
Hank Williams
Died at 29 from heart failure. Over 30 million records. Your Cheatin Heart and Hey Good Lookin are c...
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Revived blues in the 1980s when it was considered dead. Over 15 million records. Texas Flood was his...
Chuck Berry
The father of rock and roll. Johnny B. Goode is the founding document of rock guitar. Over 50 millio...
Little Richard
The architect of rock and roll. Tutti Frutti and Long Tall Sally are the wildest rock songs of the 1...
Buddy Holly
Died at 22 in the Day the Music Died plane crash.. Peggy Sue and Thatll Be the Day are rock standard...
Fats Domino
Blueberry Hill and Aint That a Shame are founding rock songs. Over 65 million records. One of the fi...
Sam Cooke
The King of Soul. Over 30 million records. A Change Is Gonna Come is the greatest soul song ever. Yo...
Otis Redding
Died at 26 in a plane crash.. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay was recorded three days before his deat...
Al Green
Lets Stay Together is one of the smoothest songs ever recorded.. A woman poured boiling grits on him...
The Supremes
Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard. 12 number one hits, the most for an American group. Over ...
Stevie Nicks
The only woman inducted into the Rock Hall twice, with Fleetwood Mac and solo. Over 65 million recor...
The Byrds
Invented folk rock and country rock. Over 30 million records. Mr Tambourine Man launched the genre. ...
Creedence Clearwater Revival
John Fogerty wrote and sang every hit. Over 50 million records. Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Fortuna...
The Allman Brothers Band
Duane Allman died at 24 in a motorcycle crash. Over 30 million records. At Fillmore East is the grea...
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama are stadium anthems. Over 30 million records. The 1977 plane crash ...
Eagles of Death Metal
Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme. Not death metal, not the Eagles. Over 2 million records. The 2015 Batac...
Queens of the Stone Age
Josh Homme is the only constant member. Over 10 million records. No One Knows was their breakthrough...
Weezer
Rivers Cuomo Harvard-educated songwriter. Over 35 million records. The Blue Album is a 90s classic. ...
Pixies
Black Francis and Kim Deal. Over 15 million records. Quiet-loud-quiet dynamic influenced Nirvana. Wh...
Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Corgan is the creative force. Over 30 million records. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness ...
Beck
Loser was a slacker anthem that he hated. Over 15 million records. Morning Phase won Album of the Ye...
The White Stripes
Jack and Meg White, formerly married but presented as siblings. Over 15 million records. Seven Natio...
The Black Keys
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney from Akron, Ohio. Over 15 million records. Brothers won 3 Grammys. L...
Kings of Leon
Three Followill brothers and a cousin. Over 25 million records. Sex on Fire was the song of 2008. Us...
Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl recorded the first album alone after Kurt Cobain died. Over 30 million records. Everlong ...
Audioslave
Chris Cornell with the instrumentalists from Rage Against the Machine. Over 10 million records. Like...
Soundgarden detail
See Soundgarden main entry....
Stone Temple Pilots
Scott Weiland was a magnetic but troubled frontman. Over 35 million records. Plush won a Grammy. Int...
Beastie Boys
Started as a hardcore punk band. Licensed to Ill was the first rap album to hit number one. Over 50 ...
Run DMC
Rev Run, DMC, Jam Master Jay.. Walk This Way with Aerosmith created rap rock. The first rap artists ...
LL Cool J
Mama Said Knock You Out was a comeback at age 22.. I Need Love was the first hip-hop ballad. Went on...
Public Enemy
Chuck D and Flavor Flav.. Fight the Power was the Do the Right Thing anthem. The S1W security team a...
Wu-Tang Clan
Nine members from Staten Island.. Enter the Wu-Tang is a hip-hop masterpiece. RZA production defined...
NWA
Straight Outta Compton defined gangsta rap. Over 10 million records. Dr Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Re...
A Tribe Called Quest
Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Over 10 million records. The Low End Theory is a hip-hop ma...
De La Soul
The Daisy Age of hip-hop. 3 Feet High and Rising was produced by Prince Paul. Over 10 million record...
Snoop Dogg detail
See Snoop Dogg main entry....
Lil Wayne
Signed to Cash Money at age 12. Over 120 million records. Tha Carter III sold 1 million in its first...
Kanye West detail
See Kanye West main entry....
J Cole
The first artist signed to Roc Nation. Over 30 million records. 2014 Forest Hills Drive went platinu...
Travis Scott
Astroworld was named after the defunct Houston theme park. Over 40 million records. Sicko Mode is hi...
Tyler the Creator
Founded Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All. Over 15 million records. Igor won Best Rap Album despite...
Pharrell Williams
Half of The Neptunes production duo. Over 50 million records as artist. Happy was the best-selling s...
Backstreet Boys
Over 130 million records. The best-selling boy band in history. I Want It That Way is a pop masterpi...
NSYNC
Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, and company. Over 70 million records. No Strings Attached sold 2.4 mil...
Justin Timberlake
Over 32 million solo records. Cry Me a River was about Britney Spears. FutureSex/LoveSounds was a po...
Britney Spears
Over 150 million records. Baby One More Time is the best-selling debut by a teen artist. The conserv...
