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.

I vote for JLL

Elvis is the king
 

Elvis, deserves the title after all is said & done, but my personal vote would go to 'Buddy Holley' for the king of rock & roll music.

For the 50s definitely Elvis

Ew, I voted for Elvis. Why an earth did I do that?

Why is there not a Buddy Holly option?

Because he's a f*cking hack.

But so is everyone on this poll so whatev.

You think Chuck Berry and Little Richard are hacks?!

Yep.

How so? I remember you arguing pretty passionately in Chuck Berry's favor in the hall of fame thread a while back.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

Trollfail?

Yeah I was waiting for Jedey.

I'm not about to get into a battle of wits against the unarmed.

elvis. he has dominated in notoriety over the other artists in this poll. may not equal talent, but it does equal kingship. not to mention he is good.

I've yet to see you participate in an actual argument you just make mind blowingly stupid hit and run comments.

I've never made a statement I didn't believe in unlike you who makes up the most pretentious lies just to start arguments.

So far here's a list of people you've called talentless hacks just to start an argument with me:

Buddy Holly
Chuck Berry
Willy Dixon
Little Richard
Johnny Cash
Bo Diddley
Roy Orbison
Jerry Lee Lewis
Carl Perkins
Eddie Cochran
Gene Vincent
Fats Domino
Sam Cooke
James Brown
Otis Redding
Bob Dylan

You're just an internet troll.

You troll this forum a lot. I'm just trying to make you go away.

I have not made one statement that was not an honest opinion. Can you say the same?...I doubt it.

tbh i'm with Jedey on this, I don't see anything up with his posts. He praises Otis Redding alot but you praise Yes alot too so idk. Just stfu both of you.

I think I've only mentioned Otis a few times but it seems like more because of my avatar.

i think it's a travesty shakin' stevens isn't on the list

Chuck Berry was arguably rock's first guitar hero and he had some great songs with sly and humorous lyrics. He gets my vote.

Elvis is the "king" I guess, purely because of the impact he had on America, and the world.
But I think had he not been white, it'd be a completely different story.

It's between Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Bo Diddley for me.

I voted Little Richard. I could never really get into Elvis, never liked his voice. Little Richard has the best voice and his songs are just plain fun.

I think Elvis Presley is the father of rock n' roll. He started a lot of the genre, but I don't think he's quite the king.

Really?

Elvis didn't start the genre, nowhere near, he said so himself numerous times.
He just popularised a genre that was dominated by blacks.

He can never be called the 'Father', but he can be called the King, purely because of the impact he had on America, and the world. But the only reason he had so much of an impact is because he was white.

I agree. Elvis singing style was always too pure.

Chuck Berry is a King of R&R, he was for some odd reason put in prison at the peak of his career, (which I think is odd) and he won a case pertaining to the Beach Boys copying C. Berry's music, you can make and come to your own conclusion's.

He was put in prison for having sex with an underage girl acc. to wiki

That's not quite right, this is what Wiki says.