Classic rock is a fundamental part of American history, one of the most enduring genres of rock and roll music. Many of today’s leading bands can trace their styles back to the influence of certain musicians. While every song made available to the world has had an impact on the music industry, there are certain performers who will eternally stand at the forefront of music.From folk rock to psychedelic rock, you can find many groundbreaking sounds and voices. Here are the top ten most influential classic rock bands ever.Elvis Presley

While Elvis is not traditionally viewed in the classic rock genre, it is impossible to ignore his effect on the world of Rock and Roll. As the first to expose mainstream America to something besides traditional family music, he faced a significant amount of opposition from the mainstream.

Despite the extreme racism exhibited during the 1950′s, Elvis never hesitated to give appropriate credit to his inspirations. Mainly African-American performers influenced Elvis’ sound and style. Southern radio dj’s originally refused to play Elvis’ singles, mainly because they sounded “too Negro” for white stations to air. It was not just Elvis’ sound, but also his performance, that drew controversy. The movement of his hips in a suggestive manner sparked a whole decade of dialogue. Despite the firestorm of criticism that surrounded Elvis’ reign, his continuing popularity has ensured that Elvis’ crown as the King of Rock and Roll would remain valid for many years, even decades after his death.The Beatles

As the top selling rock and roll musical act of all-time, it is hard to deny the influence of the Beatles, not only on the musical culture of America, but also on all aspects of human life. The Beatles included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, and George Harrison. Their innovative style defined the music of the 1960′s — twice. They began their career in England, and when theyarrived at America, they were already a huge success in the United States. In their early years, they had defined pop music for a new generation.

As the hippie days of the late 1960′s started to seize America’s teenagers, the Beatles redefined their music again, with another new sort of rock and roll music lauded by the masses. Their very loud stance on drug use and war made them a controversial group, but their popularity never wavered. While the Beatles retained the loyalty and admiration of their late 1960′s audiences until the group broke up, the touring days of the Beatles ended in 1966 when John Lennon proclaimed, “The Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ.”

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan has one of the more easily recognizable voices on the planet. Raspy and full of passion, Bob Dylan’s sound is distinctive. His songs are excellent and defined an era involved with the themes of social unrest, an anti-war stance, and encouragement for the civil rights movement.

A traditional folk singer, Dylan’s works transcended all genres andappealed to countless young Americans. His sincere lyrics spoke to many people and made it easy to empathize with his many causes.

Jimi Hendrix

As the undisputed master of theguitar, Jimi Hendrix is a classic rock foundation. The self-taught guitar player refused to be limited to many of the conventional views of guitar players. Prior to Jimi Hendrix’s development as a guitar player, the electric guitar wasthought to merely be a louder form of the acoustic guitar. Hendrix embraced the uniqueness of the electric guitar and showed his appreciation for it to the world. He remains a staple of rock and roll music more than 40 years after his untimely death.

Pink Floyd

Easily considered by many rock and roll aficionados asthe greatest band of all time, Pink Floyd’s unique style and showmanship defined psychedelic rock. Their art rock albums were thematic masterpieces that appealed to countless audiences. The Dark Side Of The Moon, Animals, and The Wall each still stand out today as great rock and roll masterpieces.

The Who

Commonly known for their thematic records, The Who pioneered the idea of rock opera. Most well-known for their collaborative efforts with every major musical figure from that era, Tommy The Rock Opera ensured the longevity of the band into the future.Their success and fame were not limited to their unique approach to rock and roll concept albums. Their musical skills are still highly regarded in both mainstream circles and in the entertainment industry. Their music is being used as the theme song for at least three of the most popular shows on TV on the air today.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones have easily maintained their position as one of the longest lasting rock and roll bands in recording history. Like the majority of popular rock bands of the age, they were an England-based band that was more than happy to take on America. Their grungy unkempt image becameso popular; many artists are still working to master it. Their unique sound and high quality lyrics have kept them near the top of the charts for about 50 years.

Cream

Cream, featuring guitarist Eric Clapton, was one of the most technically advanced rock and roll music groups of their time. Their instrumental techniques became world famous and paved the way for other bands to focus on developing their instrument ideas, in addition to their lyrics.

The Doors

The Doors will always be one of the most contentious rock and roll bands that had ever existed. Jim Morrison’s wild conduct set the tone for the countless musical bad boys that would follow in his footsteps. The poetic lyrics of The Doors,in addition to their outrageous behavior, made them a crowd favorite.

Led Zeppelin

The road to heavy metal rock and roll was paved by Led Zeppelin. Their first album was crucial in its inclusion of distorted amplification techniques. Over time, their experimentation included mixing acoustic and electric sounds, along with the synthesized melodies. The success of Led Zeppelin helped create a strong base for the development of metal rock and roll music.

Not many people of their generation or the current generation realize that like Elvis, Led Zeppelin took most of their inspiration from African-American performers. As a lifelong fan of Led Zeppelin, it is was oddly fascinating to listen to a number of the not-so-famous African-American rhythm-and-blues performers of the 1930′s, and to be able to experience the Led Zeppelin songs we have loved for many years in a brand new way.Final ThoughtsClearly, these ten rock and roll artists had a essential impact on the advancement of rock and roll music through the decades, but it is harder to put them into an ordered listing of crucial groups. Let’s just be in agreement that most of us love all ten rock and roll artists on this list.