Most Influential American Musicians

1. Al Jolson (1886–1950) dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer".
2. Jimmie Rodgers (1897–1933) considered "The Father of Country Music".
3. George Gershwin (1898–1937) he wrote numerous jazz and pop standards that have become part of The Great American Songbook, often with his lyricist brother, Ira. He also wrote Broadway musicals, the opera "Porgy and Bess", and the symphonically jazzy “Rhapsody In Blue”. Dying at 38 "his music is as fresh and vital today as when he originally created it." (Michael Feinstein)

4. Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong (1901–1971) called "the greatest of all Jazz musicians" and "the Founding Father of Jazz", Duke Ellington said: "If anybody was Mr. Jazz, it was Louis Armstrong. He was the epitome of Jazz and always will be."
5. Robert Johnson (1911-1938) "the most important blues musician who ever lived" according to Eric Clapton.
6. Woody Guthrie (1912-1967)  author of "This Land Is Your Land" and almost 3,000 other folk songs, father to Arlo, without him we wouldn't have Bob Dylan. 
7. Billie Holiday (1915-1959) she "changed the art of American pop vocals forever" according to critic John Bush.

8. Hank Williams (1923-1953) considered the father of contemporary country music.
9. James Brown (1933-2006) known as "The Godfather of Soul".
10. Elvis Presley (1935-1977) referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"; the best-selling solo artist in the history of popular music; regarded as "the greatest cultural force in the twentieth century" by Leonard Bernstein.

11. Bob Dylan (1941--) Edna Gundersen stated in USA Today that "Dylan's musical DNA has informed nearly every simple twist of pop since 1962."
12. Michael Jackson (1958-2009) referred to as the "King of Pop"; recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records.