I believe in a difficult dispute between Brown, Dylan and MJ.

Stones alone in sixth place.

And the top 15 being difficult to move.

In no order:

6. Chuck Berry
7. The Who
8. Led Zeppelin
9. Ray Charles
10. Stevie Wonder
11. The Beach Boys
12. Aretha Franklin
15. Jimi Hendrix
20. Madonna

Then:

13. Fats Domino
16. Little Richard
17. Bruce Springsteen
18. Marvin Gaye
19. Sam Cooke
20. Madonna
21. Prince
22. U2
23. Pink Floyd
24. The Supremes
25. Elton John
26. Queen

No way do I see Jimi Hendrix ahead of Little Richard or Fats Domino.

They both beat him by a big margin in popularity and influence. Musical impact is close between them. Jimi clearly beats Fats in cultural impact, but even if he beats Richard there too (which I'm not sure of), I don't see how that overcomes their advantages in other areas.

I think Pink Floyd, Elton and Queen should be above U2, they are all very close though.

you underrate Hendrix's massive influence. not to mention, popularity only seems like a huge advantage if its initial popularity only. lasting popularity is a whole different game with Hendrix.

Jimi Hendrix's initial popularity is also huge:

Billboard's Top 5 Pop Albums 1968

Popularity isn't just about the singles chart.

I think Little Richard probably tops Jimi Hendrix in cultural impact, though.

I think Little Richard AND Fats Domino have far more cultural impact than Hendrix.

I think Hendrix is the most influential of the three. He also beats Little Richard in popularity and influence, and little Richard probably takes musical and cultural impact. Fats Domino beats him in popularity easily, and at least ties in musical and cultural impact.

Oh please. MJ is not top 4.

How is Hendrix more influential than Little Richard?
The very idea of controversy in rock would hardly exist without LR. Plus his influence on piano playing and live performing are immense.



No, I agree with Eric that Brown is also a lock for #3. The guy scores off the charts in all four criteria. Especially influence.

He's probably a top 5. Top 3 in popularity and cultural impact.

Controversy in rock? Elvis doesn't come to mind for you? Hendrix is responsible for taking rock guitar in a totally different direction. Hendrix's influence on live performance is huge too! I'd say the two are at least close.

I'd go a step further an say Dylan is a lock for #4. He's practically neck and neck with Brown, and I can't think of anyone who could displace him from that spot.

Exactly.

I mean, purely as musicians, Jimi's influence on guitar playing beats Richard's on piano playing. But Richard had much more influence on songwriting, performing, production, and so on. LR was important in the development of rock itself in the mid-late 50s and then had a big influence on sixties rock.

What planet are you on? You say he's top 3 in popularity and cultural impact as if this is some widely known and accepted fact. He's not top 3 cultural impact; not as long as there's James Brown, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, and others ahead of him. Maybe top 10, maybe.

I guarantee that the way we determine popularity, he won't be top 3 either.

That's an understatement.
I'm not convinced that Richard blows Hendrix out of the water in performance influence.

I wouldn't say he "blows him out of the water", but he beats him comfortably for sure.
Richard was one of the many black artists of the time who was bringing the intensity of gospel over to rock and r&b. This reflected hugely in his live performances. That kind of raw fury and uninhibited passion set the stage for practically every 'wild' rock performer that followed in his wake, whether it was Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown, Elvis, whoever.