Artists of the '50s, '60s, '70s

Elvis Presley

1949

Elvis has been dead since 1977, yet he remains the top-selling '50s singer as of 2017. In fact, the only musicians who have outsold Elvis are the Beatles. Presley certainly wasn't the first to sing what's now considered rock 'n' roll; other notable artists like Chuck Berry, Ike Turner, Ray Charles, and Bo Diddley were also making their mark in the middle years of the 1950s.

John Cash

1951

Johnny Cash's recording career began at Sun Records, the same Memphis, Tennessee, studio where Elvis Presley cut his first songs. Cash's music ranges from country to gospel to rock 'n' roll, and more than 30 million certified units had been sold as of 2017. His career was marked with several highs and lows, professional and personal, but over his four-decade career, he recorded many notable songs and albums.

The Beatles

1955

The Beatles' influence is unquestionable. They've sold more records than any other singer or band (220 million as of 2017), had more No. 1 singles in the U.S. than anyone else (20), and had the most No. 1 albums in the U.S. by a group (19). The song "Yesterday," credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney (but written by McCartney), remains the most recorded song of all time as of July 2017, with more than 1,600 known versions.

The Rolling Stones

1962

The Rolling Stones can't match their British peers, the Beatles, in terms of sales, but there's no question that they, too, are rock royalty. The band had sold more than 96 million units as of 2017, since the band formed in 1962, and have recorded 30 studio albums.

Barbra Streisand

1964

Barbra Streisand isn't a rock singer like most of the artists on this list, but the Brooklyn-born vocalist has enjoyed plenty of pop music appeal in her career. Streisand has more top-10 albums than any other female singer (34) and is the only performer to have No. 1 albums in six consecutive decades.

Bob Dylan

1966

Although other '60s singers have enjoyed more commercial success than Bob Dylan, none of his musical peers can boast of having received the Nobel Prize in Literature, as he did in 2016. Among his other achievements: more than 100 million records sold, 12 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and even a special Pulitzer Prize citation.

Led Zeppelin

1969

Led Zeppelin's unique blend of blues, folk, and rock made it one of the most successful '70s bands, and Jimmy Page's heavy-handed guitar work is an unquestionable influence on the pioneers of heavy metal.

Elton John

1972

Between 1972 and 1975, Elton John had five No. 1 albums in the U.S., including the landmark double album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." Elton John is still recording albums and touring, with nine No. 1 U.S. singles and 27 songs in the top 10. His farewell tour is scheduled for 2019.