# Most famous popular music artist, by genre **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 26, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342 "2012-06-26T13:32:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/41 "2012-06-27T20:35:50Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > For disco, Chic have got to be contenders for the definitive disco band, but for the most famous, yeah, that’s probably The Bee Gees. Just lately, though, Donna Summer might peek through. There is no greater comeback than death. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/42 "2012-06-27T20:40:03Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Oh, Bob Dylan has much more name recognition than Seeger. I’d bet about 75% of my co-workers know who Dylan is; I don’t think Seeger would break 20%. Ask them how many think of Dylan as a “folk singer.” However, Seeger is never thought of anything but a folk singer. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/43 "2012-06-27T22:07:20Z")
Suggestions for some “minor” genres… Cowpunk - The Beat Farmers Zydeco - Clifton Chenier Conjunto - Flaco Jiminez And since the responses seem to be trending toward Ameri-centric, I’ll throw in Canadian icon Ian Tyson in the folk catagory. Or folk-rock, or country-folk, or alt. country, or whatever it is he does. Hard to catagorize, but deserves an honorable mention. SS E.T.A. might also consider Leonard Cohen in the folk catagory. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/44 "2012-06-27T23:11:36Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Just lately, though, Donna Summer might peek through. There is no greater comeback than death. Oh yeah, totally agree that the disco-ish stuff Summer was doing in Germany with Georgio Moroder was very influential in ongoing music developments. Just not as famous as the Bee Gees, or probably The Village People for that matter, and the folk who took up the influence weren’t necessarily disco as such. Anyway, it’s all good, nothing wrong with music that is supposed to be danced to. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/45 "2012-06-27T23:24:47Z")
**Metal:** Metallica. Unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/46 "2012-06-28T00:04:10Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Ask them how many think of Dylan as a “folk singer.” However, Seeger is never thought of anything but a folk singer. The OP asked for famous. Seegar is basically unknown to the public at large. I bet more people think of Arlo Guthrie than of Seegar. Or of Woody Guthrie. And Joan Baez may beat all of them. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/47 "2012-06-28T02:05:59Z")
A lot of people seem to be going for most influential rather than most famous. I mean, seriously, Pachelbel is more famous than Beethoven and Franz Lehar is more famous than Gilbert and Sullivan? ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/48 "2012-06-28T03:02:07Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Pachelbel is more famous than Beethoven? [Humor, it is a difficult concept.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM) ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/49 "2012-06-28T03:23:40Z")
> [@FordTaurusSHO94](#): > > I’d put Hank Sr. over Cash. Garth Brooks did sell a couple of records though. Yeah, since the OP asked about _fame_ and not popularity, influence, etc., I’d say Garth Brooks beats Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and most other country artists. However, the first country artist that sprang to my mind (I’m not a fan of the genre) was Dolly Parton, who aside from being a successful singer and songwriter has been on TV plenty of times, starred in several movies, has a theme park named after her, and is referenced in plenty of jokes involving women with large breasts. I’d expect that many people who don’t care about country music at all still know who Dolly Parton is thanks to her work as an actress and her physical assets. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/50 "2012-06-28T03:51:54Z")
Beatles are the very definition of pop. Rock = AC DC or KISS ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/51 "2012-06-28T04:37:48Z")
Polyethniccajunslamgrass… **Leftover Salmon** Calypso… **Harry Belafonte** ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/52 "2012-06-28T05:43:54Z")
**Punk** (no sub-classification): The Clash, The Ramones get 2nd **Hardcore:** Black Flag \*\*New Wave: \*\*The Police **Grunge:** Nirvana (Soundgarden was my favorite, Pearl Jam is up there, but there’s no debate) \*\* Ska:\*\* The Specials **Emo:** Sunny Day Real Estate \*\* Alt Rock:\*\* R.E.M. \*\* Indie Rock:\*\* not touching this one, though The Pixies and Hüsker Dü spring to mind immediately. My view on popularity: while very few of these guys are in the headlines today, they mostly are still in rotation on the radio / satellite radio long after their heyday. While there are current acts that are more popular/trending at the moment in some instances, their staying power in most cases has not been tested as thoroughly. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/53 "2012-06-28T06:17:27Z")
Sex Pistols are more famous than The Clash, whom I love. SKA = Madness. Popularity is more not being the best, if it was then I would have picked The Clash, ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/54 "2012-06-28T06:22:08Z")
I think 2pac is definitely more famous than Jay-Z, Kanye West, or Eminem. He’s been dead for almost 16 years and is still big. I was just downloading some of his songs from youtube and they all had a bunch of comments saying happy birthday to him (it was just his birthday, obviously). And while Jay-Z and Kanye are really famous and everyone at all interested in the genre knows who they are, I bet there are plenty of people, mostly older people, who have never heard of them. I wouldn’t be surprised if my parents hadn’t and I’d be surprised if my grandparents had. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/55 "2012-06-28T06:25:46Z")
The Clash get round the clock airplay on rock and mix stations regularly. If I’m in my car for over an hour, I’ll hear London Calling or Rock the Casbah. The last time I heard a Sex Pistols song was the cover of My Way at the end of Goodfellas. Technically a solo Sid song too, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/56 "2012-06-28T06:48:25Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > \*\*New Wave: \*\*The Police Are the Police even new wave? If anything, they’re post-punk. Anyway, the biggest new wave band has always been Talking Heads; they pretty much defined the term. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/57 "2012-06-28T06:53:42Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Are the Police even new wave? If anything, they’re post-punk. > > Anyway, the biggest new wave band has always been Talking Heads; they pretty much defined the term. Yes, they are. Also, Talking Heads are right up there too, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/58 "2012-06-28T07:09:16Z")
In that case, I’d say that while Police are the bigger band, Talking Heads are the band more people associate with new wave. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/59 "2012-06-28T07:56:51Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > [Humor, it is a difficult concept.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM) I’ll agree that Pachelbel’s _Canon in D_ is a really well-known work of music. But Pachelbel himself? Not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342/60 "2012-06-28T08:01:56Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > In that case, I’d say that while Police are the bigger band, Talking Heads are the band more people associate with new wave. I’d probably give the Talking Heads the nod. But you’ve got Blondie and the Cars right behind them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-popular-music-artist-by-genre/626342.md?page=4)