Christina Aguilera
Over 75 million records. Dirrty redefined her image. Beautiful became an LGBTQ anthem. 6 Grammy Awar...
Mariah Carey
Over 200 million records. 19 number one hits, the most for a solo artist. All I Want for Christmas I...
Whitney Houston detail
See Whitney Houston main entry....
Toto
Session musicians who formed a band. Over 40 million records. Africa became a meme and returned to c...
Steely Dan
Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. Over 40 million records. Aja is considered a sonic masterpiece. The ...
The Carpenters
Karen Carpenter had one of the greatest voices in pop. Over 100 million records. Close to You and We...
Billy Joel
The Piano Man. Over 150 million records. His Madison Square Garden residency is legendary. Piano Man...
Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen revolutionized guitar with two-hand tapping. Over 80 million records. Jump was their...
Journey
Dont Stop Believin is the most downloaded song of the 20th century. Over 80 million records. Steve P...
Styx
Over 30 million records. Come Sail Away is a prog-pop masterpiece. Mr. Roboto is a cult classic. Bab...
Foreigner
Over 80 million records. I Want to Know What Love Is is one of the greatest power ballads. Cold as I...
Boston
Tom Scholz spent 6 years recording the debut album in his basement. Over 30 million records. More Th...
Kansas
Carry on Wayward Son and Dust in the Wind are classic rock staples. Over 15 million records. The vio...
Poison
Every Rose Has Its Thorn is the quintessential 80s ballad.. Talk Dirty to Me defined glam metal. Bre...
Motley Crue detail
See Motley Crue main entry....
Bon Jovi detail
See Bon Jovi main entry....
Blink-182
All the Small Things defined pop punk for the mainstream. Over 50 million records. The naked music v...
My Chemical Romance
Welcome to the Black Parade is the emo Bohemian Rhapsody.. Gerard Way created the visual aesthetic o...
Fall Out Boy
Sugar Were Goin Down was inescapable in 2005.. Centuries became a stadium anthem. Pete Wentz bass an...
Panic At The Disco
I Write Sins Not Tragedies is a pop masterpiece. Over 15 million records. Brendon Urie vocal range i...
Paramore
Hayley Williams is one of rocks greatest frontwomen. Over 15 million records. Misery Business define...
Twenty One Pilots
Stressed Out and Heathens defined 2010s alternative. Over 30 million records. Tyler Joseph and Josh ...
Imagine Dragons
Radioactive was the biggest rock hit of the 2010s. Over 75 million records. Believer was in a billio...
MGMT
Kids and Time to Pretend defined indie blog era. Over 5 million records. Oracular Spectacular is a d...
Vampire Weekend
A-Punk and Oxford Comma launched them. Over 5 million records. Father of the Bride won a Grammy. Ezr...
The National
Matt Berninger baritone is unmistakable. Over 5 million records. Boxer and High Violet are indie cla...
Lana Del Rey
Video Games went viral and defined a new aesthetic. Over 15 million records. Born to Die was a criti...
SZA
Ctrl is considered one of the greatest R&B albums of the 2010s.. Kill Bill was her biggest hit. SOS ...
Frank Ocean
Blonde is considered one of the greatest albums of the 2010s. Over 10 million records. Originally pa...
LCD Soundsystem
James Murphy is the unlikely dance hero. Over 5 million records. Losing My Edge is the definitive hi...
Moby
Play sold 12 million copies and licensed every song to films and ads.. Porcelain and Natural Blues a...
The Grateful Dead
Jerry Garcia was the spiritual leader. Over 35 million records. The Deadheads are the most devoted f...
Phish
Trey Anastasio is the heir to Jerry Garcia. Over 10 million records. The improvisational live shows ...
Dave Matthews Band
Over 40 million records. The live shows are legendary. Crash Into Me is their signature. The saxopho...
Tom Petty
Over 80 million records. Free Fallin and American Girl are American standards. The Heartbreakers wer...
John Mayer
Your Body Is a Wonderland won a Grammy.. Continuum is a blues-pop masterpiece. Slow Dancing in a Bur...
Gary Clark Jr
The savior of modern blues according to many. Over 2 million records. This Land is a powerful statem...
Chet Baker
The James Dean of jazz.. My Funny Valentine is his signature. The trumpet and vocals are equally dis...
Thelonious Monk
One of the founders of bebop. Over 10 million records. Round Midnight is the most recorded jazz stan...
Charles Mingus
The angry man of jazz. Over 10 million records. Moanin and Goodbye Pork Pie Hat are jazz standards. ...
Herbie Hancock
Rockit was the first jazz hip-hop crossover hit.. Head Hunters is the best-selling jazz album ever. ...
Duke Ellington detail
See Duke Ellington main entry....
B.B. King detail
See B.B. King main entry....
Howlin Wolf
The voice that defined Chicago blues. Over 10 million records. Smokestack Lightnin and Spoonful are ...
Robert Johnson
Recorded only 29 songs before dying at 27. Over 10 million records. Cross Road Blues is the legend o...
Willie Nelson detail
See Willie Nelson main entry....
Dolly Parton detail
See Dolly Parton main entry....
Garth Brooks
The biggest selling solo artist in US history with over 160 million records. Friends in Low Places i...
Johnny Cash detail
See Johnny Cash main entry....