- Allman Brothers
- Black Oak Arkansas
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Mountain
- Molly Hatchet
- 38 Special
- Other -specify in comments
0 voters
Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd formed in 1969 and Marshall Tucker in 1972.
I’m not sure their sound was fully developed.
Who really popularized Southern Rock?
I voted Allman Brothers with Lynyrd Skynyrd a close 2nd.
It’s interesting Black Oak Arkansas formed in 1970. They were in it from the beginning. But they didn’t have the same level of talent.
I’d give the nod to a band from El Cerrito, CA.
I picked Allman Brothers because they were the first band where I thought “These guys are great! And they’re country… no… rock… well, both!”
And a hefty dose of blues.
I voted for Mountain just so somebody would. However, I don’t recall anyone giving them any credit in this regard.
Skynyrd is the only one I’ve seen live. Definitely they get the credit.
Not a rock band, right? I’m not a country music guy, but I thought they were kinda country-pop.
Kinda surprised to see Molly Hatchet in the poll. IIRC they didn’t show up until much later in the 70s.
And no Charlie Daniels Band? I would put them in the top three along with Allman Bros and Skynyrd.
I think “southern rock” wasn’t created by any single band. Perusing the Wiki articles on the bands I’m least familiar with, it looks like there was a lot of kids influenced by country, blues, and the guitar heavy British bands of the early 60’s. Florida seems to have been a hotbed. Hard to pick one group as the “creators”.
For popularizing, it looks to me like of those listed, the Allman Brothers were the first to hit it big nationally (1971’s Live at Fillmore East), and I don’t think you can claim to popularize if you haven’t had a hit outside of your locale.
Creedence may have some claim for earlier popularization, but I think most people associate southern rock with the bluesier, guitar heavy sound.
I only remember Mountain for “Mississippi Queen”, so I was surprised that they were from Long Island! Which reminded me of this…
Lynyrd Skynyrd… The question has the word, " popularizing"… So I choose LS. …Having said that, I also consider Marshall Tucker Band, and Doug Grey & I were friends for a bit, since I was involved with a recording / record company they did an album ( SISAPA )…
In San Francisco, I helped sound on stage for Greg Allman ( nice guy)…
( “users can not upload images” nuts )
I’d add Wet Willy, but they don’t surpass the Allman Brothers of Skynyrd.
To add to my earlier post… ANY southern rock band are great when seen live. ( unlimited energy) 
Allmans and Skynyrd. The other bands in the poll, and others mentioned in the thread, also had a role, but for me, only those two truly are the answers to the OP’s question.
What about
Black Oak Arkansas was perhaps the worst band I’ve ever seen live. The only mitigating factor was, they were opening for Beck, Bogert, and Appice, which was perhaps the worst project Jeff Beck was ever involved in.
I saw them when they opened for Eagles of Death Metal.
Note that Southern Rock was popularized less by a band, but by Phil Walden and Frank Fenter of Capricorn Records.
Capricorn recorded the Allmans, Bonnie Bramlett, Delbert McClinton, Dixie Dregs, Marshall Tucker, Sea Level, Stillwater, Wet Willie, Charlie Daniels Band, Livingston Taylor, and Martin Mull.
Mountain don’t want no pity vote.
My friends were in a band in San Francisco ( late '70’s - '80’s era / " Chumbi" / google that name )… One was the drummer, & studied for 4 years under Appice ( east coast), Appice is in Orange County, Ca. now.
( The lead guitarist was no slouch / " EmK" )
I saw Mountain live, mostly because of “Mississippi Queen.” They were loud.
Outlaws (not The Outlaws, who were an earlier British band) started in 1967 but didn’t become famous until 1975. I saw them live and their three lead guitar sound blew me away. In the top tier of all bands I liked on record who could replicate their sound live, rather than being louder.
But I voted for the Allmans. They are one of the top groups in American rock history, melded the blues with rock, and created the sound that was called Southern Rock in the 1960s. Skynrd didn’t release its first album until 1973. Good as they were, the Allmans are on a higher plain and were superstars before Al Kooper produced Skynrd’s first note.