If we're going to talk about the father of rock and roll, it simply has to be Little Richard. He's the one who took the stagnating form of R&B and wired it up, adding the fire and the form of what we now know as rock and roll and making history. However, Chuck Berry did it better, and really cemented the need for the electric guitar for the genre, so I voted for him.

Any of those guys, I would consider proto-rock heroes. In my opinion true rock didn't start until the sixties, and with that being said, Bob Dylan was the "Big Bang" of the modern rock world.

I guess that wasn't the original question, but my 2 cents.

RMR

Chuck Berry, for sure. Rock and roll is centered around a guitar, and Chuck Berry made it that way.

This is a tricky one...

Elvis made rock n' roll popular... but he stole most of his material from Chuck Berry. Chuck Berry always did well, even after Elvis died.

I don't even know why Little Richard was listed in the first place. He didn't do anything for rock. I never even placed him in that genre.

I'd have to say Chuck Berry for the music itself, and Elvis for making it popular.

You can't leave out the Kinks or Animals. They were also HUGE.

Why on earth would you think that?

Well personally and there really is no other way of saying this... Im just not an Elvis fanatic, I mean he was talented theres no doubt about that but I struggle to believe he would have been as big as he is today if he didnt pass away the way he did. I make the same argument about Cobain but thats not an argument for this thread.

But as much as I dont obsess over him I still dont think u could take the title away, its a title that belongs to the biggest name and he is it.

I don't really think you can draw much of a parallel between Elvis and Kurt Cobain. Whatever your opinion of either one they had very different career trajectories. Elvis had a long career and was around long enough to become kind of has-been before he died. Cobain is more equatable to someone like Hendrix, dying while still at his peak after a pretty short career.

My only point was that their passing excelled their careers but you do make a much better point than I did :P

This has probably been posted already but just in case it hasn't:

Elvis did the most drugs. Elvis screwed the most girls. Elvis made the most money. Elvis really did live like a king.

Elvis died on the throne.

:laughing:

Not a big fan of Elvis but with respect to the pioneering aspect of it...uh no

Chuck Berry, there's literally no other option, he ****ing invented rock n roll

Chuck Berry sort of wrote his own songs so...

Plus, he's also the king of secretly taping women taking a dump. I don't know if any rock star can ever top him in that.

Except when he stole them from his brother ;)

That's a classic. :laughing:

Couldnt you throw Hendrix into the mix for this title?

I love that my first post here is about Elvis. That's who I voted for, the others don't even compare in my eyes.

I vote if you didnt write your own music you cant be the king of anything. **** you Elvis you suck.

Personally I never could get into Elvis. I know he was a pioneer of sorts and all that but meh. Im sure theres a time line here that comes into play with this debate as to who was around first. With tons of other contributing factors as well. But if I never heard any of Elvis's music I would be missing nothing. I cant imagine rock without Hendrix so therefore he gets my nomination. Just because

Elvis is perhaps king of the rock and roll image, but CERTAINLY not rock and roll itself. I think as Boozin just said its an obvious choice. Hendrix is clearly the most influential rock god to ever live.

When it comes down to it, it's just a empty title. It's like being the King of Hamburgers.

^^Burger King

awopbaboplabop-awopbamboom!

I agree with this.

When I voted in this poll ages ago. I HAD to vote for Chuck Berry.
He gets credit for writing his own songs during a time when many artists weren't.


Elvis is just Britney Spears of the 1950s

only Elvis stuff I like are the Sun Sessions LP and some of his gospel songs

the rock n' roll stuff ain't much great, although I heard that his country-rock stuff is ok (never heard it myself, though)

Igor Stravinsky LoL... HA!

Rock and roll existed long before Hendrix took to stage, and plenty of black musicians (guitarists specifically) existed beforehand who shocked the world with their skills. Hendrix is a great example, but he's not the first and really can't be the king of the genre consequently.

If I had to choose from this list, I'd pick Chuck Berry. My opinions on Elvis are so venomous that I'll keep them to myself.

Rock and roll was not started nor popularized by any one man. There is no king of rock and roll, there is only royalty.

re-read that statement again and see if it makes sense to you.

Unless you believe the story of him steeling Johnny B Goode from his brother.

what!? give me the brief run down of this story. I don't think i've heard it.

There was a documentary on the subject released some time ago:

http://larryfire.files.wordpress.com...tfbonusdvd.jpg

I will have to head down to the library and check out this documentary.

Never heard of it before.

Ive seen this movie myself but never thought there was any truth to the Johnny B. Goode scene. I got the whole connection when he says he's his brother Marvin Berry but I just thought it was for laughs.

Bah. My point was that they are all (more or less) equal. That point still stands. :-p

And I hope none of youbare serious about the Marvin Barry thing. Hahahaha.

Elvis for me.

booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Pat boone!!!!

The last man standing!