A musical genius is someone who has made significant contributions to the industry. It is a person who shows technical mastery, emotional depth, lyrical prowess, and exceptional showmanship, among other things. With such, who are the best musical geniuses ever to live?
While our beliefs can differ from yours, here are 25 of the best musical geniuses in our opinion.
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Chuck Berry
- Bjork
- David Bowie
- Dr. Dre
- Bob Dylan
- Eminem
- Jonny Greenwood
- Eddie Van Halen
- Jimi Hendrix
- Whitney Houston
- Michael Jackson
- Mick Jagger
- Elton John
- John Lennon
- Madonna
- Bob Marley
- Brian May
- Paul McCartney
- Freddie Mercury
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Robert Anthony Plant
- Elvis Presley
- Prince
Read on to learn more about the top musical geniuses, including their careers’ highlights and contributions to the industry.
A List of Musical Geniuses
Genius is a subjective word. There is no definite way to measure it. Your opinions might differ from ours, but here is a list of some people we believe are music mavericks.
The music icons below are listed alphabetically based on their last names:
1. Johann Sebastian Bach
The most sublime creative genius in music – this is one of the many ways by which Bach is often described. Unsurprisingly, he is one that we cannot ignore on this list.
With more than a thousand compositions, some of his most famous creations were The Well-Tempered Clavier, The Brandenburg Concertos, and Mass in B Minor.
One of the most revered musicians in the Baroque era, the music of Bach was praised because of their sheer beauty, brilliant complexity, and technical mastery.
2. Ludwig van Beethoven
A pianist and composer from Germany, it is almost impossible to talk about the top musical geniuses in history without mentioning Beethoven.
Among others, one of Beethoven’s biggest contributions is that he demonstrated the power of music in conveying deep messages without the help of the spoken word. He defined music during the classical period.
Many may not know, but Beethoven was deaf. Despite such, he proved that he is a genius.
Für Elise is one of the most recognizable compositions of Beethoven. It is a piece of short and light-hearted music that delivers a nostalgic and melodic feeling.
3. Chuck Berry
Berry was amongst the earliest rock and roll geniuses. He has made an immense contribution to the development of rock and roll, bringing the genre closer to the hearts of the public listeners.
He also made a mark by being the first African-American rock and roll icon to have a national hit. While he had an array of songs, only one song made it to the No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 – My Ding-A-Ling.
4. Bjork
With her avant-garde style, Bjork is another artist worth calling a genius. Her eclectic music combined different elements, including dance, jazz, contemporary classical, alternative rock, electronic, and trip-hop.
Bjork was among the most successful artists at the Brit Awards, taking home five awards. Additionally, she was the singer with the most nominations and victories in the International Female Solo Artist category.
5. David Bowie
A singer, songwriter, and actor, David Bowie is among the top musical geniuses of the 20th century. His dramatic showmanship made him an icon.
Bowie has received many prestigious awards to prove his genius, even after his death.
Some of these recognitions include:
- Grammy Award for Best Rock Song,
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award,
- Grammy Hall of Fame,
- Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance,
- Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist, and
- Brit Global Icon Award.
6. Dr. Dre
A rapper, entrepreneur, and record producer, Dr. Dre is one name that many that our younger readers will recognize on this list. He has iconic albums and beats, so he deserved to be included on our list.
He produced music for some of the most notable artists, including 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Tupac, and Eminem.
7. Bob Dylan
It is undeniable that as a recipient of prestigious awards like the Nobel Prize in Literature, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Kennedy Center Honors, Grammy Hall of Fame, Pulitzer Prize Special Citations and Awards, and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Dylan is a musical genius.
Considered to be the Shakespeare of his generation, Dylan has set the bar high for lyric writing. He wrote over 500 songs, which more than 2,000 singers have recorded. This has elevated his status as more than just an artist.
8. Eminem
A lyrical genius – this is what Eminem is to the music industry. Unsurprisingly, he is a fitting choice for the top musical geniuses of the 21st century.
