Spinoff Thread - Greatest musical solo artists of all time

OK, so I started a thread about the greatest rock - n - roll bands of all time. I admit, that I am not as well versed in bands as I am solo artists. Duck season is closed so I am sitting here in the office listening to some good music while catching up on some paper work. But I am wondering who would be on your "Mount Rushmore" for musical artists.

There are four on Mt. Rushmore. I am going to expand the mountain to 6:

Elvis Presley - The man changed music as we know it. He has the name "The King" for a reason.

Ray Charles - One of the greatest musical talents to walk the face of the earth. He changed music as well as breaking down racial barriers. He is the godfather of R&B

Johnny Cash - OK, I am not a huge country fan. BUT, I really don't consider Johnny a country singer. He crossed several different genres. He was the peoples voice. Much like Springsteen is today.

Aretha Franklin - She has one of the biggest voices I have ever heard.

James Brown - The godfather of soul. He created the whole funk genre. He also changed music by emphasizing beats 1 and 3 rather than 2 and 4.

Otis Redding. WOW, what a voice. He has Sam Cooke's smoothness, but still has that Muscle Shoals roughness. He has influenced as many musicians as anyone has.

Honorable Mention: Dylan, John Lennon, Bob Marley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson.

Jackson is the only one that I thought long and hard about. To me, Jackson is the king of pop. He was great in the Jackson 5 and great as a solo artist. I'm just not sure he's there without the others on that list. So I deffered to time frame rather than popularity.

John lee Hooker!

http://www.johnleehooker.com/home.htm

John lee Hooker!

http://www.johnleehooker.com/home.htm Originally Posted by DallasRain

I would add Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, B.B. King, Albert King on the same list (all legends and amazing musicians...)!

Top ten no particular order:

Johnny Cash
Paul McCartney
Etta James
Miles Davis
Marvin Gaye
B.B King
Eric Clapton
Elton John
Sheryl Crow
Aretha Franklin