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- It was the decade of Dylan and Aretha, the Beach Boys and the Beatles, Hendrix and Zeppelin. But that’s not all it was. The 1960s also included the slyly political pop of Brazil’s Os Mutantes, the early electronic experiments of Silver Apples, and the free jazz exhalations of Albert Ayler.
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The Top 100 artists and bands of the 60s, celebrated for their chart-topping and culturally influential music, are compiled from diverse sources including chart rankings, music video rotation, and genre impact. This list offers a deep dive into the sounds that defined a transformative decade in music history. 1.
- The Beatles
- Bob Dylan
- Ray Charles
- The Temptations
- James Brown
- Otis Redding
- Aretha Franklin
- The Beach Boys
- Sam Cooke
- Marvin Gaye
The Beatles have long been considered the single most influential music group in history. They formed in Liverpool in 1960 and became wildly popular for their unique sound, which fused elements of many other genres. As the decade progressed their music strayed into genres of funk and psychedelic rock. Some of their most famous songs include Hey Jud...
Bob Dylan was one of the most influential folk musicians of the 1960s. His music was heavily intertwined with the Civil Rights movement and anti-war protests. He was known for his gentle, poetic songs whose lyrics focused on social, philosophical, and political topics. Some of his best-known songs include Blowin’ In The Wind and The Times They Are ...
Ray Charles had a successful career long before the 1960s, but he was also a hugely influential artist throughout the decade. Throughout the 1950s, he was a pioneer of the soul genre, helping fuse a wide number of genres into the contemporary music we know today. In 1960, he recorded Georgia On My Mind, one of the most famous tracks of his career. ...
Formed in 1960, The Temptations were an all-male vocal group that spearheaded the sound of Motown throughout the decade. They were known for their flawless vocal harmonies and were considered to be a “brother group” to The Supremes. The Temptations’ song My Girl placed no. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1965and is still their most famous track to thi...
James Brown is widely referred to as “the Godfather of Soul.” He was one of the key musicians in the development of modern genres of funk, soul, and R&B. He is also considered one of the major influences on the development of hip hop and rap thanks to his unique, rhythmic speaking style used intermittently throughout his songs. His most famous trac...
Otis Redding was so influential during his career that he posthumously received two Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He made huge strides in the genres of R&B and soul before his death in a plane crash at the age of 26. Just three days before his death, Redding recorded the mo...
Aretha Franklin may be one of the most influential singers not just of the 1960s, but of the entire 20th century. She has been named on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and nicknamed “the Queen of Soul.” Her powerhouse voice propelled her to the front of the music industry with tracks such as Respect, You Make Me Fe...
Known for their high-energy, beach-inspired songs fueled by falsetto vocals, The Beach Boys pioneered the development of surfer rock in the 1960s. They are best known for songs such as Barbra Ann, Surfin’ USA, and Good Vibrations. They became synonymous with the emerging genre called “California Sound,” exemplified by surfer culture, party hits, yo...
It is amazing to consider how much popularity and influence Sam Cooke held over music in the 1960s, considering he passed away in 1964. Despite his short career, he is considered one of the most influential soul artists not just of the decade, but of all time. Cooke was a major player in the rise of Civil Rights-inspired soul music and is best know...
Marvin Gaye was a leader of the modern soul, funk, and R&B genres that were developing throughout the 1960s. He was also a major player in the world of Motown starting in the 1950s when the label was in its earliest stages. He released many songs during his career, but his best-known tracks include 1967’s Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and 1968’s I ...
- The Beatles. 3,462 votes. Regarded as the game-changers of the pop music scene in the '60s, The Beatles were an unparalleled phenomenon that took the world by storm.
- The Rolling Stones. 2,401 votes. Known for their electrifying performances and iconic hits, The Rolling Stones were instrumental in shaping the sound of the '60s.
- Simon and Garfunkel. 1,622 votes. Few duos embody the spirit of the '60s like Simon and Garfunkel, whose poetic lyrics and haunting melodies resonated deeply with listeners.
- Creedence Clearwater Revival. 1,815 votes. Creedence Clearwater Revival brought a distinctive mix of roots rock, country, and swampy blues to the '60s, cementing their place in the annals of pop history.
- Elvis Presley. Top of the list, we have Elvis Presley. He began his music career when he moved to Memphis at age 13. However, it wasn’t until his rockabilly “Heartbreak Hotel” hit the charts and sold 10 million copies at age 21 that he started his reign as the King of Rock and Roll.
- Ray Charles. A unique singer in his own right, Ray Charles was first discovered when he began performing in a band with friends after moving to Seattle at age 18.
- Brenda Lee. Nicknamed Little Miss Dynamite, Brenda Lee got her start as a child performer at ten. By 12, she was singing at the Grand Ole Opry and Vegas.
- Aretha Franklin. Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin first toured with her father’s traveling revival show as a child prodigy gospel singer and pianist. While traveling, she befriended gospel greats like Mahalia Jackson and Sam Cooke.
Artists like Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, Ray Price, Patsy Cline, Floyd Cramer, Roger Miller and many others achieved great success through songs such as "He'll Have to Go," "Danny Boy," "Make the World Go Away", "King of the Road" and "I Fall to Pieces."
Popular Music from the 1960s, Genres including The British Invasion, Motown/R& B, Surf Rock and Psychedelic Rock, Roots Rock and Hard Rock, Folk Rock and Protest Music, Acappella and top songs and artists from each year.
The 1960s marked a decade of significant changes and innovations in popular music. The early years of the decade were dominated by the British Invasion, with bands such as [Artist8], [Artist45], and [Artist58] leading the way.
