this decade was defined by the evolution
of rock-and-roll into more diverse
genres as well as the rise of pop heavy
metal funk soul and R&B welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top 10 musical
acts of the 1960s for our series on the
top 10 musical acts per decade we’ve
based our choices on a mix of an acts
success popularity and overall musical
legacy
this is part of a series of videos
spanning the decades of music from the
1950s to the 2000s
number 10 the temptations
known for having a lineup of at least
five male singers and dancers as well as
their association with the legendary
Motown Records this American group was a
hit making machine during the 1960s just
like their fellow Motown counterparts
The Supremes
the temptations turned out smashed after
smash
while that decade saw my girl become one
of their most lasting hits
they also made waves in the 70s with
papa was a rollin stone the group still
makes music today though only one
original member Otis Williams remains
number nine The Who
part of the British Invasion which took
control of the American music scene in
the 1960s this rock band personified the
pervasive feeling of youthful rebellion
for ghettos
and popularized famous rock and roll
moves like the windmill and the guitar
smash they also amplified things aplenty
with the Marshall stack
after some success in their native UK
with singles like I can’t explain and my
generation the band really broke through
with 1969’s
Tommy on top of its massive critical
acclaim the album was also a major
influence in shaping the rock opera and
establishing their legacy as one of
history’s best-selling bands
number eight James Brown when it comes
to putting on a killer live show it
didn’t get much better than when The
Godfather of Soul stepped onto the stage
Papa’s got a brand-new bag
influencing many genres especially funk
and soul James Brown built a furious
reputation night after night
his signature dance moves were a major
influence on Michael Jackson while
remarkable tunes like Papa’s got a
brand-new bag and I got you I feel good
have become pop culture milestones with
multiple chart toppers on the Billboard
R&B charts Brown’s impact cannot be
denied
a woman number seven Aretha Franklin the
Queen of Soul started her career as a
gospel singer for her minister father’s
church things soon turned around once
Columbia Records discovered the Memphis
born teens astonishing talent but things
really took off for Aretha Franklin
after she signed with Atlantic Records
in 1967 as this set her on the path to a
career that now boasts over 75 Billboard
Hot 100 chart again trees Masha
was another Franklin’s powerful voice
literally changed the world
and toons like respect and chain of
fools prove it
JJ
you
you
number six the doors oh it will be
untrue know that I would be led by
charismatic bad-boy Jim Morrison this
Los Angeles rock band created a unique
organ driven sound that was carried by
the front man’s deep unaltered voice her
self-titled 1967 debut spoke volumes to
the teenaged angst that was creeping
into the states and the flower power
movement that was just beginning
while they also ignited controversy The
Doors string of top ten albums and
characteristic 60 sound make them
inextricable from the decade and music
in general
number five Bob Dylan
by bringing lyrical depth to pop music
and proving how substance filled a
simple pop song could be you could call
him the musical poet of the decade
darkness at the break of noon shadows
even the silver spoon the handmade blade
the child’s boon eclipses both the Sun
and Moon to understand you knew too soon
there’s no sense in trying with his
socially conscious themes and
incorporation of multiple musical genres
Bob Dylan also opened up the possibility
of the album as a work of art this was
especially true of his mid-60s records
bringing it all back home in a basement
and mixing up the
Hey
man highway 61 revisited
and one on Blondes and these visions of
Johana
today Dylan continues to be respected
and used as a source of inspiration for
many singer songwriters and so my friend
is a blow in
Boyd in the window
number four the Jimi Hendrix Experience
to say that Jimi Hendrix changed the way
the guitar was played would be an
understatement excuse me while I kiss
this guy molded improved resurrected and
redefined the instrument by giving it an
electric spin
his use of the wah-wah pedal and
distorted sounds has had an immeasurable
and lasting effect on rock music
what’s even more impressive is that he
built his legacy in such a short career
with notable songs like hey Joe
Purple Haze and foxy lady
number three the Beach Boys
this california-based group took
barbershop music and R&B and added them
to 50s rock and roll to produce the five
part vocal harmonies and surf rock sound
they’re now known for
the mastermind of the group success was
undoubtedly Brian Wilson whose creative
ideas and ambitious songwriting paved
the way for the more sophisticated Pet
Sounds this seminal 1966 record is
widely regarded as one of the greatest
albums ever made
however the band’s critical and
commercial success wasn’t limited to the
60s
today America’s band remains one of the
world’s best-selling acts
number two the Rolling Stones see my
rental and I want it
formed in 1962 this long-lasting band is
still kicking it to this day even though
its members are over 65 years old
this Mick Jagger and Keith Richards lead
group became part of the British
Invasion movement thanks to career
defining hits like I can’t get no
satisfaction painted black Gimme Shelter
and sympathy for the devil with a style
that fused blues rock and R&B
The Rolling Stones have left a powerful
effect on rock and roll as well as an
iconic discography that’s hard to beat
before we unveil our pick for the top
musical act of the 1960s here are a few
honorable mentions
and my cost and share the
Oh tomorrow’s
to a date
to be well
side
number one the Beatles oh yeah tell you
something I think you’ll understand John
Paul George and Ringo that’s all you
need to know
the biggest and most influential band
ever may have just had a decade-long
career but they still managed to
redefine and reshape music and popular
culture forever
countless hits groundbreaking LPS and a
level of success so insane it was dubbed
Beatlemania it’s not surprising that the
Fab Four tops our list of musical acts
of the 1960s
though the beatles broke up before
decades end they continue to be cited as
major influences of artists to this day
and undoubtedly will be for generations
to come
do you agree with our list was your
favorite musical act of the 1960s
more musical top 10s published every day
be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
