I'm tempted to go for The Mothers of Invention/Frank Zappa. I don't think any other artist/band can match the influence of:

Freak Out!, Absolutely Free, We're Only In It For The Money, Uncle Meat and Hot Rats (+ Lumpy Gravy, to an extent) combined.

Others from the list are notable for conceptualizing/developing only one or few prog genres.

Notwithstanding that most of the artists in the poll were only partially prog i.e. proto-prog in the 60's.

USA: Jimi Hendrix

So The Beatles are so far voted as "The Best Prog Band of the 1960s"? 

Uhh... the Nice.

from the list, Procol Harum

Where's The Nice ???

Plus...King Crimson was released in mid October of 1969, so it almost didn't make it !

Now, 1967's the Thoughts Of Emerlist Davjak by The Nice contains the track Rondo which is practically an anthem for the prog. Add tothat the fact that Emerson quickly recruited Lake and Palmer to form the ultimate prog band at the time and you have your answer.

So I ask again... Where's The Nice ?

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)

Most interesting: Pink Floyd

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!

Pink Floyd

BrufordFreak wrote: Let's try to consider, if you will, which of these artists' discography from this decade only contributed the most to the formation and development of progressive rock as a movement.

Moody Blues, Procol Harum, Nice or Pink Floyd

BrufordFreak wrote: I know it's difficult but, if the world had ended on January 1, 1970, which of these bands do you think would be considered the most influential to Prog World?

Pink Floyd

voted for Moody Blues

Probably this

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!

This isn't about "earliest," but "most influential." That's just my take.

The Small Faces are not more influential than King Crimson.

moshkito wrote: 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.

Miles Davis gets plenty of credit, but rock has more listeners. (And I love fusion.) In a Silent Way and Bitches' Brew are where all the '70s heavies were initiated into "the rite": Hancock, Corea, Zawinul, Shorter, Williams, and so on.

moshkito wrote: 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.

You know which band has had a global influence? Tangerine Dream. But their first album dropped in 1970, so they're not in the poll.

moshkito wrote: 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.

Tell the guy who made the poll. 

moshkito wrote: As time goes by, the better KNOWN of the "progressive" choices seems to take the front page

Again, "most influential," not "my favorite."

Sarcasm indeed! I have a PHD in smart ass :D

Some of your choices are questionable though