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PrintableGeniuses of soul:
Sam Cooke Marvin Gaye Donny Hathaway Stevie Wonder Maurice White Booker T. & the MGs Otis Redding Gamble & Huff/MFSB Thom Bell Curtis Mayfield Ron Isley Bobby Womack Ike & Tina Turner Al Green Aretha Franklin Etta James Isaac Hayes Geniuses of funk: Sly Stone James Brown Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong George Clinton The Funk Brothers (yes I put them in the "funk" category and for a good damn reason) Bennie Worrell Eddie Hazel Ernie Isley Chris Jasper Betty Davis Bootsy! Catfish Collins Geniuses of pop: Michael Jackson The Beatles Holland-Dozier-Holland Brian Wilson/The Beach Boys Berry Gordy/Smokey Robinson Richard Carpenter (don't let their 1970s conservatism fool you, dude actually brought out the power ballad before there was such a thing) Phil Spector (in spite of the tragedy in his life) Carole King/Gerry Goffin Burt Bacharach/Hal David Geniuses of rock: Wynonnie Harris Little Richard Chuck Berry Bo Diddley Buddy Holly Larry Williams Johnny "Guitar" Watson Jimi Hendrix Bob Dylan Neil Young Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin Genesis Keith, Mick & Brian of The (original) Rolling Stones Geniuses that defy labels: Ray Charles (genius of soul, blues, pop, country, rock, jazz, whatever!) Elton John (I feel he's very versatile so I couldn't just put him in the pop or rock category) Frank Zappa Todd Rundgren Quincy Jones All them classical dudes (Mozart/Beethoven/Chopin/Tchaikovsky, etc.) Kris Kristofferson (yeah I agree, he's one of the greatest writers in music period) Billy Preston (I put him in this category because his music was mixed: it had soul, gospel, rock AND funk and he did do some pop ballads from time to time, lol) Prince (I had to put him in bold so you guys don't think I forgot him, lol) Miles Davis John Coltrane Robert Johnson Patrice Rushen Sarah Vaughn Ella Fitzgerald Nat "King" Cole Kool Moe Dee (the way he flowed was fucking ridiculous) Melle Mel (there was poetry in his rhymes) J Dilla Jam Master Jay (RIP) Jim Steinman Freddie Mercury/Queen Tom Moulton CHIC (Bernard, Nile & Tony) James Jamerson (though I put "The Funk Brothers", this guy deserved to be in here) Benny Benjamin/Uriel Jones/Pistol Allen (the drummers of the funk) The ORIGINAL Who (Keith, Pete, Roger, John) Sheila E. (great drummer and percussionist) B.B. King Willie Dixon Howlin' Wolf Little Walter Muddy Waters Louis Jordan ---- That's just off the top of my head now... so don't get mad if I forget your favorite. 
[Edited 4/6/09 10:52am] [Edited 4/6/09 11:04am] [Edited 4/6/09 11:06am] | |
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Maurice White | |
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daPrettyMan: Thank you for the 60 MIN. link.  [Edited 4/6/09 11:15am] | |
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The word "genius" gets tossed off so cavalierly these days, I'm almost positive that the original meaning has been diluted. And although I agree with Edison's maxim that perhaps genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, most of the musicians in these lists are, in my opinion, are only mentioned because they are simply the established paradigms of their respective genres. Being a paradigm does not automatically qualify you as a genius, however.
now that I'm thinking about it, I'm pretty sure that the study of genius is incomplete and definitely full of controversy. But I think it is safe to say geniuses are a rare occurrence, so the lists of geniuses that contain 10-30 artists dominated by modern musicians in this thread are a bit of a stretch. | |
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chuckaducci said: The word "genius" gets tossed off so cavalierly these days, I'm almost positive that the original meaning has been diluted. And although I agree with Edison's maxim that perhaps genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, most of the musicians in these lists are, in my opinion, are only mentioned because they are simply the established paradigms of their respective genres. Being a paradigm does not automatically qualify you as a genius, however.
now that I'm thinking about it, I'm pretty sure that the study of genius is incomplete and definitely full of controversy. But I think it is safe to say geniuses are a rare occurrence, so the lists of geniuses that contain 10-30 artists dominated by modern musicians in this thread are a bit of a stretch. Agreed. | |
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3121 said: chuckaducci said: The word "genius" gets tossed off so cavalierly these days, I'm almost positive that the original meaning has been diluted. And although I agree with Edison's maxim that perhaps genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, most of the musicians in these lists are, in my opinion, are only mentioned because they are simply the established paradigms of their respective genres. Being a paradigm does not automatically qualify you as a genius, however.
now that I'm thinking about it, I'm pretty sure that the study of genius is incomplete and definitely full of controversy. But I think it is safe to say geniuses are a rare occurrence, so the lists of geniuses that contain 10-30 artists dominated by modern musicians in this thread are a bit of a stretch. Agreed. That is why my list is so short. | |
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TD3 said: daPrettyMan: Thank you for the 60 MIN. link.
