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Art Rupe
Art Rupe
American music industry executive
1
Robert Blackwell
Robert Blackwell
American bandleader, songwriter, arranger, and record producer
2
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
American gospel musician
3
Dorothy LaBostrie
Dorothy LaBostrie
American songwriter
4
The Famous Flames
The Famous Flames
American R&B band
5
Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
American R&B musician
6
Al Green
Al Green
American singer
7
Etta James
Etta James
American recording artist; singer
8
Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
American singer, songwriter and guitarist
9
Lloyd Price
Lloyd Price
American singer, songwriter
10
The Shirelles
The Shirelles
African American girl group
11
Cosimo Matassa
Cosimo Matassa
American recording engineer and studio owner
12
Ahmet Ertegün
Ahmet Ertegün
Turkish-American songwriter, record producer, music executive
13
Esquerita
Esquerita
American musician
14
Ike Turner
Ike Turner
African American musician, songwriter, and producer (1931-2007)
15
Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke
American recording artist; singer-songwriter and entrepreneur
16
Ray Charles
Ray Charles
American recording artist; musician, singer, songwriter
17
Larry Williams
Larry Williams
American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter, producer, and pianist
18
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
American singer, songwriter, and record producer
19
Jimmy Reed
Jimmy Reed
American blues musician and songwriter
20
Jerry Wexler
Jerry Wexler
American music journalist and producer
21
Louis Jordan
Louis Jordan
American jazz, blues and rhythm and blues musician, songwriter and bandleader (1908-1975)
22
Bobby Byrd
Bobby Byrd
American R&B/soul singer, songwriter, bandleader, talent scout, record producer, and musician
23
Otis Blackwell
Otis Blackwell
American songwriter, singer, and pianist
24
Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
American singer
25
Leiber-Stoller
Leiber-Stoller
American songwriting and record producing duo
26
Kings of Rhythm
Kings of Rhythm
American musical group; R&B/Soul band led by Ike Turner
27
Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
American blues guitarist and singer
28
Little Willie John
Little Willie John
American recording artist; R&B singer
29
Jerry Butler
Jerry Butler
American soul singer and songwriter
30
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
American recording artist; singer-songwriter and pianist
31
Billy Preston
Billy Preston
American musician whose work encompassed R&B, rock, soul, funk, and gospel (1946-2006)
32
Otis Redding
Otis Redding
American singer, songwriter and record producer
33
Freddie King
Freddie King
American blues guitarist and singer
34
Fats Domino
Fats Domino
American R&B musician
35
Solomon Burke
Solomon Burke
American singer
36
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer
37
Johnnie Johnson
Johnnie Johnson
American musician
38
Jack Scott
Jack Scott
Canadian singer
39
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
American singer and songwriter
40
Don Covay
Don Covay
American musician
41
O. C. Smith
O. C. Smith
American musician
42
Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
American blues singer and guitarist
43
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
English rock band
44
Ike & Tina Turner
Ike & Tina Turner
American musical duo
45
Little Walter
Little Walter
American blues harmonica player
46
Big Joe Turner
Big Joe Turner
American blues shouter
47
Frank Fields
Frank Fields
American musician
48
Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts
British drummer of The Rolling Stones
49
Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart
British musician and tour manager
50
Dave Bartholomew
Dave Bartholomew
American musician, bandleader, composer, arranger, and record producer
51
Bill Withers
Bill Withers
American singer-songwriter and musician
52
The "5" Royales
The "5" Royales
R&B band from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.