Pioneers of rock n roll. Yes, you can talk about The Beatles.
49erkiller mentioned him, but the only real answer to this question is Chuck Berry. He basically invented rock and roll by his alterations to blues music.
Without Chick Berry, there is no Elvis, and there certainly aren't Beatles.
And, yes, Elvis was an artistic thief with stage presence; also, a pretty miserable human being in almost every way.
If you want to go back pre-1950s, then look no further than Robert Johnson, whose inspiration led to Chuck Berry and all the great black bluesmen that Elvis ripped off. Clapton called Johnson "the most important bluesman who ever lived."
49erkiller mentioned him, but the only real answer to this question is Chuck Berry. He basically invented rock and roll by his alterations to blues music.
Without Chick Berry, there is no Elvis, and there certainly aren't Beatles.
And, yes, Elvis was an artistic thief with stage presence; also, a pretty miserable human being in almost every way.
If you want to go back pre-1950s, then look no further than Robert Johnson, whose inspiration led to Chuck Berry and all the great black bluesmen that Elvis ripped off. Clapton called Johnson "the most important bluesman who ever lived."