[Edited 4/6/09 11:15am] No problem. **--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••-
U 'gon make me shake my doo loose! http://www.twitter.com/nivlekbrad | |
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chuckaducci said: The word "genius" gets tossed off so cavalierly these days, I'm almost positive that the original meaning has been diluted. And although I agree with Edison's maxim that perhaps genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, most of the musicians in these lists are, in my opinion, are only mentioned because they are simply the established paradigms of their respective genres. Being a paradigm does not automatically qualify you as a genius, however.
now that I'm thinking about it, I'm pretty sure that the study of genius is incomplete and definitely full of controversy. But I think it is safe to say geniuses are a rare occurrence, so the lists of geniuses that contain 10-30 artists dominated by modern musicians in this thread are a bit of a stretch. - Love your response; who would you declare a genuis if any at all?  | |
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There are almost 7 billion people on this planet, so any list here is going to be unbelievably miniscule based on our own definition and limitations of time.
Yes, the term has been watered down, in that it has been applied to virtually all 7 billion people at one time or another. And since we didn’t have recorded music prior to the 20th century, many of the musical “geniuses” -- if we could even agree on the application of such a term -- have been lost to the ravages of time. All we have left from most of human history are the privileged few that had written scores leftover for us to revisit. But thanks to 20th century recording equipment and cheap access to the art form, we all now get to enjoy far more than even kings or queens could in the past. The pursuit of course is an impossible tale, but one that I think is wholly worth chasing. And these lists just add to the pursuit. | |
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Timmy84 said: Geniuses of soul:
Sam Cooke Marvin Gaye Donny Hathaway Stevie Wonder Maurice White Booker T. & the MGs Otis Redding Gamble & Huff/MFSB Thom Bell Curtis Mayfield Ron Isley Bobby Womack Ike & Tina Turner Al Green Aretha Franklin Etta James Isaac Hayes Geniuses of funk: Sly Stone James Brown Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong George Clinton The Funk Brothers (yes I put them in the "funk" category and for a good damn reason) Bennie Worrell Eddie Hazel Ernie Isley Chris Jasper Betty Davis Bootsy! Catfish Collins Geniuses of pop: Michael Jackson The Beatles Holland-Dozier-Holland Brian Wilson/The Beach Boys Berry Gordy/Smokey Robinson Richard Carpenter (don't let their 1970s conservatism fool you, dude actually brought out the power ballad before there was such a thing) Phil Spector (in spite of the tragedy in his life) Carole King/Gerry Goffin Burt Bacharach/Hal David Geniuses of rock: Wynonnie Harris Little Richard Chuck Berry Bo Diddley Buddy Holly Larry Williams Johnny "Guitar" Watson Jimi Hendrix Bob Dylan Neil Young Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin Genesis Keith, Mick & Brian of The (original) Rolling Stones Geniuses that defy labels: Ray Charles (genius of soul, blues, pop, country, rock, jazz, whatever!) Elton John (I feel he's very versatile so I couldn't just put him in the pop or rock category) Frank Zappa Todd Rundgren Quincy Jones All them classical dudes (Mozart/Beethoven/Chopin/Tchaikovsky, etc.) Kris Kristofferson (yeah I agree, he's one of the greatest writers in music period) Billy Preston (I put him in this category because his music was mixed: it had soul, gospel, rock AND funk and he did do some pop ballads from time to time, lol) Prince (I had to put him in bold so you guys don't think I forgot him, lol) Miles Davis John Coltrane Robert Johnson Patrice Rushen Sarah Vaughn Ella Fitzgerald Nat "King" Cole Kool Moe Dee (the way he flowed was fucking ridiculous) Melle Mel (there was poetry in his rhymes) J Dilla Jam Master Jay (RIP) Jim Steinman Freddie Mercury/Queen Tom Moulton CHIC (Bernard, Nile & Tony) James Jamerson (though I put "The Funk Brothers", this guy deserved to be in here) Benny Benjamin/Uriel Jones/Pistol Allen (the drummers of the funk) The ORIGINAL Who (Keith, Pete, Roger, John) Sheila E. (great drummer and percussionist) B.B. King Willie Dixon Howlin' Wolf Little Walter Muddy Waters Louis Jordan ---- That's just off the top of my head now... so don't get mad if I forget your favorite.
[Edited 4/6/09 10:52am] [Edited 4/6/09 11:04am] [Edited 4/6/09 11:06am] That was too much..... 
Great List dude.  MICHAEL JACKSON
R.I.P مايكل جاكسون للأبد 1958 | |
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Brendan said: There are almost 7 billion people on this planet, so any list here is going to be unbelievably miniscule based on our own definition and limitations of time. Yes, the term has been watered down, in that it has been applied to virtually all 7 billion people at one time or another.
