rock and roll artists
149 published rock and roll artists, led by The Beatles, Elvis Presley and The Rolling Stones. The list below shows the 120 most famous.
At a glance
149 published rock and roll artists; 1,576 studio albums have verified cover art.
- Published artists7 tier 1 · 70 tier 2 · 72 tier 3
- 149
- Release groups
- 9,612
- Studio albums
- 1,828
- Albums with cover artverified Cover Art Archive
- 1,576
- Timeline events
- 2,674
- Monthly listenerssum across artists
- 377.1M
- Claimed salessum of stored claims; implausible values excluded
- 2,290M
- Average career spanfirst to last dated release
- 51 years
- Full biographies
- 129
- Biography words
- 497,004
When they started
Debut decade from each artist's earliest dated release. Most debuts fell in the 1970s (33 artists).
| Decade | Artists |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 1 |
| 1940s | 2 |
| 1950s | 26 |
| 1960s | 29 |
| 1970s | 33 |
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 8 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 3 |
| 2020s | 3 |
Where they come from
Countries with the most rock and roll artists. United States leads with 77.
Often paired with
Genres that share artists with rock and roll. The most shared is rock music, with 38 artists in both.
Covers from rock and roll
1,576 studio albums have verified cover art. The 12 shown come from the most famous artists.
The Beatles Celebration
The Beatles · 1999
The World’s First Beatles Shaped CD
The Beatles · 1996
The Beatles Tapes From The David Wigg Interviews
The Beatles · 1990
The Compleat Beatles
The Beatles · 1982
Let It Be
The Beatles · 1970
Abbey Road
The Beatles · 1969
The Beatles
The Beatles · 1968
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles · 1967
Revolver
The Beatles · 1966
Yesterday and Today
The Beatles · 1966
Beatles VI
The Beatles · 1965
Rubber Soul
The Beatles · 1965
Leaders
The Rolling Stones has the most release groups (399); Sister Rosetta Tharpe the longest career (87 years); Paul McCartney the most awards (52).
Most prolific
| Artist | release groups |
|---|---|
| The Rolling Stones | 399 |
| AC/DC | 392 |
| Paul McCartney | 305 |
| Elvis Presley | 300 |
| Johnny Cash | 300 |
Longest careers
first to last dated release
| Artist | years |
|---|---|
| Sister Rosetta Tharpe | 87 |
| Fats Domino | 74 |
| Little Richard | 74 |
| Bill Haley & His Comets | 73 |
| The Platters | 71 |
Most decorated
| Artist | awards |
|---|---|
| Paul McCartney | 52 |
| Tina Turner | 34 |
| The Rolling Stones | 30 |
| The Temptations | 30 |
| Billy Joel | 24 |
Most famous rock and roll artists
The Beatles
United Kingdom · Group · 1960–1970
rock music, pop music, hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock, beat music, folk rock, psychedelic rock, traditional folk music, experimental rock, classic rock
35.2M listeners · 245 wikis
Elvis Presley
United States · Person · born 1935
rock music, pop music, rock and roll, rockabilly, country music, gospel music, rhythm and blues, blues, pop rock, country rock
23.7M listeners · 216 wikis
The Rolling Stones
United Kingdom · Group · 1962–present
rock music, rock and roll, blues rock, psychedelic rock, classic rock, rhythm and blues, blues
28.8M listeners · 139 wikis
Paul McCartney
United Kingdom · Person · born 1942
rock music, rock and roll, beat music, psychedelic rock, pop rock, art rock, classical music
13.4M listeners · 149 wikis
John Lennon
United Kingdom · Person · born 1940
rock music, pop music, hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock, beat music, psychedelic rock, experimental rock, pop rock, art rock, experimental music
14.1M listeners · 185 wikis
AC/DC
Australia · Group · 1973–present
hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock, classic rock
37.2M listeners · 103 wikis
Johnny Cash
United States · Person · born 1932
rock and roll, traditional folk music, rockabilly, country music, gospel music, blues, outlaw country
12.2M listeners · 118 wikis
Tina Turner
United States · Person · born 1939
rock music, pop music, rock and roll, soul, funk, country music, rhythm and blues
13.4M listeners · 112 wikis
Aerosmith
United States · Group · 1969–present
hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock, glam rock, traditional heavy metal, heavy metal music
30M listeners · 84 wikis
Billy Joel
United States · Person · born 1949
rock and roll, pop rock, soft rock, contemporary classical music
