Prog's Most Influential Artists of the 1960s - Progressive Rock Music Forum

The Moody Blues without question. Four albums that were very proggy:

Days of Future Past (1967)

In Search of the Lost Chord (1968)

On the Threshold of a Dream (1969)

To Our Children's Children's Children (1969)

Concept albums, synthesis of rock and symphony orchestra, first use of the Moog/Chamberlin/EMS VC3, prog suites (Are You Sitting Comfortably/The Dream/Have You Heard/The Voyage/Have You Heard (Reprise)

...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...

Manuel wrote:

I would say The Beatles initiated it, The Moody Blues and Jimi Hendrix made it move forward, and King Crimson stablished progressive music as a real force in rock history.

I like this answer!

Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/

King Crimson, Procol Harum, Zappa, etc

Procol Harum.

They not only created the most beautiful classical/rock/psyche song ever but released a full length epic in 1968.

of course The Nice is a glaring omission from the list. Even Hendrix was interested in what they were doing!

Atavachron wrote:

Uhh... the Nice.

from the list, Procol Harum

Probably this

I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution

verslibre wrote:

UK: King Crimson

USA: Jimi Hendrix

There were many things before KC in the 60's that could be considered important ... and probably deserve the mention. One of them would be THE SMALL FACES, whose hit "Itchycoo Park" I think was like February 1968, and possibly before.

In America, I really think that Miles Davis deserves some more credit, mostly because of his ... just play attitude, that had no rhyme of reason, and his free form is something that you can find (eventually) in many folks, like Steve Howe, though I doubt he would even consider that thought, and others that extended the guitar playing beyond what we consider solos.

Frank Zappa, definitely, as one of the giants, not only in America, but also all of Europe. Many groups loved FZ and mentioned, and this went so far as FAUST, AD2, SUPERSISTER (a wee bit later) and many others. A lot of European bands had no issues with the extended guitar material not being a "song" and this is quite visible in the incredible forays by Richard Pinhas with Heldon, and many folks compare him to Robert Fripp, though I think that RP is less compromising when it came to letting go ... he just ripped our ears apart.

I think, to help make this bunch of names listed here, it would be better to place them in order by some of their releases, so one can see how soon they appear, and how soon, folks appreciate it to the point of trying to do it themselves.

As time goes by, the better KNOWN of the "progressive" choices seems to take the front page, but, I find it really hard to believe that the complete insanity and letting go by Janis Joplin, and the incredible stuff that THE DOORS did was not a factor in everyone's influence. All of a sudden, everyone wants to try what those folks do, and almost no women could even come close to Janis, and it was a blessing in disguise when Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins re-wrote the book, although I would suggest that both Joni and Judy did not have the emotional strength that Janis lived and died for.

It's a really tough question to discuss, and a more thorough listing in order of appearance might be valuable ... heck, we should even mention "Winchester Cathedral" but I am not sure that too many folks here know it as well.

Interesting choices, but I would hate to select merely a "favorite" here ... the history of it all is better than one person, and they all deserve a mention!

Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com

With all due respect to the other groups, is it necessary to answer? LOL

-Will I see you tonight?
-I never make plans that far ahead.

Casablanca (1942)

I have more music that has clearly been influenced by Pink Floyd or King Crimson than any other. The Beatles paved the way in 1967/68 showing there are are no rules any more which is what Prog is all about but as far as Prog bands being influencial those are my two picks. Tons of Psychedelic and Krautrock bands have been influenced by Floyd and I always remember exploring Chile and other South American countries for Prog and surprised at how many sounded like King Crimson who influenced Math Rock as well. Just my take with the Prog music I tend to listen to most. Wouldn't you say Moody Blues and KC's debut inspired Symphonic bands the most? I'm probably breaking this down too much instead of looking at the whole.

"The wind is slowly tearing her apart"

"Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN

Poll Question: Which of these artists contributed the most to progressive rock?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
The Byrds	0	[0.00%]
The Beatles	21	[41.18%]
Spirit	1	[1.96%]
The Soft MAchine	1	[1.96%]
Argent	0	[0.00%]
The Moody Blues	5	[9.80%]
King Crimson	7	[13.73%]
Jefferson Airplane	0	[0.00%]
The Doors	0	[0.00%]
Fairport Convention	0	[0.00%]
Miles Davis	1	[1.96%]
Tony Williams	0	[0.00%]
John Coltrane	0	[0.00%]
Sun Ra	0	[0.00%]
Pink Floyd	6	[11.76%]
Jimi Hendrix	2	[3.92%]
Eric Burdon	0	[0.00%]
Babatunde Olatunji	0	[0.00%]
Ravi Shankar	0	[0.00%]
Antônio Carlos Jobim	0	[0.00%]
The Mothers of Invention/Frank Zappa	4	[7.84%]
Arthur Brown	0	[0.00%]
Procol Harum	3	[5.88%]
Family	0	[0.00%]
John Renbourn & Bert Jansch	0	[0.00%]
You can not vote in this poll