Mozart, J.S. Bach, Pavarotti, TI, Aretha Franklin, Edvard Grieg, Run DMC, Afrika Bambaataa, Peter Steele, Montserrat Caballe', Dream Theater, Duke Ellington, Tangerine Dream, Josh Thompson, Hank Williams, Johnny Horton...Too many to mention!!!!

Schubert, Mozart, Bach (although his catalog is a bit smaller than those two), and The Beatles.

Why: The brilliance of the melodies, harmonies, composition, and chord progressions and the sheer volume of great music. Bach's catalog is somewhat smaller, but still amazing. Truly, only when you look at Mozart, Schubert, and the Beatles do you get into THE HUNDREDS.

Julio Iglesias

He can write music , sing and dance very talented and extremely handsome.

No not All at the same time.

Jerry Garcia

Me....

Despite serious, life-changing illness in 1980, since 1983 I have written more than 590 songs! Within the next year I hope to go past the sum total of three times the total number of songs (219, I think) the Beatles wrote whilst they were together as a band.

First performance "by Royal Command" before 1974 followed by endless LPs, videos and studio work. In "modern times, since 1987, 30 CDs and CD participations to date, 3 DVDs, as well as endless videos, though most in South America, Canada, parts of Africa and parts of the Far East.

Hoping to bring some of this back catalog to Europe, the rest of the Americas, the rest of Africa, the Pacific Rim and a few other places very, very soon!

Voice still producing mind-bending harmonics!!!

For instance, lets examine "Across The Universe:"

The guitar playing on this song is brilliant. The instrument is tuned down by a half note. This reduces string tension to create a softer, warmer tone. The one-and-two-and strumming pattern feels like gentle waves that caress. Together, these nuances create a feeling of love pulsating across the universe. The playing perfectly reflects the lyrics. This is the highest musical artistry.

To me some of the greatest music artists are the one of some the ones who influenced the most bands. I think artistic merit, is more important than album sales.

Take a band like Velvet Underground, their debut album only sold about 500 copies, and yet every band formed a band after listening to them (Brian Eno quote) Bands like The Stooges, MC5, Neu! Can, The Fall their influence is so strong on modern music.

Nowadays seem to be about image, and not the music.

Sales is the result of marketing and merchandising...not usually in the wheelhouse of a musician....so JZ's sales is more about the record label that raised his profile than anything, though he is incredibly talented.

in my opinion, "greatness' is about going beyond what everyone else is doing. Its about setting a new trend, creating something far ahead of other creators, that wasn't there before.

With that criteria, there have been very few "greats" in popular music of the modern era

Hank Williams
Little Richard
Chuck Berry
Buddy Holly
Chet Atkins
Elvis
The Beatles
Jimi Hendrix
Led Zepplin
Van Halen
Frank Zappa
U2
Eminem

And he really wasn't a chimo...

James Arthur and Kostas Martakis

Stevie Ray Vaughn
Ray Charles
Norah Jones

For me,

The Beatles, Elvis, Bob Marley, The Stones, BB King

I agree with the main sentiment, that it matters what subjective standard is used to describe 'best'. We can definitely have a BEST SELLING, but that is not always an indicator of best talent or musicianship.

I think there are too many amazing artists to say that only one is THE BEST. I believe a number are amongst the best though, by my own standards, of having a diversity of musical skills(composing, singing, dancing, lyrics, instrumental talent ... et cetera)

If I were to name some of who I think are the best by the standards of how many musical boxes they tick off with amazing skill, I would say definitely:

MJ(amazing composer, vocalist, dancer, lyricist, every facet but playing in instrument really)

Prince(amazing composer, performer, lyricist, musician, vocalist)

Stevie Wonder(amazing composer, lyricist, musician, vocalist)

Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, and Aretha Franklin( one of a kind vocal talents, uniquely identifiable in an ocean of voices, amazing performers and composers)


Hall and Oates, U2, Coldplay (yes, I said it. Composing, vocals, instrumentalists, performers)

Freddie Mercury(extraordinary composer, vocalist, performer, instrumentalist)


Frank Sinatra( also one of a kind vocal talent, uniquely identifiable, amazing performer and composer)


Beyonce(amazing in every musical skill but playing instruments, singing, dancing, performing, composing, lyricist)


Best Vocalists only would be Minnie Ripperton, Mariah Carey, Teena Marie, Steve Tyler of Aerosmith, Whitney Houston



Best Acappela talents would be Pentatonix and Boyz II Men


... I love music and could go on for pages, but I wont.

Good points Cat..

Elton John is Billboards most successful male artist all time since they started keeping track.. and 350 million sales all time or so

He has the all time selling single with Candle in the Wind tribute to Princess Diana

and incidentally John Lennons first Solo number 1 hit was Whatever Gets you through the Night w/ Elton John..

I have a lot of music on my phone and Elvis to me has the smoothest voice.

Joni Mitchell - Her tunings and chord progressions are unique - never mind her lyrics and the fact she was self-taught!

She is also an incredible painter -ever see her self portray where she models herself after Van Gogh?

Stevie Ray Vaughn.
He was humble and played music tht came from his soul

Jeff Beck