15 x 15 Favorite Acts and Artists of All Time (for now) Across Genres

One of my Facebook friends recently tagged me on a music list meme, in which I was supposed to list my top twenty favorite artists/bands of all time. That was a pleasant distraction from the cares and occupations of this old world, so full of disappointments, discouragements, violence, and strife. It was also a challenge, not only to limit my list to just twenty (!) artists, but also to compare the artists I most enjoy across a diversity of genres. Doesn't seem quite fair, really. So, it got me to thinking about my favorite artists according to the various kinds of music they make. Here follows the results of that thinking: My fifteen favorite acts and artists across fifteen different musical categories, listed roughly in order of preference within each category. I am well aware that others may quibble, not only with my tastes, but also with my categorizations. But isn't it great to live in a free country!? 😎


Modern Country

Tim McGraw
Kenny Chesney
Big & Rich
Darius Rucker
Jason Aldean
Sugarland
Carrie Underwood
Rodney Atkins
Billy Currington
Toby Keith
Blake Shelton
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Eli Young Band
Dierks Bentley


More Traditional Country

Zac Brown Band
Sturgill Simpson
Eric Church
Miranda Lambert
Johnny Cash
Brandy Clark
Trace Adkins
George Strait
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Allison Moorer
David Nail
Gary Allan
Casey Donahew
Alan Jackson


Folk & Americana

Parker Millsap
The Avett Brothers
Simon & Garfunkel / Paul Simon
The Decemberists
Lori McKenna
Bob Dylan
The Honeycutters
Passenger
The Secret Sisters
Mumford & Sons
American Aquarium / BJ Barham
Alison Krauss
Amanda Shires
Amos Lee
James Taylor


Pop

Mat Kearney
Five For Fighting
Gavin DeGraw
ABBA
Michael Jackson
Taylor Swift
Jason Mraz
John Mayer
Dawes
Ingrid Michaelson
Uncle Kracker
Sheryl Crow
Colbie Caillat
Grace Potter
Dan Fogelberg


Alternative Pop

Train
Matchbox Twenty
Ed Sheeran
Imagine Dragons
The Fray
Plain White T’s
Switchfoot
Bowling for Soup
The Clarks
The Script
Weird Al Yankovic
Sister Hazel
Augustana
Barenaked Ladies
OneRepublic


Pop Rock

Elton John
Electric Light Orchestra
Billy Joel
Rick Springfield
Rod Stewart
Fleetwood Mac
Don Henley
REO Speedwagon
Hall & Oates
Paul McCartney
Jackson Browne
Asia
Journey
Huey Lewis
The Doobie Brothers


Heartland Rock

John Cougar Mellencamp
Will Hoge
Kid Rock
.38 Special
Green River Ordinance
Jason Isbell
Bryan Adams
Bob Seger
Sammy Hagar
Tom Petty
ZZ Top
Jimmy Barnes
Gaslight Anthem / Brian Fallon
Kenny Loggins
Bruce Springsteen


Classic Rock

Led Zeppelin
Queen
The Beatles
The Eagles
Black Country Communion
Styx
Heart
Rival Sons
Whitesnake
Rainbow
Deep Purple
Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Doors
The Kinks
Cream


Rock

Black Stone Cherry
Bon Jovi
Daughtry
Foreigner
Pat Benatar
Night Ranger
Boston
Creed
Black Star Riders
Thunder
Tesla
KISS
Joan Jett
Europe
Loverboy


Modern Rock

Shinedown
Alter Bridge
3 Doors Down
Three Days Grace
Ten
Jorn
House of Lords
Eclipse
Smash Into Pieces
Like a Storm
The Winery Dogs
Pretty Maids
Audioslave
Chevelle
Trapt


Hard Rock

Ozzy Osbourne
Def Leppard
Scorpions
Volbeat
Van Halen
Guns ‘n’ Roses
Dio
AC/DC
Saxon
Cinderella
Dokken
Velvet Revolver
Gotthard
W.A.S.P.
Harem Scarem


Heavy Metal

Judas Priest
Black Sabbath
Megadeth
Iron Maiden
All That Remains
Metallica
Firewind
Dragonforce
Black Veil Brides
Stryper
Primal Fear
Disturbed
Iced Earth
Accept
HammerFall


Progressive Rock & Metal

Theocracy
Dream Theater
Amaranthe
Sabaton
Avenged Sevenfold
Apocalyptica
Redemption
Queensryche
Xandria
Sonata Arctica
Delain
Within Temptation
Serenity
Avantasia
Insomnium


Alternative Rock

Hootie & The Blowfish
U2
Good Charlotte
Linkin Park
Fall Out Boy
Breaking Benjamin
Need-to-Breathe
INXS
R.E.M.
Counting Crows
Everclear
Kings of Leon
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Dommin
Goo Goo Dolls


Guitarists

Slash
Joe Satriani
Mark Tremonti
Paul Gilbert
Joe Bonamassa
Brad Paisley
Gus G
Zakk Wylde
Keith Urban
John 5
Marty Friedman
Eric Clapton
Yngwie Malmsteen
George Lynch
Jeff Beck