Best 10 Music Artists In The 60s/70s And Their Song

Here is a list of the ten best music artists of the 60s and 70s.

John Ogba May 29, 2022Last Updated: May 29, 2022

Best 10 Music Artists In The 60S/70S And Their Song, Yours Truly, Articles, October 4, 2023

Every successful musician or music enthusiast knows that music from way back built the foundation on which many artists make music today. Most of the world’s most prominent artists have credited musicians from as far back as the 60s, 70s, and more for inspiring the music they make today.

Musicians from the 60s, 70s, and even the 50s are recorded to have sold the most records of all time and are still very relevant because of how they revolutionized the music scene and drove change. Here is a list of 10 of the best artists who dominated the 1960s and the 1970s and released the best and most talked-about projects of that time.

Elvis Presley
The Beatles
Johnny Cash
Michael Jackson
Barbara Streisand
Elton John
The Rolling Stones
Bob Dylan
Pink Floyd
Led Zeppelin

01. Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley, best known as the king of Rock and Roll, is known to have dominated the music scene in the 1950s. His dominance stretches out to the 60s. He has sold more records than every solo musician in the history of making music. The only people who have sold more records than Elvis are The Beatles. While he wasn’t the first musician to do Rock, he became the first to take it global. He charted more songs in the top 40 and the most number-one projects on the album charts.

Elvis Presley Songs

02. The Beatles

You cannot list the most prominent musicians in the world without giving The Beatles the honor they deserve. The iconic group is credited for its unquestionable influence in the music industry. They also sold more records than anyone and charted the most number-one songs (20). The Beatles’ hit song “Yesterday” remains the most recorded song of all time. As of 2017, there were 1,600 versions of the song. The band dominated the airwaves in the 60s and later disbanded in the 70s. All four artists went on to enjoy successful solo careers. Members John Lennon and Paul McCartney are regarded as the most successful songwriting duo in modern pop music.

The Beatles Songs

03. Johnny Cash

Gaining significant recognition in the 50s, singer and songwriter Johnny Cash dominated the airwaves also in the 60s. Cash began in recording career at Sun Records. It was the same Memphis, Tennessee studio where Elvis Presley recorded his first songs. Cash dabbled in various genres, including Country music, Gospel, and Rock n’ Roll. His career spanned over 40 decades, and he sold several millions of records. His 1968 Live Recording, “At Folsom Prison,” is one of his most acclaimed projects.

Johnny Cash Songs

04. Michael Jackson

Many would argue that Michael Jackson was most recognized as a successful solo artist in the 80s and was part of a group in the 60s. Indeed, Michael was the most famous member of the popular group Jackson 5. The success of the group made Michael a well-recognized soloist. He broke out of the group in the 70s and released the chart-topping and massively successful album “Off The Wall,” co-produced by Quincy Jones. The project became the first U.S solo album to generate four top 10 hits.

Michael Jackson Songs

05. Barbara Streisand

Unlike most of the musicians on this list, Barbara Streisand was not a Rock artist. The Brooklyn-born singer and songwriter was majorly successfully releasing pop music. Streisand is credited as the only singer to have number one albums in 6 consecutive decades. She also boasts the most top 10 albums for any female artist; 34 in total. Barbara Streisand has influenced some of the most prominent artists in the music industry today. She has won several major awards, including two Academy Awards, Grammys, and more. She is among the few performers awarded an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).

Barbara Streisand Songs

06. Elton John

Sir Elton John is the best-selling British musician of all time. He is also one of the best-selling musicians of all time globally. The British music icon started as a professional pop music writer in the 1960s. Alongside his friend and creative partner, Bernie Taupin, he wrote songs for successful musicians and later kicked off his solo music career. John amassed 5 number one albums in the US between 1972 and 1975. He has charted several songs in the top 10 and 9 number-one singles in the Billboard Hot 100. His latest collaboration with Dua Lipa became his most recent top 10 hits.

Elton John Songs

07. The Rolling Stones

You cannot list the world’s most famous bands without including Rock music royalty, The Rolling Stones. In terms of sales, the band does not compare to The Beatles, but their impact on the music industry is well recognized. The band has recorded over 30 albums and sold millions of records. They are regarded as one of the best-selling musicians/bands of all time. They have also charted several albums at number one. Members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are among the most influential people in the music industry. The band still actively tours the world.

The Rolling Stones Songs

08. Bob Dylan

While Bob Dylan may not compare his commercial success to the other 60s musicians on this list, he remains one of the most critically acclaimed musicians of all time. Dylan has sold more than 100 million records globally, making him one of the most successful musicians of all time. He has also won multiple Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Pulitzer Prize, and more. He has been credited as a significant influence on other successful musicians, including Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, and more.

Bob Dylan Songs

09. Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd is an iconic Psychedelic Rock band that has sold more than 120 million certified records. This makes them one of the best-selling bands and musicians in the world. They became one of the first British psychedelic bands to gain success. Their hit projects, “Dark Side of the Moon,” released in 1973, and “The Wall,” a double album from 1979, are credited as two of the best-selling projects of all time. The former has sold over 45 million copies (as of 2017). It remains their most commercially successful album of all time. They are regarded as the greatest progressive rock band of all time.

Pink Floyd Songs

10. Led Zeppelin

Gaining significant recognition in the 1970s, Led Zeppelin remains one of the most iconic bands of all time. The versatile band has recorded and released many genres of music, including Blues, Folk, and Rock. Their first four projects were officially unnamed. The albums were released between 1969 and 1971. The projects have become a foundation for Rock musicians all over the world. Jimmy Page’s guitar work has influenced the Heavy Metal scene in many ways. The band has also won several major awards for their music.