of rock-and-roll into more diverse
genres as well as the rise of pop heavy
metal funk soul and R&B welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top 10 musical
acts of the 1960s for our series on the
top 10 musical acts per decade we’ve
based our choices on a mix of an acts
success popularity and overall musical
legacy
this is part of a series of videos
spanning the decades of music from the
1950s to the 2000s
number 10 the temptations
known for having a lineup of at least
five male singers and dancers as well as
their association with the legendary
Motown Records this American group was a
hit making machine during the 1960s just
like their fellow Motown counterparts
The Supremes
the temptations turned out smashed after
smash
while that decade saw my girl become one
of their most lasting hits
they also made waves in the 70s with
papa was a rollin stone the group still
makes music today though only one
original member Otis Williams remains
number nine The Who
part of the British Invasion which took
control of the American music scene in
the 1960s this rock band personified the
pervasive feeling of youthful rebellion
for ghettos
and popularized famous rock and roll
moves like the windmill and the guitar
smash they also amplified things aplenty
with the Marshall stack
after some success in their native UK
with singles like I can’t explain and my
generation the band really broke through
with 1969’s
Tommy on top of its massive critical
acclaim the album was also a major
influence in shaping the rock opera and
establishing their legacy as one of
history’s best-selling bands
number eight James Brown when it comes
to putting on a killer live show it
didn’t get much better than when The
Godfather of Soul stepped onto the stage
Papa’s got a brand-new bag
influencing many genres especially funk
and soul James Brown built a furious
reputation night after night
his signature dance moves were a major
influence on Michael Jackson while
remarkable tunes like Papa’s got a
brand-new bag and I got you I feel good
have become pop culture milestones with
multiple chart toppers on the Billboard
R&B charts Brown’s impact cannot be
denied
a woman number seven Aretha Franklin the
Queen of Soul started her career as a
gospel singer for her minister father’s
church things soon turned around once
Columbia Records discovered the Memphis
born teens astonishing talent but things
really took off for Aretha Franklin
after she signed with Atlantic Records
in 1967 as this set her on the path to a
career that now boasts over 75 Billboard
Hot 100 chart again trees Masha
was another Franklin’s powerful voice
literally changed the world
and toons like respect and chain of
fools prove it
JJ
you
you
number six the doors oh it will be
untrue know that I would be led by
charismatic bad-boy Jim Morrison this
Los Angeles rock band created a unique
organ driven sound that was carried by
the front man’s deep unaltered voice her
self-titled 1967 debut spoke volumes to
the teenaged angst that was creeping
into the states and the flower power
movement that was just beginning
while they also ignited controversy The
Doors string of top ten albums and
characteristic 60 sound make them
inextricable from the decade and music
in general
number five Bob Dylan
by bringing lyrical depth to pop music
and proving how substance filled a
simple pop song could be you could call
him the musical poet of the decade
darkness at the break of noon shadows
even the silver spoon the handmade blade
the child’s boon eclipses both the Sun
and Moon to understand you knew too soon
there’s no sense in trying with his
socially conscious themes and
incorporation of multiple musical genres
Bob Dylan also opened up the possibility
of the album as a work of art this was
especially true of his mid-60s records
bringing it all back home in a basement
and mixing up the
Hey
man highway 61 revisited
and one on Blondes and these visions of
Johana
today Dylan continues to be respected
and used as a source of inspiration for
many singer songwriters and so my friend
is a blow in
Boyd in the window
number four the Jimi Hendrix Experience
to say that Jimi Hendrix changed the way
the guitar was played would be an
understatement excuse me while I kiss
this guy molded improved resurrected and
redefined the instrument by giving it an
electric spin
his use of the wah-wah pedal and
distorted sounds has had an immeasurable
and lasting effect on rock music
what’s even more impressive is that he
built his legacy in such a short career
with notable songs like hey Joe
Purple Haze and foxy lady
number three the Beach Boys
this california-based group took
barbershop music and R&B and added them
to 50s rock and roll to produce the five
part vocal harmonies and surf rock sound
they’re now known for
the mastermind of the group success was
undoubtedly Brian Wilson whose creative
ideas and ambitious songwriting paved
the way for the more sophisticated Pet
Sounds this seminal 1966 record is
widely regarded as one of the greatest
albums ever made
however the band’s critical and
commercial success wasn’t limited to the
60s
today America’s band remains one of the
world’s best-selling acts
number two the Rolling Stones see my
rental and I want it
formed in 1962 this long-lasting band is
still kicking it to this day even though
its members are over 65 years old
this Mick Jagger and Keith Richards lead
group became part of the British
Invasion movement thanks to career
defining hits like I can’t get no
satisfaction painted black Gimme Shelter
and sympathy for the devil with a style
that fused blues rock and R&B
The Rolling Stones have left a powerful
effect on rock and roll as well as an
iconic discography that’s hard to beat
before we unveil our pick for the top
musical act of the 1960s here are a few
honorable mentions
and my cost and share the
Oh tomorrow’s
to a date
to be well
side
number one the Beatles oh yeah tell you
something I think you’ll understand John
Paul George and Ringo that’s all you
need to know
the biggest and most influential band
ever may have just had a decade-long
career but they still managed to
redefine and reshape music and popular
culture forever
countless hits groundbreaking LPS and a
level of success so insane it was dubbed
Beatlemania it’s not surprising that the
Fab Four tops our list of musical acts
of the 1960s
though the beatles broke up before
decades end they continue to be cited as
major influences of artists to this day
and undoubtedly will be for generations
to come
do you agree with our list was your
favorite musical act of the 1960s
more musical top 10s published every day
be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
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