They were singer/performers before Elvis and they're singer/performers now. Things haven't changed that much. And far as image goes, can you name a singer that doesn't some kind of image.

Chuck Berry
Bo Diddley
Buddy Holly

Didn't want to read 13 pages, but I voted for Elvis.

Jerry Lee Lewis should have been an option because 1) he's still alive ;) and 2) his latest album was really good .

Why is Little Richard on the list to be King?

He is the Self proclaimed in his own words "Queen"

As for Elvis being King... Hes Elvis he has the title by giving by popular demand, but Ive always thought of him as a Pop icon for Rock n Roll.

Chuck Berry
Jerry lee Lewis
Buddy Holly
These were the guys I remember from Music class I know there are tons more..... And I still can listen to with ease. I rarely find myself listening to Elvis but that's just my taste, I think they come from my Grandmother, she loves Holly, Lewis and Ritchie Valens, Damn she played out La Bamba, glad I got her that Johnny Cash Greatest hits for Christmas :)

Truth is I never understood titles in music..... but I dont think I can judge anything from that era unless I was around in the 50's and argue it.

In fact I think I am going to have to go make myself a Old School Rock N Roll Playlist.... I think I need one of those.

*edit Damn did I just bump this?

I say Bill Haley & the Commets should be up there too... I mean, Danny Cedrone made rock guitar what it was before Elvis came along

hendrix took the blues and electrified it, he's everyone's influence, in my opinion if he hadn't come along you would not recognize rock as it is today... he was an excellent song writer in spirit and technicality, he pushed the envelopes of technology and presentation... that's how i feel about it...

Everyone Influenced and Influences everyone.... I doubt one person can influence just one genre completely it would be just lame.

Every person and every thing every artist experienced influenced them....

Hell, I could argue that without the guy who told Mozart the first song he wrote was good.... Rock wouldn't be what it is today.

you would be stretching a lot farther than me...

hendrix changed the game, drastically, more so than anyone else IMO

Hendrix was not the first to electrify the blues but he certainly was a huge influence on modern rock guitar playing.

I have to say this it's arguable that Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly were a bigger influence on the British Invasion artists than Elvis. Once the Beatles hit it big and then Dylan going electric Elvis influence on rock and roll really started to diminish.

Was hard to decide b/w Elvis & Chuck. But I'd say Elvis.