The Groove

The greatest artists of the 1960s

76 artists ranked by the Groove — music.nw’s own measure of renown. Not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. Why?

No. 1

The Beatles

United Kingdom · 1960–1970 · rock

490.364

Why this number?

The full board · page 3

49 B.B. King

United States of America · 1925–2015 · blues 6.020

50 Dusty Springfield

United Kingdom · 1939–1999 · blue-eyed soul 5.840

51 Blind Faith

United Kingdom · 1968–1969 · blues rock 5.460

52 The Pretty Things

United Kingdom · 1963– · psychedelic rock 5.400

53 Antônio Carlos Jobim

Brazil · 1927–1994 · bossa nova 5.220

54 João Gilberto

Brazil · 1931–2019 · bossa nova 5.220

Stan Getz

United States of America · 1927–1991 · bossa nova 5.220

The Allman Brothers Band

United States of America · 1969–2014 · blues rock 4.980

57 Herbie Hancock

United States of America · 1940– · jazz 4.980

58 Aretha Franklin

United States of America · 1942–2018 · soul 4.970

59 Iron Butterfly

United States of America · 1966–2012 · rock 4.970

60 The Mamas & the Papas

United States of America · 1965–1972 · folk rock 4.970

61 Eric Dolphy

United States of America · 1928–1964 · avant-garde jazz 4.920

Van der Graaf Generator

United Kingdom · 1967–1978 · progressive rock 4.830

63 Sly & the Family Stone

United States of America · 1967–1975 · funk 4.760

Fleetwood Mac

United Kingdom · 1967–2022 · rock 4.600

65 Janis Joplin

United States of America · 1943–1970 · blues rock 4.400

66 Fairport Convention

United Kingdom · 1967– · folk rock 4.400

67 Jeff Beck Group

United Kingdom · 1967–1972 · rock 4.400

68 Nina Simone

United States of America · 1933–2003 · jazz 4.350

Elton John

United Kingdom · 1947– · rock 4.140

70 Crosby, Stills & Nash

United States of America · 1968–2016 · folk rock 4.000

71 John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers

United Kingdom · 1963–2008 · blues 4.000

72 Isaac Hayes

United States of America · 1942–2008 · soul 3.800