The greatest rock songwriters of all time have a lot in common. Firstly, they are some of the biggest names in rock music history. These household names have written some of the most popular songs. Secondly, even if you aren't too familiar with these songwriters, you've definitely heard their songs at least once or twice. You may not be familiar with their names or faces, but you should know their music. For some bizarre reason, you may not have heard of John Lennon or Paul McCartney, but you definitely have heard of The Beatles and their music. The same goes for Freddie Mercury and Queen, who like The Beatles' songwriting duo, wrote some of the most popular songs in music history.
Bob Dylan is widely considered one of the first songwriters to incorporate poetry, imagery and a social consciousness to rock music. His influence ranges far and wide. Many of the songwriters on this list count Dylan as one of the most important songwriters in rock history. He may not have had the same impact as Dylan, but Kurt Cobain has proven to be one of the most important songwriters in recent history. His career may have been short, but his impact on music history cannot be understated.
It's not easy to determine which of these songwriters is the greatest of all time. It's up to you to determine who is the greatest rock songwriter of all time by voting for who you think deserves that title.1
4,3894,514Paul McCartney
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: Flaming Pie, Ram, McCartney, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, Press to Play
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, composer, and record and film producer who gained worldwide fame as bass player for the Beatles. His... more2
4,2974,444John Lennon
Blues-rock, Pop musicAlbums: Imagine, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Double Fantasy, Milk and Honey, Walls and Bridges
John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon, 9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter and peace activist who gained worldwide fame as the rhythm guitarist for the... more- 34,2824,830
Bob Dylan
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Highway 61 Revisited, Blood on the Tracks, Blonde on Blonde, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan (born May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, author, poet, and visual artist who has been a major figure in popular culture for more than fifty years. Much of his most celebrated... more - 43,1663,624
Elton John
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Disney's Sing-Along: The Lion King, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Madman Across the Water, Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
Sir Elton Hercules John (born 25 March 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer. He has worked with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967; they have collaborated on more than 30... more - 53,4864,011
Paul Simon
Rock music, Folk musicAlbums: Graceland, Still Crazy After All These Years, So Beautiful or So What, Paul Simon, The Rhythm of the Saints
Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Simon's musical career has spanned seven decades with his fame and commercial success beginning as half of the... more - 62,6602,410
Johnny Cash
Outlaw country, Christian musicAlbums: American V: A Hundred Highways, American IV: The Man Comes Around, At Folsom Prison, American Recordings, American III: Solitary Man
John R. "Johnny" Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and author. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold... more
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Eric Clapton
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: 461 Ocean Boulevard, Crossroads, Pilgrim, Journeyman, Tears in Heaven
Eric Patrick Clapton, (born 30 March 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist... more - 82,2262,258
Billy Joel
Blue-eyed soul, Pop musicAlbums: The Stranger, Piano Man, 52nd Street, Glass Houses, An Innocent Man
William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and pianist. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man" after his first hit and signature song of the same name, he has led... more - 91,3351,604
Bob Seger
Blue-eyed soul, Heartland rockAlbums: 'Live' Bullet, Against the Wind, Stranger in Town, Greatest Hits, Beautiful Loser
Robert Clark Seger (born May 6, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob... more - 101,2611,631
Roy Orbison
Country pop, Pop musicAlbums: The Essential Roy Orbison, King of Hearts, Mystery Girl, Crying, The Orbison Way
Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads.... more - 111,1511,396
Neil Diamond
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: The Christmas Album Volume II, Hot August Night, The Christmas Album, The Jazz Singer, Home Before Dark
Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actor. With 38 songs in the Top 10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts, Diamond has sold more than... more - 121,4131,965
Carole King
Adult contemporary music, Blue-eyed soulAlbums: Tapestry, Wrap Around Joy, Music, Love Makes the World, Colour of Your Dreams
Carole King (born Carol Joan Klein, February 9, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter who has been active since 1958, initially as one of the staff songwriters at the Brill Building and later as a... more - 139801,525
Jim Croce
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: Simply the Best: Time in a Bottle: His Greatest Hits, Jim Croce Smash Hits, Singer Songwriter, Bombs Over Puerto Rico, Life and Times
James Joseph Croce (; January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973) was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and numerous singles. He was... more - 142,0112,995
Neil Young
Rock music, Experimental rockAlbums: Harvest, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, After the Gold Rush, Tonight's the Night, On the Beach
Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. After embarking on a music career in the 1960s, he moved to Los Angeles, where he formed Buffalo Springfield with... more - 152,8823,647
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Jim Morrison
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Paris Jim, Dionysus
James Douglas Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) was an American singer, songwriter and poet, who served as the lead vocalist of the rock band the Doors. Due to his poetic lyrics, distinctive... more - 172,4652,914
Roger Waters
Folk rock, Progressive rockAlbums: The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, Amused to Death, When the Wind Blows, Music From the Body, Ça Ira
George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943) is an English songwriter, singer, bassist, and composer. In 1965, he co-founded the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Waters initially served solely as the... more - 182,8342,135
Tom Petty
Blues-rock, Heartland rockAlbums: Full Moon Fever, Wildflowers, Highway Companion, Mary Jane's Last Dance, Free Fallin'
Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017) was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and actor. He was the lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,... more - 192,0192,800
Bruce Springsteen
Americana, Blues-rockAlbums: Born to Run, Born in the U.S.A., The Rising, Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949), nicknamed "The Boss", is an American singer-songwriter who is a solo artist and is the leader of the E Street Band. Springsteen received... more - 201,8912,293
John Fogerty
Americana, Blues-rockAlbums: Deja Vu All Over Again, Hoodoo, Centerfield, The Blue Ridge Rangers, Revival
John Cameron Fogerty (born May 28, 1945) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. Together with Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, and his brother Tom Fogerty, he founded the band Creedence Clearwater... more - 211,3881,835
Don Henley
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: The End of the Innocence, Building the Perfect Beast, I Can't Stand Still, End of the Innocence, Dirty Laundry
Donald Hugh Henley (born July 22, 1947) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and founding member of the Eagles. He was the drummer and co-lead vocalist for the Eagles from... more - 225,5563,796
Freddie Mercury
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: The Solo Collection, Barcelona, Mr. Bad Guy, Time, Guide Me Home
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British singer, songwriter, record producer, and lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. Regarded as one of the... more - 237681,300
John Denver
Western music, Pop musicAlbums: Rocky Mountain Christmas, Christmas Like a Lullaby, A Christmas Together, Take Me Home, Country Roads
Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, activist, and humanitarian, whose... more - 243,4824,078
David Bowie
Rock music, Psychedelic popAlbums: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Hunky Dory, Diamond Dogs, Aladdin Sane, "Heroes"
David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie (, BOH-ee), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. He was a leading figure in the music industry and is... more - 251,1791,600
Bob Marley
ReggaeAlbums: Sun Is Shining, One Love, Rainbow Country, Lively Up Yourself, Forever Gold
Robert Nesta Marley, (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by blending elements of reggae,... more