Wha...? If a list of musical genius is miniscule, it's because examples of genius is miniscule. Judging from these lists, geniuses are every where! If you go to the nerd science forum and ask for a math or science genius list, I'm pretty sure it will also be miniscule. There is a difference between Isaac Newton and your published university chemistry professor. And since we didn’t have recorded music prior to the 20th century, many of the musical “geniuses” -- if we could even agree on the application of such a term -- have been lost to the ravages of time. All we have left from most of human history are the privileged few that had written scores leftover for us to revisit.
That's insane. Composers who left written scores for future generations to admire are not a "privileged few." If you were composing, you left behind scores. There are thousands of composers who left behind hundreds of thousands scores for future generations to admire and listen to. People know who Louis Spohr, Carl Czerny, Hugo Wolf and Scott Joplin (for the most part, a bunch of unsung composers) are because they wrote down their music. They are hardly a privileged few. Did you ever think that perhaps an educated musician doesn't really need the benefits that recording technology provide in order to establish a lasting musical legacy? Maybe all they really need is a pen and a piece of paper! The pursuit of course is an impossible tale, but one that I think is wholly worth chasing. And these lists just add to the pursuit.
I agree! All I wanted to say was that the term of genius gets bantied about so often in English, it's lost some of it's original lustre. Because I think actual genius is such a rarity and the topic and study mostly under-researched, misunderstood, Euro-centric and probably racist, I'm not comfortable in rambling off a bunch of musical luminaries that I would assign that appellation. | |
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huge list already, but since I listen right now to Moondog (his 1956 self titled album on Prestige and the 1969, also self titled, one from the Columbia label) I had to mention him.
and I have to point out Frank Zappa one more time...  | |
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chuckaducci said: Wha...? If a list of musical genius is miniscule, it's because examples of genius is miniscule. Judging from these lists, geniuses are every where! If you go to the nerd science forum and ask for a math or science genius list, I'm pretty sure it will also be miniscule. There is a difference between Isaac Newton and your published university chemistry professor. That‘s all I’m try to communicate. Whether one makes the criteria so rigid that only one genius in a billion rises to that specific level, or 10,000, it’s still minuscule compared to the overall population. chuckaducci said: That's insane. Composers who left written scores for future generations to admire are not a "privileged few." If you were composing, you left behind scores. There are thousands of composers who left behind hundreds of thousands scores for future generations to admire and listen to. People know who Louis Spohr, Carl Czerny, Hugo Wolf and Scott Joplin (for the most part, a bunch of unsung composers) are because they wrote down their music. They are hardly a privileged few. Did you ever think that perhaps an educated musician doesn't really need the benefits that recording technology provide in order to establish a lasting musical legacy? Maybe all they really need is a pen and a piece of paper! I have no disagreement with this. I don’t think that genius has increased or decreased in time, but access to the art from in both the participant and listener has taken off way beyond the elitism of the past. Miles Davis can pick up a trumpet at a pawn shop for a few bucks and start putting in that 99% perspiration and we are all the benefactors of that hard work -- and, yes, genius. There’s no disrespect here at all to the giants of the past who’ve shaped the music of today. The digital camera is also currently making the art of cinema similarly more democratic. But that's no disrespect to Kubrick, Bergman, Wells, Kurosawa, etc. Which mean we'll probably all have access to a hell of a lot more genius and garbage. But I don't think that the level of genius is changing with time, just the inherent democracy of it. And with more participation, faster evolution. chuckaducci said: I agree! All I wanted to say was that the term of genius gets bantied about so often in English, it's lost some of it's original lustre. Because I think actual genius is such a rarity and the topic and study mostly under-researched, misunderstood, Euro-centric and probably racist, I'm not comfortable in rambling off a bunch of musical luminaries that I would assign that appellation. Absolutely. It’s damn rare. I don't think any of us are going to decipher just how rare on this thread. 
I just love the impossible goal of finding the cream of the crop. It inspires me to no end to hear what mostly hard work, talent, and a little bit of good fortune can do when combined. Can I ever achieve perfection with such a list? Of course not. But there is much treasure in taking the journey. There are couple names here that I’m not that familiar with that are pressed against other known quantities. That makes me hunt more. That expands my horizons. | |
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Thelonious Monk
Cecil Taylor Anthony Braxton Sun Ra Duke Ellington Larry Graham Elviin Jones Charlie Parker Dilla Tony Williams Rakim John Cage Madlib Juan Atkins Serge Gainsbourg Charles Mingus Gil Evans Milton Nascimento Caetano Veloso Hermeto Pascoal Jose Roberto Bertrami Teo Macero Jackie Mittoo John Coltrane Rza Miles Davis João Donato Tom Ze Todd Rundgren Jaco Pastorius Canibus James Jamerson Nas Larry Young Tony Allen Herbie Hancock | |
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Just throwing this out there.....
I think some people's definition of 'Genius' is perhaps a little too broad.  | |
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TyphoonTip said: Just throwing this out there.....
I think some people's definition of 'Genius' is perhaps a little too broad.  | |
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