Top 5 most influential Electronic Musicians

Electronic Music has thousands of famous people associated with its evolution and its progress marches inexorably forward.

But of those names, who has influenced the widest audience with their innovations?

Here are the top 5 most influential Electronic Musicians ever...


5. Gary Numan

Whilst not revolutionizing style (Maybe someone found a way to clone David Bowie in the late 70s...), he pushed the envelope for Electronic Music.  

He single-handedly triggered the "Keep Music Live" campaign after performances of his number 1 hit song "Are 'Friends' Electric?" made the Musicians Union angry that he wasn't performing live enough for them since he was cutting out the need for live musicians.

4. Kraftwerk

The inspiring German electronica group started in 1970 that made countless catchy songs.

They popularized the use of vocoders and computer-generated vocals and used both synthesizers and electronically mangled live instruments such as band member Florian Schneider's flute performances which ended up sounding more like a bass instrument!

3. DJ Kool Herc

Referenced as the founder of Hip Hop music, this Jamaican DJ came up with the clever idea of using two turntables to keep the danceable break beat from funk songs going all through the party!   He also arguably began rap music by punctuating the beats with rhyming slang!

For one guy with a funny hat he's accomplished more than many could dream of.

2. Robert Moog

Whilst not a famous musician as such, Dr. Robert Arthur Moog founded the Moog Music company which created the world-famous Moog Synthesizer followed by the "Mini Moog" which became one of the first synthesizers to be portable and affordable, meaning you didn't have to be a millionaire or a scientist to create electronic music!   Quite an accolade.

1. Pierre Schaeffer

The father of Electronica.   The first man to decide to use machines for music, he inspired people who inspired people who inspired people who... you get the picture.

A genuine legend, he created the Musique Concrète movement and began the use of artistic sampling.   While his pieces may not be to everyone's tastes, I'm sure that whoever made the music that is to your tastes can trace their influences back inevitably to him.