The Most Legendary Music Artists in History

It seems as if we listen to music for just about every occasion – weddings, funerals, festivals, gatherings, sports events, and more. We also listen to music when we express a range of emotions, from happy to sad to excitement. Suffice it to say that, as a society, music is high on our list of things we place a priority on. It is also a great unifier, something that we all love listening to. Whether we’re driving, dancing, in the grocery store, or at any event. To create a perfect ambiance, people tend to play their favorite music in the background.

But not all musicians are as popular as others and through the years, some musicians have soared to incredible levels of fame and popularity. Chart-topping singles, sold-out concerts with ticket prices at astronomically high prices, successful song collaborations, impressive net worths, and awards lining their shelves are just a few clear-cut indications that they are at the top of their musical games.

To compile this list of the most popular all-time music artists, 24/7 Tempo consulted one insightful source for a definitive ranking. 24/7 Tempo looked to YouGov for this music-centered information. While we’re on the topic of talented artists, click here to uncover the most famous musicians who came from small towns.

20. Fleetwood Mac

Much of the music that comes from Fleetwood Mac is considered classic and timeless. The British-American rock band came to be in 1967 while the band members were living in London. Their first hit song was called “Albatross” in 1969. The song put them on the map as a rock band to watch out for. These days, their music is often blasted in coffee shops and cafes.

They went on to release more hits like “Never Going Back Again,” “In the Back of My Mind,” and “Need Your Love So Bad.” Their awards list is inspiring since it includes the Juno Award for International Album of the Year, the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. To this day, Fleetwood Mac still goes on tour to perform music for their diehard fans.

19. The Temptations

The Temptations formed in 1960 as a vocal group with a mission to attract a solid fan base. They signed with Motown Records after linking up in Detroit, Michigan. The Temptations released music that landed in a few different genres such as psychedelic soul, funk, and R&B. They went all in and released their first single called “Oh Mother of Mine,” and the rest was history.

It was enough to attract music lovers everywhere. The song got people excited about future songs from the vocal group. They went on to release. “My Girl,” “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone,” and “I Can’t Get Next to You.” Their awards list includes the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance, the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame Award, and the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album Group, Band or Duo.

18. Nat King Cole

Nat King Cole was born on March 17, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama. In the 1930s, he paved the way for his career as a pop vocalist and jazz music musician. Cole’s career in the music industry rang true for three successful decades. During that time, he recorded and released more than 100 songs that landed on the pop charts. The first song fans heard from Cole was called “Sweet Lorraine.”

More songs from the jazz musician that stood out were “On A Bicycle Built For Two,” “I Don’t Want to See Tomorrow,” and “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” Before his death on February 15, 1965, in Santa Monica, California, he knew how to rile crowds up with his incredible energy. Cole won a small handful of awards to prove how talented he was in his lifetime. Those accolades include the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Golden Globe Special Achievement Award.

17. Marvin Gaye

17. Marvin Gaye was born on April 2, 1939, in Washington, DC. When he grew up, he became a full-fledged icon in the music industry. The singer-songwriter released music that fit perfectly into the R&B, electronic, and soul categories. Some of the nicknames he received during his life were “Prince of Soul” and “Prince of Motown.” The first song he released in 1961 was called “Never Let You Go (Sha Lu Bop).”

He followed it up with songs like “Let’s Get It On,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” and “How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You.” Gaye died on April 1, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, but before his death, he collected several noteworthy awards. His accolades include the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album, and the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single.

16. The Eagles

“Take it Easy” was the name of the first song from The Eagles. It hit the radio in 1972, and fans were almost instantly obsessed. The Eagles had every intention of making it big in the music industry when they first formed in Los Angeles in 1971. They had massive goals in mind for the folk rock, country rock, and soft rock categories. A few short years later in 1976, their lives changed forever. Their biggest song to date arguably happens to be “Hotel California,” which was released that year.

Other songs from The Eagles have been “I Can’t Tell You Why,” “Love Will Keep Us Alive,” and “The Best of My Love.” Over the years, The Eagles have won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, the American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist, and the Kennedy Center Honors Award.

15. The Supremes

Music from The Supremes is still adored today, even though the girl group was doing their thing in the 50s and 60s. Originally, The Supremes were known as the Primettes back in 1959. Some of their biggest songs ever were “Someday We’ll Be Together,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” and “My World Is Empty Without You.” It’s impossible to gauge if they would’ve reached such success had they not come out with such a catchy original single in 1960.