34.4M listeners · 68 wikis
The Beach Boys
United States · Group · 1961–present
rock music, pop music, rock and roll, surf music
11.4M listeners · 81 wikis
Chuck Berry
United States · Person · born 1926
rock music, rock and roll, blues
6.5M listeners · 99 wikis
More rock and roll artists
Showing 1–108 of 108 artists
Creedence Clearwater Revival
United States · Group · 1968–1972
rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, country rock, roots rock, swamp rock
33.5M listeners · 62 wikis · Tier 2
Freddie Mercury
United Kingdom · Person · born 1946
hard rock, rock and roll, classic rock, disco, pop rock, glam rock, progressive rock, traditional heavy metal, classical crossover, neoclassicism
176 wikis · Tier 2
Etta James
United States · Person · born 1938
rock and roll, soul, gospel music, rhythm and blues, blues, jazz
8.3M listeners · 65 wikis · Tier 2
ZZ Top
United States · Group · 1969–present
rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock, Southern rock, boogie rock
11.1M listeners · 57 wikis · Tier 2
Electric Light Orchestra
United Kingdom · Group · 1970–present
rock and roll, classic rock, pop rock, progressive rock, art rock, progressive pop, symphonic rock
18.3M listeners · 45 wikis · Tier 1
Frankie Valli
United States · Person · born 1934
pop music, rock and roll
14.5M listeners · 41 wikis · Tier 1
The Temptations
United States · Group · 1960–present
rock music, rock and roll, soul, funk, rhythm and blues, doo-wop
8.5M listeners · 38 wikis · Tier 2
Kishore Kumar
India · Person · born 1929
rock and roll, Indian film music, Hindustani classical music, ghazal
13.3M listeners · 45 wikis · Tier 2
Rocío Dúrcal
Spain · Person · born 1944
rock and roll, ballade, bolero, ranchera, flamenco, copla, tango, jota
9.2M listeners · 27 wikis · Tier 3
Johnny Hallyday
France · Person · born 1943
rock music, pop music, rock and roll, blues rock, psychedelic rock, soul, country music, rhythm and blues, blues, country rock, chanson, French rock, sentimental ballad
76 wikis · Tier 2
Mick Jagger
United Kingdom · Person · born 1943
rock music, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, blues
99 wikis · Tier 2
Keith Richards
United Kingdom · Person · born 1943
rock music, rock and roll, blues rock, rhythm and blues
86 wikis · Tier 2
Adriano Celentano
Italy · Person · born 1938
pop music, rock and roll, pop rock, synth-pop, Italo disco, swing, easy listening, light music
86 wikis · Tier 2
Little Richard
United States · Person · born 1932
rock music, rock and roll, soul, funk, gospel music, rhythm and blues
67 wikis · Tier 2
Angus Young
Australia · Person · born 1955
hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock
69 wikis · Tier 2
Fats Domino
United States · Person · born 1928
rock and roll, rhythm and blues, jazz, boogie-woogie
60 wikis · Tier 2
Lemmy
United Kingdom · Person · born 1945
rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, traditional heavy metal, heavy metal music, space rock, speed metal
69 wikis · Tier 2
Brian Jones
United Kingdom · Person · born 1942
rock music, rock and roll, blues rock, psychedelic rock, rhythm and blues
55 wikis · Tier 2
Bo Diddley
United States · Person · born 1928
rock and roll, blues, rapping
45 wikis · Tier 2
Connie Francis
United States · Person · born 1937
pop music, rock and roll, country music, jazz, folk music, country pop, traditional pop, vocal jazz
59 wikis · Tier 2
Brenda Lee
United States · Person · born 1944
pop music, rock and roll, rockabilly, country music
41 wikis · Tier 3
Bobby Darin
United States · Person · born 1936
rock music, pop music, rock and roll, country music, blues, pop rock, jazz, folk music, big band music, swing, novelty music
48 wikis · Tier 2
Brian Johnson
United Kingdom · Person · born 1947
rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock, Q3071
47 wikis · Tier 3
Malcolm Young
Australia · Person · born 1953
hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock
47 wikis · Tier 2
Ronnie Wood
United Kingdom · Person · born 1947
rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, psychedelic rock, rhythm and blues, blues
46 wikis · Tier 3
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
United States · Person · born 1915
rock and roll, gospel music, rhythm and blues, blues, jazz
34 wikis · Tier 2
Bill Wyman
United Kingdom · Person · born 1936
rock music, rock and roll, blues rock, rhythm and blues, swing, skiffle
