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Wynonie Harris
Wynonie Harris
American blues shouter and rhythm and blues singer
1
Pee Wee Crayton
Pee Wee Crayton
American R&B and blues guitarist and singer
2
Henry Glover
Henry Glover
American songwriter, arranger, record producer and trumpet player
3
Milt Buckner
Milt Buckner
American musician
4
Big Joe Turner
Big Joe Turner
American blues shouter
5
Jimmy Liggins
Jimmy Liggins
American R&B guitarist and bandleader
6
Charles Brown
Charles Brown
American recording artist; songwriter, blues singer and pianist
7
Buddy Johnson
Buddy Johnson
American jazz and New York blues pianist and bandleader
8
Amos Milburn
Amos Milburn
American rhythm and blues singer, and pianist
9
Bobby Robinson
Bobby Robinson
American songwriter and record producer
10
Billy Wright
Billy Wright
American singer
11
Johnny Moore's Three Blazers
Johnny Moore's Three Blazers
American vocal group in the 1940s and 1950s
12
Paul Williams
Paul Williams
US blues and R&B saxophone player and composer
13
Little Willie Littlefield
Little Willie Littlefield
American R&B pianist and singer
14
Jimmy Witherspoon
Jimmy Witherspoon
American jump blues singer
15
The Midnighters
The Midnighters
American R&B group
16
Tommy Brown
Tommy Brown
American musician
17
Billy Eckstine
Billy Eckstine
American musician
18
Arthur Prysock
Arthur Prysock
American singer
19
Annie Laurie
Annie Laurie
American jump blues and rhythm and blues singer
20
Dave Bartholomew
Dave Bartholomew
American musician, bandleader, composer, arranger, and record producer
21
The Honeydrippers
The Honeydrippers
British rock band
22
Johnny Otis
Johnny Otis
American singer, musician, composer, and record producer
23
Smiley Lewis
Smiley Lewis
American musician
24
Earl Bostic
Earl Bostic
American musician
25
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
American blues musician
26
Joe Liggins
Joe Liggins
American R&B, jazz and blues pianist
27
Hank Ballard
Hank Ballard
American R&B recording artist; singer and songwriter
28
Tiny Bradshaw
Tiny Bradshaw
American jazz and rhythm and blues bandleader, singer, composer, pianist, and drummer
29
Laurel Aitken
Laurel Aitken
singer
30
Henry Stone
Henry Stone
American record company executive, producer
31
J. B. Lenoir
J. B. Lenoir
African American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter
32
Floyd Smith
Floyd Smith
American jazz guitarist
33
Ernie Freeman
Ernie Freeman
American musician
34
Bill Doggett
Bill Doggett
American jazz and rhythm and blues pianist and organist
35
Memphis Slim
Memphis Slim
American recording artist; blues pianist, singer, and composer
36
Moon Mullican
Moon Mullican
American recording artist; country and western singer, songwriter, and pianist
37
Red Perkins
Red Perkins
American musician and singer
38
Bert Weedon
Bert Weedon
English guitarist
39
Louis Jordan
Louis Jordan
American jazz, blues and rhythm and blues musician, songwriter and bandleader (1908-1975)
40
David Wilcox
David Wilcox
Canadian musician
41
Margie Day
Margie Day
American musician
42
Jody Williams
Jody Williams
American blues guitarist and singer
43
Huey "Piano" Smith
Huey "Piano" Smith
American musician
44
Kay Starr
Kay Starr
American singer
45
Wynona Carr
Wynona Carr
American musician
46
H-Bomb Ferguson
H-Bomb Ferguson
American jump blues singer
47
Fred Below
Fred Below
American musician
48
Boogie Bill Webb
Boogie Bill Webb
American Louisiana blues and R&B guitarist, singer and songwriter
49
Mike Vernon
Mike Vernon
English music executive studio owner and record producer
50
Sonny Thompson
Sonny Thompson
American R&B bandleader and pianist
51
Leon René
Leon René
American songwriter, record label owner, record producer
52
Bob Gaddy
Bob Gaddy
American East Coast blues and rhythm and blues pianist, singer and songwriter
53
Camille Howard
Camille Howard
American musician
54
Frankie Lee Sims
Frankie Lee Sims
American singer-songwriter and electric blues guitarist
55
Jimmy Rogers
Jimmy Rogers
Chicago blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player
Intro
American R&B singer, songwriter and musician
News

Roy James Brown (September 10, 1920 or 1925 – May 25, 1981) was an American R&B singer, songwriter and musician, who had a significant influence on the early development of rock and roll and the direction of R&B. His original song and hit recording "Good Rockin' Tonight" has been covered by many artists including Wynonie Harris, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Joe Ely, Ricky Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Pat Boone, James Brown, the Doors, and the rock group Montrose. Brown was one of the first popular R&B singers to perform songs with a gospel-steeped delivery, which was then considered taboo by many churches. In addition, his melismatic, pleading vocal style influenced notable artists such as B.B. King, Bobby Bland, Elvis Presley, Jackie Wilson, James Brown and Little Richard.