1960s
43 artists
The Beatles
Over 600 million records sold. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr. Changed mu...
Michael Jackson
The King of Pop. Over 400 million solo records sold. Thriller is the best-selling album of all time ...
Led Zeppelin
Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, John Bonham. Stairway to Heaven is the most played song i...
Pink Floyd
The Dark Side of the Moon spent 937 weeks on the Billboard 200. Syd Barrett founded the band before ...
The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are the greatest songwriting partnership after Lennon-McCartney. Over...
Bob Dylan
Won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016. Went electric at Newport Folk Festival in 1965 and was bo...
David Bowie
The chameleon of rock who reinvented himself constantly. Ziggy Stardust, Thin White Duke, and countl...
Jimi Hendrix
Widely considered the greatest guitarist of all time. The Monterey performance where he set his guit...
The Who
Pete Townshend invented the rock guitar smash. Tommy was the first rock opera. Keith Moon was the wi...
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...
Bob Marley
Brought reggae to the world. Over 75 million records sold. Exodus was named album of the century by ...
Black Sabbath
Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward. Invented heavy metal. Iommi lost fingertips in ...
Deep Purple
Smoke on the Water has the most famous guitar riff in history. The Mark II lineup is considered the ...
Fleetwood Mac
Rumours was recorded while the band members were breaking up with each other. Sold over 40 million c...
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. ...
Stevie Wonder
Blind from birth, signed to Motown at age 11. 25 Grammy Awards. Songs in the Key of Life is a master...
Bob Marley detail
See Bob Marley main entry....
The Velvet Underground
Brian Eno said only 30,000 people bought the first album but everyone who did started a band. Andy W...
Eric Clapton
The only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Over 100 million records. Layla was ...
Joni Mitchell
Blue is considered one of the greatest albums ever made.. Invented open guitar tunings that bear her...
Carlos Santana
Over 100 million records. Supernatural sold 30 million copies and won 9 Grammys in one night. Oye Co...
Al Green
Lets Stay Together is one of the smoothest songs ever recorded.. A woman poured boiling grits on him...
Stevie Nicks
The only woman inducted into the Rock Hall twice, with Fleetwood Mac and solo. Over 65 million recor...
Cream
Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker. The first power trio. Over 35 million records. Sunshine of Y...
The Kinks
Ray and Dave Davies. You Really Got Me invented the rock power chord. Over 50 million records. Lola ...
The Yardbirds
Produced three of the greatest guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page.. For Your Love went ...
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 ...
Fleetwood Mac detail
See Fleetwood Mac main entry....
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...
Elton John
Over 300 million records. Candle in the Wind 1997 is the best-selling physical single ever at 33 mil...
Ringo Starr
The luckiest man in rock history according to some. Over 10 million solo records. Yellow Submarine a...
Ozzy Osbourne
The Prince of Darkness. Over 50 million solo records after Black Sabbath. Blizzard of Ozz is a metal...
Styx
Over 30 million records. Come Sail Away is a prog-pop masterpiece. Mr. Roboto is a cult classic. Bab...
Scorpions
Wind of Change is the best-selling single by a German artist. Over 100 million records. Rock You Lik...
The Grateful Dead
Jerry Garcia was the spiritual leader. Over 35 million records. The Deadheads are the most devoted f...
Herbie Hancock
Rockit was the first jazz hip-hop crossover hit.. Head Hunters is the best-selling jazz album ever. ...
Santana detail
See Carlos Santana main entry....