42 wikis · Tier 3
John Fogerty
United States · Person · born 1945
rock music, rock and roll, country music, swamp rock
41 wikis · Tier 3
Eric Burdon
United Kingdom · Person · born 1941
rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock, psychedelic rock, rhythm and blues, blues, traditional heavy metal, jazz fusion, funk rock, Latin rock
41 wikis · Tier 3
Billy Preston
United States · Person · born 1946
rock music, rock and roll, soul, funk, gospel music, rhythm and blues, blues
47 wikis · Tier 2
Duane Allman
United States · Person · born 1946
rock and roll, blues rock, country music, blues, Southern rock
37 wikis · Tier 2
Cliff Williams
United Kingdom · Person · born 1949
hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock
37 wikis · Tier 3
The Platters
United States · Group · 1952–present
rock and roll, rhythm and blues, traditional pop
33 wikis · Tier 2
Pat Boone
United States · Person · born 1934
pop music, rock and roll, country music, gospel music, rhythm and blues, estrada
42 wikis · Tier 3
Neil Sedaka
United States · Person · born 1939
pop music, rock and roll, soft rock, estrada, doo-wop
41 wikis · Tier 2
Ahmet Ertegün
Turkey · Person · born 1923
rock and roll, rhythm and blues, blues, jazz
31 wikis · Tier 2
Denny Laine
United Kingdom · Person · born 1944
rock music, rock and roll, blues rock, rhythm and blues, jazz fusion
30 wikis · Tier 2
Bob Weir
United States · Person · born 1947
rock music, rock and roll, psychedelic rock, country music, blues, folk music
27 wikis · Tier 2
Maureen Tucker
United States · Person · born 1944
rock and roll, folk rock, experimental rock, art rock, avant-garde music, proto-punk
27 wikis · Tier 3
Brad Wilk
United States · Person · born 1968
hard rock, rock and roll, funk metal, alternative metal, rap metal
27 wikis · Tier 2
James Burton
United States · Person · born 1939
rock and roll
27 wikis · Tier 3
Garth Hudson
Canada · Person · born 1937
rock and roll, country music, jazz, folk music, roots rock
26 wikis · Tier 2
Cheap Trick
United States · Group · 1974–present
hard rock, rock and roll, alternative rock, Q3071, new wave, pop-punk, power pop
26 wikis · Tier 3
Ike & Tina Turner
United States · Group · 1960–present
rock music, pop music, rock and roll, blues rock, soul, funk, rhythm and blues, blues, funk rock
25 wikis · Tier 3
Alan Freed
United States · Person · born 1921
rock and roll
25 wikis · Tier 2
Hilton Valentine
United Kingdom · Person · born 1943
rock and roll
24 wikis · Tier 2
Germán Burgos
Argentina · Person · born 1969
rock and roll
33 wikis · Tier 2
Rick Danko
Canada · Person · born 1943
rock and roll
23 wikis · Tier 2
Phil Campbell
United Kingdom · Person · born 1961
hard rock, rock and roll, heavy metal music
32 wikis · Tier 2
Ellie Greenwich
United States · Person · born 1940
pop music, rock and roll, jazz, girl group, Brill Building, jazz pop
22 wikis · Tier 2
Bill Haley & His Comets
United States · Group · 1949–1981
rock and roll
22 wikis · Tier 2
Sandro
Argentina · Person · born 1945
rock and roll, Latin ballad
30 wikis · Tier 2
Ian McLagan
United Kingdom · Person · born 1945
hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock, rhythm and blues, psychedelic pop
21 wikis · Tier 2
Robert Hunter
United States · Person · born 1941
rock and roll, blues rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, country rock, alternative hip-hop, bluegrass music
20 wikis · Tier 2
Jerry Wexler
United States · Person · born 1917
rock and roll, soul, rhythm and blues, blues
20 wikis · Tier 2
Duane Eddy
United States · Person · born 1938
rock and roll, rockabilly, country music, instrumental rock, surf music
29 wikis · Tier 3
Elmore James
United States · Person · born 1918
rock and roll, rhythm and blues, blues
29 wikis · Tier 2
Roy Bittan
United States · Person · born 1949
rock and roll
19 wikis · Tier 3
Jerry Reed
United States · Person · born 1937
pop music, rock and roll, rockabilly, country music, country rock, folk music, country pop, outlaw country, bluegrass music, swamp rock, truck-driving country
28 wikis · Tier 3
Aquarium
Russia · Group · 1972–present
rock music, rock and roll, blues rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, experimental rock, art rock, new wave, reggae, jazz fusion, indie rock, neofolk, bard rock
28 wikis · Tier 3
The Big Bopper
United States · Person · born 1930
rock and roll
27 wikis · Tier 3
Todd Rundgren
United States · Person · born 1948