Selling more than 100 million albums around the world, the commercial dominance of Eminem is one-of-a-kind. He brought the hip-hop scene to a different level.
A genius of his craft, Eminem’s rhymes are not only catchy but also meaningful. As such, his songs resonate across generations.
9. Jonny Greenwood
The lead guitarist of Radiohead, an English band, Jonny Greenwood, was one of the greatest guitarists of all time based on a list released by Rolling Stone. Aside from playing the guitar, he is also a multi-instrumentalist who plays the piano, drums, and viola, among others.
Greenwood made a reputation in the film industry. His music was highly credited for the success of several films, including Licorice Pizza and The Power of the Dog.
10. Eddie Van Halen
Regarded as one of the best guitar players in the history of rock, Eddie Van Halen is famous for his tapping solo technique. He catapulted the Van Halen band to fame while demonstrating his influence as a guitar innovator.
Van Halen made hard rock popular in the 80s. A lot of young players imitated his style, which is proof of his musical influence.
11. Jimi Hendrix
Known as an electric guitar innovator, Jimi Hendrix delivered music that no one had ever heard before. The global reverence he received in the music scene is hard to surpass by any other guitarist of any other generation.
Hendrix was the recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and Grammy Hall of Fame, among many other recognitions that made him an unrivaled name in the music industry.
While he has many albums, the bestseller was Are You Experienced, which sold more than 5.125 million copies globally.
12. Whitney Houston
During the peak of her career, Houston was considered the music industry’s golden girl. Her powerful and effortless vocals made her one of the highest-selling artists from the 1980s to the 1990s.
One of the many things she was known for was her rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner in the 1991 Super Bowl. It changed the way people sang America’s National Anthem.
13. Michael Jackson
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has a significant cultural impact, making him another music icon worthy of inclusion on our list.
He revolutionized music in a way that no other artist has done. From Jackson 5 to his solo career, Jackson pushed boundaries.
Thriller, Billy Jean, Human Nature, and Beat It are some of Jackson’s biggest hits. Even after his death and with the emergence of many new artists, his songs are classics.
As a philanthropist, Jackson helped many charities and organizations, such as the USA For Africa, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. In 2000, he became a part of the Guinness Book of World Records for the pop star that supported the most charities.
14. Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger is another icon, singer, songwriter, film producer, and actor. He rose to international fame through the English rock band Rolling Stones.
Jaggers is a recipient of multiple prestigious awards, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Grammy Best Rock Album, and Grammy Best Music Video.
15. Elton John
In his music career, which spans over six decades, Elton John sold more than 300 million records globally. Meanwhile, he has more than 50 Top 40 Hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart.
He is a respected figure in the music industry, mainly because of elevating rock and pop. During his prime, his outlandish style and showmanship contributed to his global status as a music icon.
16. John Lennon
A vocalist and rhythm guitarist, John Lennon is undoubtedly one of the driving factors beneath the global success of The Beatles.
In 1982, Lennon received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Rolling Stone also ranked him as the 38th greatest artist and 5th greatest singer of all time.
Other awards include the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, NME Award for British Vocal Personality, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
17. Madonna
Madonna changed our culture many times, which is more than enough to make her a part of this list. Her power, innovation, and identity made her one of the most influential artists of her time.
She has several controversial songs, which are now regarded as messages of feminism. A perfect example of this is Papa Don’t Preach, which is a song about abortion. Like a Prayer, however, is a song tackling sex, race, and religion.
Early in her career, Madonna showed that she was not just a great musician but also a person with a kind heart. She was one of the activists during the AIDS and HIV epidemic.
More so, in 1998, she started the Ray of Light Foundation, which is dedicated to helping vulnerable children. The foundation was named after her seventh studio album.
18. Bob Marley
Highly regarded as a Rastafari icon, Bob Marley is a superstar in three Jamaican music genres – reggae, rock steady, and ska. Even decades after his death, his music remains relevant to millions of people around the world.
