Who Do You Think Had A More Profound Influence On Rock?

Question

Elvis Presley or Robert Johnson?
For anyone Who doesn't know Robert Johnson was the 1930's delta blueman of "Crossroads" fame whose recordings are basically the template upon which all rock was built.
And Elvis, well everybody knows Elvis.
Which of these two cornerstone figures do You think casts a longer shadow of Rock Music?

Casts a longer shadow OVER Rock Music I meant to say

Answer 1

Black Sabbath did, enough said.

Answer 2

Robert Johnson, but I think that the places have changed between these two as societal and cultural mores have swayed since the 40's, 50's, and 60's. We seem searching for the actual music and it's roots now, rather than a polished or idolized iconic figure to guide us. And previous entries have stated an all too important fact: That the race card issues, musical style, or public popularity aside, Elvis' style was influenced by southern Black music which at the time was a direct offshoot of Robert Johnson's music. We simply can't assume that Elvis would have sung the same music had it not been for certain predecessors. If he hadn't brought that sound to White America, would Rock as we know it sound the same? Robert Johnson's shadow looms more large every time you stop to learn something more of the man. He not only influenced early American Rock, but was heard in the British Invasion as well! Way too many Brits have recorded Johnson's songs outright. Ask a Mr. Mayall about his influences. . .

Answer 3

I don't think Robert Johnson is the grandfather of rock 'n' roll at all. He doesn't quite have the sound. He may be great-grandfather of all of the music we listen today, but anyway...

I prefer Elvis over Robert Johnson. Maybe it's because I don't have Robert Johnson's complete collection (then again, I don't have Elvis's either) or maybe it's because I've listened to Elvis more, but whatever it is, I just like him more. I respect Robert Johnson though; he's amazing. I've never heard an acoustic guitar like that before. It's like an electric guitar almost.

Anyway, on to the influence. I'd say Elvis. Robert Johnson wasn't as influential to rock, directly anyway. He had some influence to some 60's guitarists (notably Eric Clapton), but Elvis Presley influenced contemporaries, 60's, and 70's artists and bands. He had great back up musicians that proved to be pretty influential, performance skills that's lead him to being called one of the greatest frontmen of rock 'n' roll, etc.

Maybe it's true; maybe rock wouldn't exist without Robert Johnson. But Robert Johnson wouldn't exist without those African-American communities back more than 100 years ago that played music for entertainment and sheerly entertainment.

Answer 4

Elvis. All your major Rock types from the 1960's were first drawn to Rock by Elvis. Some of these people may have gone on and discovered Robert Johnson, but it was Elvis was the giant who drew people to the music. Elvis was huge, all of the radio TV and in Movies. Also, while Robert Johnson was a great blues artist, he was not the first person to play the blues nor was he the most famous when Rock was born. He was a relatively obscure artist, died young (in around 1935)and only had about 24 songs released. The blues in general was a big influence on Rock, but it was people like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, BB King, Albert King, Sonny Boy Williamson Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Louis Jordan etc. who where alive making hit records in the fifties and sixties and were heard on the radio who had a much bigger influence on the early rock people. Robert Johnson's music wasn't really well known until Columbia rereleased his material in around 1965

Also, country music had a big influence of Rock & Roll and it was Elvis (and people like Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins) who put country and blues together.

Also, Johnson was influenced by Son House, Charley Patton and other earlier blues artists as another poster said.

Answer 5

Darth, I think I know where you are going on this one. Johnson (and others) laid the groundwork for rock and roll. Their music was influential over Elvis, The Stones, Cream, Hendrix, etc. Without Johnson, music may have evolved differently; however, Elvis brought rock music to the masses. His legendary hip wiggle and censorship made buying rock a rebellious act. You can really tell how important he was by evaluating the music of the early 60's when Elvis enlisted. That era may be the worst 2-3 years of recordings in rock history. As soon as Elvis returns, he goes into movies and continues to thrive. For this question, I would say Elvis was a more important part of rock history!

Answer 6

If it weren't for Robert Johnson, people like Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and many of the other early rock n' roll icons who borrowed heavily from the Blues and incorporated it into their music, wouldn't have been around. Therefore, Johnson had the most profound influence on rock n' roll as he opened the door for the others. Unfortunately, because a lot of people equate commercial sales with influence and success, history will hand that to Elvis Presley.

Answer 7

From those two - I would say Elvis had more direct effect, though he owes his allegience to black blues artists of the late 40's and early 50's like Big Mama Thornton or Jackie Brenston.

As for what BLUES artist has a long shadow over Rock and Roll, there are too many to name, and Robert Johnson is big among them ...

but, I would say T-bone Walker had a bigger efect. His style of electric guitar playing influenced every guitar player to come after him whether they realize it or not.

By the way - Robert Johnson got the credit, but the Rock and Roll sound was more influenced by HIS predecessors than by him - like Blind Willie Johnson, or Son House

Answer 8

i am a big fan of elvis. so i give him lots of credit. would i even know who robert johnson was if i wasnt introduced to rock by elvis? and why did i want to search the roots of rock? elvis opened that door.

because of elvis, i discovered all the major 50s starting acts like chuck berry, little richard, fats domino, big joe turner, etc. he covered them all.

i went further and learned about jive, do wop, hillbilly, country western, gospel, rockabilly, r&b. i wanted to know the originals of the music elvis covered and what his influences were. i love the blues, rhythm, & do wop the most.

elvis held the lamp for my path. he lit the path for many. otherwise, i dont think early rock would have been as popular. and many whites would not have known about so many talented black americans. i believe the doors would have been opened, but not as early and not as wide, is how i figure it. that's just how america was back then.

sure, the brits would have retaught americans the history of their own music by bringing it back over the water in any case, but would the exposure have been as great if for not having early rock as the boat to travel in?

in the end, i think big credit should be given to sam phillips of sun records, and everyone else who had the drive to record all the early music. check out the history of the blues that was shown on pbs a few years ago. it's those recorders who made it really happen. and that's why we know about the soil that the roots of rock grew in.

but it took someone like elvis singing with his multiple influences to make the growth really take off.

Answer 9

Unfortunately, when it comes to music, a lot of people are more obsessed with image rather than product. Therefore, even though it pains me to say it, i would have to say Elvis Presley. Robert Johnson created a product and Elvis Presley gave that product an image with which to sell it.

Answer 10

Elvis was a great messenger, but Robert Johnson is the message.

Any respected rock 'n roll musicians consider Robert Johnson as a greater influence as a fellow musician.

Elvis was known for is song-bases rock n roll.

Is it me or do the non-American rock n roll artists give more honor to Robert Johnson than American based bands?

Answer 11

From a nuts and bolts perspective, Robert Johnson provided the original music, but by the time Elvis and his contemporaries got a hold of it, it resembled nothing like what Johnson had started. Granted, guys like Clapton and Page may be plying riffs that Johnson created, but there wouldn't be a stage for them to play on if Elvis hadn't come in and kicked down the door. He made people want to be rock stars.






NP: "I'll Fly Away" - Gillian Welch, Allison Krauss