pop music, hard rock, rock and roll, soul, pop rock, progressive rock, blue-eyed soul, proto-punk
27 wikis · Tier 3
Gary Glitter
United Kingdom · Person · born 1944
rock and roll, glam rock
27 wikis · Tier 3
John Steel
United Kingdom · Person · born 1941
rock and roll
18 wikis · Tier 3
Melissa Auf der Maur
Canada · Person · born 1972
rock music, rock and roll, alternative rock
26 wikis · Tier 3
Jim Capaldi
United Kingdom · Person · born 1944
rock and roll
17 wikis · Tier 2
Jerry Allison
United States · Person · born 1939
rock and roll, rockabilly
17 wikis · Tier 2
Alan Clark
United Kingdom · Person · born 1952
rock and roll
17 wikis · Tier 3
Sonny Curtis
United States · Person · born 1937
pop music, rock and roll, country music
16 wikis · Tier 2
Jeff Barry
United States · Person · born 1938
pop music, rock and roll
16 wikis · Tier 3
Danny Federici
United States · Person · born 1950
rock and roll
16 wikis · Tier 2
Angélica María
Mexico · Person · born 1944
rock and roll
25 wikis · Tier 3
Albert Collins
United States · Person · born 1932
rock and roll, blues
24 wikis · Tier 2
Arthur Brown
United Kingdom · Person · born 1942
rock music, rock and roll, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, shock rock
24 wikis · Tier 3
Manfred Mann
United Kingdom · Person · born 1940
rock and roll
24 wikis · Tier 3
Giorgio Gaber
Italy · Person · born 1939
rock and roll, bard song
23 wikis · Tier 3
Dan McCafferty
United Kingdom · Person · born 1946
rock music, hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock
22 wikis · Tier 3
Peter Wolf
United States · Person · born 1946
rock and roll, soul, blues
13 wikis · Tier 3
Zola Taylor
United States · Person · born 1938
rock and roll
13 wikis · Tier 2
Zal Yanovsky
United States · Person · born 1944
rock and roll
13 wikis · Tier 2
Little Anthony and the Imperials
United States · Group · 1958–present
rock and roll, soul, rhythm and blues, adult contemporary music, doo-wop
11 wikis · Tier 2
Geordie
United Kingdom · Group · 1972–present
rock and roll
20 wikis · Tier 3
Shlomo Artzi
Israel · Person · born 1949
rock and roll
20 wikis · Tier 3
Eddy Mitchell
France · Person · born 1942
rock and roll
20 wikis · Tier 3
Robert Gordon
United States · Person · born 1947
rock and roll, rockabilly, country music
19 wikis · Tier 3
Herman Brood
Kingdom of the Netherlands · Person · born 1946
rock and roll
19 wikis · Tier 3
The Easybeats
Australia · Group · 1964–present
rock music, rock and roll, beat music, psychedelic rock
19 wikis · Tier 3
Wu Bai
Taiwan · Person · born 1968
rock and roll
18 wikis · Tier 3
Joe B. Mauldin
United States · Person · born 1940
rock and roll
8 wikis · Tier 2
Lucky Peterson
United States · Person · born 1964
rock and roll, soul, gospel music, rhythm and blues, blues, jazz
17 wikis · Tier 2
Andy White
United Kingdom · Person · born 1930
rock and roll
17 wikis · Tier 3
Johnny Grande
United States · Person · born 1930
rock and roll
7 wikis · Tier 2
Mitch Ryder
United States · Person · born 1945
rock and roll
15 wikis · Tier 2
Jimmie Rodgers
United States · Person · born 1933
pop music, rock and roll, country music, folk music
15 wikis · Tier 3
Marshall Lytle
United States · Person · born 1933
rock and roll
6 wikis · Tier 2
Dick Rivers
France · Person · born 1945
rock music, rock and roll, country music, chanson
14 wikis · Tier 3
Joe Negroni
United States · Person · born 1940
rock and roll
4 wikis · Tier 2
Rosalind Ashford
United States · Person · born 1943
rock and roll, soul, rhythm and blues, doo-wop
4 wikis · Tier 2
Danny Cedrone
United States · Person · born 1920
rock and roll
4 wikis · Tier 2
Dennis Thompson
United States · Person · born 1948
rock and roll
4 wikis · Tier 2
Paul Brady
Ireland · Person · born 1947
rock and roll
13 wikis · Tier 3
Robbie van Leeuwen
Kingdom of the Netherlands · Person · born 1944
rock and roll
13 wikis · Tier 3
Lurrie Bell
United States · Person · born 1958
rock and roll, blues, Chicago blues
12 wikis · Tier 2
Jack Scott
United States · Person · born 1936
rock and roll, rockabilly, country music
12 wikis · Tier 3
Normaal
Netherlands · Group · 1975–present
rock and roll, blues rock, dialect music
12 wikis · Tier 3
Tommy Facenda
United States · Person · born 1939
rock and roll
2 wikis · Tier 2
Rudy Pompilli
United States · Person · born 1924
rock and roll
2 wikis · Tier 2
Kenny Laguna
United States · Person · born 1954
rock and roll
2 wikis · Tier 3