The first track to hit radio airwaves from The Supremes was called “Buttered Popcorn (First Version).” As a girl group, they were honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award for Group Artists. A modern-day clothing brand called Supreme now exists as a reminder to old-school music lovers of this talented girl group from back in the day.

14. Bob Marley

Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Mile, Jamaica. To this day, he’s considered a record-breaking trailblazer in the reggae music category. Along with showing off his vocal magnificence, Marley was a talented songwriter and guitarist who thrived off of telling poetic stories with his lyrics. The first song from Marley was called “Judge Not” from 1962.

His debut album was enough to get people interested in the reggae genre as a whole. He went on to release other songs like “Could You Be Loved,” “Turn Your Lights Down Low,” and “Coming In From The Cold.” In 2024, a movie called “Bob Marley: One Love” hit theaters to tell viewers the story of Marley’s heart-wrenching rise to fame. Marley died on May 11, 1981, after battling a melanoma diagnosis at the age of 36.

13. Michael Jackson

Tons of controversy surrounded Michael Jackson in the years leading up to his death, but at the height of his music career, fans were obsessed with his vocals and his dance moves. During his lifetime, Jackson was nicknamed the “King of Pop.” Jackson rose to fame in a band called Jackson 5 with his siblings. When he got a little older, he went on his own way as a solo performer. He quickly realized he would be just fine without sharing the stage.

Some of the biggest songs Jackson released on his own include “Smooth Criminal,” “Beat It,” “Thriller,” and “Billie Jean.” Before Jackson died on June 25, 2009, he accrued a long list of awards. If you’re curious to know about accolades, they include the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the NAACP Image Award for Entertainer of the Year, and the Danish Music Award for International Album of the Year.

12. The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones formed in 1962 when all the members were living in London. Over the next seven decades, they went on to become a beloved rock band with a slew of amazeballs songs to jam out to. A few of the biggest songs from the Rolling Stones are “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” and “Anybody Seen My Baby.”

Mick Jagger has a reputation for being the most noteworthy member of the band. As of now, a popular music-centered magazine called Rolling Stone exists with its name inspired by The Rolling Stones. As such an iconic group, it’s not exactly shocking that an entire magazine pulled name inspiration from them.

11. Queen

Music lovers who are willing to reflect on trends from the 1970s will quickly be reminded of Queen. The British rock band was determined to release top-notch music for fans to enjoy in their daily lives. The band members consisted of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor. Years later, John Deacon joined in all the fun.

With Mercury handling business on the microphone as the lead vocalist, the beloved band dropped songs like “We Will Rock You,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and “We Are the Champions.” When Mercury died on November 24, 1991, his death shed light on the rising AIDS epidemic.

10. Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong was born on August August 4, 1901, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Throughout five decades of his life, Armstrong was the man behind some of the most lovely and unforgettable jazz songs in history. It can be argued that “What a Wonderful World” is the most fabulous song to come from Armstrong, but he certainly didn’t pump the breaks there.

Armstrong spent an abundance of time in the music studio for tracks like “A Kiss to Build a Dream On,” “When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You),” and “We Have All the Time in the World.” Most folks who keep up with pop culture are undoubtedly familiar with Armstrong’s music since his songs have been featured in several major movies and TV shows. You’ll hear Armstrong’s voice while watching “Madagascar” from 2005. He also appeared in “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay” from 2008, and even in “Finding Dory” from 2016.

9. Tina Turner

Since Tina Turner’s life was riddled with illnesses, the death of her children, and domestic abuse, many people would label her life “tragic.” Others would rather focus on the beauty of her music career before her death on May 24, 2023. Turner was born on November 26, 1939, in Brownsville, Tennessee. When she was at the top of her game, she was labeled “Queen of Rock and Roll.”

As a solo artist, Turner was the voice behind catchy songs like “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” “River Deep Mountain High,” and “The Best.” She won the World Music Legend Award for Outstanding Contribution To The Music Industry, the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, and the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

8. Elton John

Music lovers have a lot of respect and admiration for Elton John. He released “I’ve Been Loving You” in 1968 as his first song ever. John was born on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, United Kingdom. He grew up to pursue a career in the music industry with a stage presence that’s still completely undeniable.

Some significant songs from John have been “I’m Still Standing,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” Similar to Louis Armstrong and other top-notch artists on this list, tons of John’s songs have been featured in movies and TV shows for pop culture lovers to take note of.

7. Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder garnered endless respect and appreciation from his fan base after achieving success as a singer-songwriter without his vision. Even though he grew up blind, he went on to achieve greatness in the R&B, funk, gospel, and pop music categories. Wonder, whose birth name is Stevland Hardaway Morris, released a song called “Finger Part Two” in 1963.

It was impressive enough to attract loyal fans who’ve been supporting him ever since. Wonder’s ability to play multiple instruments like the harmonica, drums, synthesizer, organ, bongos, and congas has always been impressive. The most amazing instrumental talent he’s displayed has always been on the piano, though.

6. Aretha Franklin

1960 was a big year for Aretha Franklin because that’s when she released her first single, “Today I Sing the Blues.” As of now, people think of Franklin with respect and admiration based on the impressive career she built for herself. She was nicknamed the “Queen of Soul” at the height of her fame.

Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee. She died at the age of 76 on August 16, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan. While she was alive, tracks like “Natural Woman,” “Ain’t No Way,” and “Chain of Fools” encouraged people to get more curious about her discography.

5. Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra’s life as an American singer and actor was a hot topic of conversation for decades. Arguably, the biggest song he ever released was called “My Way.” He used the song to boldly and proudly express his connection to strength, resilience, independence, and individuality. “My Way” was popularized by Sinatra in 1969, but it wasn’t the only track that helped him gain legitimate notoriety in the music industry. Other songs from Sinatra that music lovers still obsess over include “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” and “You Make Me Feel So Young.”

4. Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston’s music career was impressive enough to win her a slew of noteworthy awards. She had a voice in her that no one could deny. Her accolades include the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the Billboard Music Award for Top Female Artist, and the NAACP Image Award for Entertainer of the Year.

With songs like “I Will Always Love You,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” and “Could I Have This Kiss Forever” under her belt, it shouldn’t come as a shock that Houston’s discography is still blasted on radio stations to this day. People genuinely adore her voice and the messages in her lyrics.

3. Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash first splashed onto the country music scene in 1955 with songs like “Cry! Cry! Cry!” and “Hey Porter.” As of now, Cash is reflected as one of the most motivational country music music singers – ever. Brand-new artists who are trying to break records and gain clout freely listen to Cash’s music whenever they need a little bit of direction and inspiration.

Some of the awards Cash has taken home include the Grammy Award for Best Country Album, the Country Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year, and the MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography.

2. The Beatles

Can you picture a band like One Direction taking off without The Beatles guiding the way with such powerful influence? If you hear someone describe The Beatles as their “favorite band of all time,” it probably doesn’t come as a shock. Based on the incredible discography, rock music lovers have been head over heels in love with them for decades. The Beatles are the blueprint when it comes to rock bands who’ve creatively paved the way for the entire rock-pop genre as a whole.

From 1960 until 1970, The Beatles ferociously dominated the music charts. The exact reason for The Beatles’ decision to disband is a mystery, but many believe it came down to “creative differences” – whatever that means. Before any wonky drama, the first song from The Beatles was called “Love Me Do.” It hit radios in 1962. The song didn’t have as much swagger as the band might’ve hoped since it only peaked at number 17 on the music charts. What’s crazy is that it didn’t slow them down in the slightest.

The Beatles pushed on to release some of the most snappy and beloved pop-rock songs ever. Think about how different our lives would be if we’d never heard songs like “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Here Comes the Sun,” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. The band’s list of awards is extensive including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the Billboard Music Award for Top Billboard 200 Album, and the World Music Award for World’s Best Selling British Artist.

1. Dolly Parton

The first song Dolly Parton released was called “Puppy Love” in 1959. Although you might’ve guessed that her first single would’ve exploded in popularity, it didn’t even chart. Parton’s blonde hair, voluptuous figure, and blue eyes helped her attract some of her fans. Her bubbly and bouncy appearance worked wonders, but her voice is what kept supporters around. Years later in 1971, she released released her first number-one hit called “Joshua.” Parton’s career took off from there because, by 1974, she released three of her biggest hits to date.

Her bangers include “Jolene,” “Love Is Like a Butterfly,” and “I Will Always Love You.” Parton remains connected to the music industry generations later since she’s willing to collaborate with younger musicians like Miley Cyrus for stage performances. Cyrus, who rose to fame on “Hannah Montana” also happens to be her millennial-aged goddaughter.

Some of the awards Parton has taken home are the Grammy Award for Best Country Song, the Country Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year, and the Academy of Country Music Award for Album of the Year. Talk about epic talent! Now that we’ve discovered the most popular all-time music artists, click here to uncover nine musicians who’ve changed their artistic names.

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