The entry of reggae music on the international pedestal is one of Marley’s best contributions to music. Also, he single-handedly put Jamaica on the global map, a feat unsurpassed by any other singer.
We also attribute the enduring popularity of Bob Marley to his charisma. More than his unique sound, he is relatable. Plus, he introduced his listeners to cultures and beliefs through his music.
19. Brian May
The co-founder of Queen, Brian May, is highly influential in the band’s global success. Through his songwriting skills, he helped cement the position of Queen as one of the most prominent rock bands in music history.
More than being a music maverick, May is also an astrophysicist. He studied astrophysics before Queen was formed in 1971.
While studying, the band started gaining popularity, so he did not continue writing his thesis. However, in 2007, he finally received a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Imperial College.
20. Paul McCartney
One of the factors that contributed to the global success of The Beatles is John McCartney. He wrote some of the band’s most popular songs. As the guitarist, he was also known for adding a different level of musicality to many classics.
While many people will recognize him because of The Beatles, he also had other bands, such as Wings. He made a name for himself for his solo performances and record sales.
21. Freddie Mercury
The lead vocalist of Queen, Freddie Mercury is a rock and roll icon. His commanding stage presence helped cement the band’s popularity on the global music scene.
Some of the most popular songs by Freddie Mercury and his band include Bohemian Rhapsody, Somebody to Love, Crazy Thing Called Love, We are the Champions, Another One Bites the Dust, and We Will Rock You.
22. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
If there is one person most deserving of being called a musical genius, it would be Mozart. He is a child prodigy who wrote his first song when he was only five years old.
It is almost impossible to talk about classical music without mentioning Mozart. His works include 24 operas, including The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and The Magic Flute. He has numerous instrumental pieces that you have probably heard before.
23. Robert Anthony Plant
If you know Led Zeppelin, you would know Robert Anthony Plant, the band’s lead singer and lyricist.
Among others, one of the band’s biggest hits was Stairway to Heaven, also regarded as one of Plant’s most notable works. The song has influences from hard rock, blues, folk, and Celtic traditional music.
24. Elvis Presley
Presidential Medal of Freedom, Grammy Hall of Fame, American Music Award of Merit, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and NME Award for World Musical Personality are just some of the global recognitions proving that Elvis Presley is a musical genius.
More than 90 of his songs were part of the charts, and ten of them were at number one. Aside from America, he also topped the charts in other countries.
His iconic presence made him a cultural phenomenon. Black artists heavily influence a counter-culture symbol, the music of Presley.
25. Prince
The 80s had many prolific artists, but Prince was among the most notable. A writer and producer, he was responsible for some of the biggest hits then. He also wrote and produced songs for other artists.
Prince’s famous songs are Purple Rain, Let’s Go Crazy, When Doves Cry, Erotic City, and I Wanna Be Your Lover. Listen to them, and you will understand why Prince is a part of this list.
Throughout his career, Prince received many accolades that prove he deserves to be touted as a music icon. Some of these recognitions include Best Original Song Score, Favorite Pop/Rock Album, Favorite Soul R&B Album, Best Male R&B Artist, and Best International Artist.
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In Closing – Top 25 Musical Geniuses to Ever Live
This list highlighted some of the best musical geniuses of all time, from composers to singers. Some of you might disagree with this list, and we respect your opinions. Our list is based on factors like global recognition, notable hits, and contributions to the music industry.
Based on our evaluation, however, here are some of the men and women who made significant contributions to the music industry:
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Chuck Berry
- Bjork
- David Bowie
- Dr. Dre
- Bob Dylan
- Eminem
- Jonny Greenwood
- Eddie Van Halen
- Jimi Hendrix
- Whitney Houston
- Michael Jackson
- Mick Jagger
- Elton John
- John Lennon
- Madonna
- Bob Marley
- Brian May
- Paul McCartney
- Freddie Mercury
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Robert Anthony Plant
- Elvis Presley
- Prince
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