Most influential Individual in Music

AtomicCrimsonRush wrote: Rock: Elvis

Chuck Berry?

Monteverdi, you northern scum.

AtomicCrimsonRush wrote: Rock: Elvis Country: Johnny Cash Classical: Beethoven Metal: Jimi Hendrix Prog: Robert Fripp  Jazz: Miles Davis

to be honest, had it not been for Fripp, metal music would probably not exist. And though i understand why you chose him for prog, but who influenced him? that person(s) would have to be the one(s) who influenced prog the most i think.

everything else i agree with, except maybe Bach for classical (but it could go either way)

Jimi influenced guitarists, not necessarily whole genres of music

EDIT: wait, Elvis would be nothing had Chuck Berry not paved the way


Edited by darkshade - February 13 2011 at 14:41

Henry Plainview wrote: Of all time? Lennon is barely cold in historical terms, that's absurd! You'd have to go at least as far back as Beethoven to get serious, although we probably owe a greater debt to Bach. Or whoever wrote all that Gregorian chant. Of course, this is only considering Western music, as Eastern music has a much longer tradition that I know little about.

This man has nailed it.

It is a matter of opinion. I mean, there are plenty of musical professors out there that would argue Mozart a greater influence than Bach. Same for Beethoven, Haydn, Purcell... For me though, it would be between:

J. P. Rameau - he established that inversions are still essentially the same chord, however inverting it gives it different harmonic properties.

Beethoven - Simply because he revolutionised the piano, the symphony, the orchestra and the Classical period in music.

Gustav Mahler - Completely twisted romanticism into modernism almost, by bringing in elements of world / folk music into his symphonies. In other words, he practically created classical "fusion".

Schoenberg - The father of atonalism, developed a completely new and systematic way of making music, which in a way is on a completely different emotional plain to tonal music.

Duke Ellington - Over 1000 jazz compositions, most of them jazz standards that are still very much alive and being played today, as well as jazz symphonies. Had a massive hand in the development of jazz improvisation and piano voicing. Some of the most famous tunes known universally were written by this man, probably the most important figure in jazz.

irrelevant wrote: darkshade wrote: to be honest, had it not been for Fripp, metal music would probably not exist.  As cool as this sounds, it's not true.

agreed, especially since Fripp was still making hippie love songs when the Yardbirds, Blue Cheer and Kinks were blowing the roof off clubs

darkshade wrote: AtomicCrimsonRush wrote: Rock: Elvis Country: Johnny Cash Classical: Beethoven Metal: Jimi Hendrix Prog: Robert Fripp  Jazz: Miles Davis to be honest, had it not been for Fripp, metal music would probably not exist. And though i understand why you chose him for prog, but who influenced him? that person(s) would have to be the one(s) who influenced prog the most i think. everything else i agree with, except maybe Bach for classical (but it could go either way) Jimi influenced guitarists, not necessarily whole genres of music EDIT: wait, Elvis would be nothing had Chuck Berry not paved the way

i think there wouldn't be metal music without beethoven imo, even megadeath were classically trained julliard musicians. or wagner or mussorsky? or more simply put, there wouldn't be metal without classical.
i grew up with classical so i accredit that mostly to most influential. tchaikovsky is my favorite though, you can accredit him to symphonic prog maybe? or grieg?

i also like to think of that question on a smaller scale as well, i like to think that without gloria gaynors i will survive, i might not have riot grrl music for instance. without tony wilson i wouldn't have madchester. everyone paves some way


Edited by PlumAplomb - February 14 2011 at 09:59

Here's a few ideas:

Epignosis wrote: Simon Railton

Judging by the review, isn't he the caveman who shouted og and hit something with a piece of wood?

The Pessimist wrote: Henry Plainview wrote: Of all time? Lennon is barely cold in historical terms, that's absurd! You'd have to go at least as far back as Beethoven to get serious, although we probably owe a greater debt to Bach. Or whoever wrote all that Gregorian chant. Of course, this is only considering Western music, as Eastern music has a much longer tradition that I know little about.  This man has nailed it.

stonebeard wrote: Pythagoras.

You'd probably be right actually... the harmonic series is probably the most important thing in harmony!