These Are The Richest Songwriters Of All Time

Johnny Cash – $60 million

Greatest Hits: I Walk the Line, Folsom Prison Blues

Johnny Cash has recorded over 90 million records, globally. He has been invited to the Hall of Fame of Country Music, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Hall of Fame of Gospel. Well-known for hard-edge music. The opening line for him was “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash” He will make a quick introduction to the showboat before each concert and shirk it common in the rock genre. In Walk, the Line, the 20 Century Fox, Cash’s legacy was remembered.

Johnny Cash – $60 Million

Joni Mitchell – $50 million

Greatest Hits: Woodstock, Big Yellow Taxi

One of the best is Joni Mitchell’s The Blue Album. She’s a poet, guitarist, pianist. In her songs, she blended elements from folk, pop, jazz, and rock, singing in the roads and bars. With frequent activism and protests, she was involved in Baby Boom’s counterculture. Her greatest successes included tracks such as “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Woodstock,” and “Both Sides, Now,” all published by Reprise Records. It is often noted for its adaptability. She modified her appearance and her voice several times to become a pop and electronic force.

Joni Mitchell – $50 Million

Jerry Garcia – $40 million

Greatest Hits: Truckin’, Sugaree

Throughout his thirty-year career, Jerry Garcia, born in San Francisco, was part of this popular band. He had several other bands and other solo albums as well. He was 13th on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists” list. He was the primary songwriter for the Grateful Dead, best known for his psychedelic rock style. He was renowned for his “Truckin,” improvisation, and guitar solos, which suited him well because the stress he said in an interview was alleviated.

Jerry Garcia – $40 Million

Paul Simon – $75 million

Greatest Hits: Bridge Over Troubled Water

Paul Simon has written almost every song, including “Mrs. Robinson,” “Sound of Silence,” and perhaps their most popular hit, “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” which is owned by Columbia Records. The duo broke up in 1970, and Graceland, influenced by South Africa, where he lived for a while, was published by Simon. Graceland sold 14 million copies upon its release, and it is his most successful solo work so far. He had a career on Broadway, writing musicals. With the poet Derek Walcott, he wrote The Capeman. He was also a screenwriter.

Paul Simon – $75 Million

James Taylor – $60 million

Greatest Hits: Paint It Black, Night Owl

Five Grammys were awarded to singer-songwriter James Taylor, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him in 2000. He’s one of the best artists in the world ever to sell 100 million albums. He had his breakthrough with the album Fire and Rain, followed by the cover of You’ve Got a Friend by Carole King. He also covered several popular songs, including How Sweet It Is, HandyMan, and Sweet Baby James. Before This World, his first U.S. number one album was not released until 2015.

James Taylor – $60 Million

Carole King – $70 million

Greatest Hits: It’s Too Late, Nightingale, Jazzman

Carole King was one of the most popular and lucrative female songwriters ever, from 1950-2000. She has written or co-written 118 Billboard Hot 100 hits. And America alone is that. As the most popular female songwriter, she wrote sixty-one hits, making her hit the UK charts. She released various albums, including Writer and Tapestry, her breakthrough being the latter. For almost four months in America, Tapestry remained on the charts and remained on the charts six years later. In 2012, she received a Hollywood Star.

Carole King – $70 Million

Stevie Wonder – $110 million

Greatest Hits: Superstition

Stevland, or more famous as “Stevie Wonder,” is one of the most popular artists ever. He also played harmonica, drums, keyboards, Harpejji, and many other instruments, besides singing and writing prowess. He sold over a hundred million records and won 25 Grammys and an Academy Award. He has also been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Hall of Songwriters. On the Billboard Hot 100, Wonder had several major hits. He signed with Tamia, an 11-year-old Motown label. He was and is known to be a prodigy.

Stevie Wonder – $110 Million

Billy Joel – $180 million

Greatest Hits: Piano Man, Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)

Billy Joel, the singer and composer is renamed “Piano Man” after his first song’s success. Since the 1970s, he has been a solo artist in the industry. He has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, and his collection of Greatest Hits remains one of the best-selling albums in America ever. He was born in the Bronx and dropped out of middle school to study music. In 1972, he seized Columbia Records and signed a treaty. Out of 23 nominations, he has won five Grammys.

Billy Joel – $180 Million

Burt Bacharach – $160 million

Greatest Hits: Arthur’s Theme, Close to You

One of the most influential 20th-century composers is Burt Bacharach. Born in Missouri, he began composing in the 1980s. He partnered with the writer Hal David to create songs recorded by over 1,000 singers. He is referred to as a singer for his work with Dionne Warwick, his chord progression, and jazz harmony. He also collaborated with smaller orchestras, assigning their member’s unique instruments. Contemporary, easy-to-hear, and pop are among his styles. He plays the piano as well and sings.

Burt Bacharach – $160 Million

Randy Newman – $50 million

Greatest Hits: Just One Smile, I’ve Been Wrong Before

Randy Newman is known for his famous and successful songwriting and arrangement, and his distinctive voice and film scores. He mainly worked as a film composer, earning twenty Oscars and winning twice. It’s one of the most-nominated Oscars. In 2007, he was included in the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. For movies, including Cold Turkey, Meet the Parents, Seabiscuit, and nine different Pixar films, such as Toy Story, Monsters, and Cars, he composed animated and live-action music.

Randy Newman – $50 Million

Dolly Parton – $500 million

Greatest Hits: Jolene, I Will Always Love You, 9 to 5

Besides being a popular singer, Dolly Parton has written over 3,000 songs. Whitney Houston wrote, “I Will Always Love You,” and almost every popular artist covered that song. Interviewed about her songwriting, she said that she began writing when she was just seven years old. Whether it’s a poem, a concept, an album, or a little tidbit, she said she tries to write something every day. Through a deep religious tradition in the Appalachian Mountains, her folk childhood influenced her. She was awarded 35 BMI Awards.

Dolly Parton – $500 Million

Tom Petty – $95 million

Greatest Hits: Here Comes My Girl, Refugee, Don’t Do Me Like That

Tom Petty, a musician, was one of the greatest artists ever. When he met Elvis Presley, ten years old, he became interested in rock and roll. The Rolling Stones, his version of punk rock, also influenced him. He formed an unsuccessful Band of Mudcrutch. But the formation of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers proved to be a game-changer. Petty formed the group in the 1970s, and their second album reached the Top40. Even better was their third album, with two million copies and singles sold.

Tom Petty – $95 Million

Loretta Lynn – $65 million

Greatest Hits: You Ain’t Woman Enough, Coal Miner’s Daughter

Loretta Lynn was born in Kentucky and is one of the most famous and respected country stars in country music history. She’s renowned for such hits as “You Ain’t Woman Enough Don’t Come Home A Drinkin,” “Fist City,” “One’s on the Way,” and so on. Her biographical film, The Coal Miner’s Daughter, is named after her greatest hits. She has over 45,000,000 records sold. She had a record of two dozen, eleven numbers, and a single one. She is still touring at 87 on this day. She’s at the Grand Ole Opry as well.

Loretta Lynn – $65 Million

Lou Reed – $15 million

Greatest Hits: Think It Over, Heavenly Arms

Lou Reed was the lead singer and songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and he had a prospering solo career that lasted for over fifty years. The Velvet Underground was not commercially successful during their time together but is now considered one of the most influential underground alt-rock bands of its time. In 1970, Reed abandoned the Velvet Underground and published 20 solo records. He did well with his second and third albums, but he has had several ups and downs. He was brought alive by his later records, New Sensations, and New York.

Lou Reed – $15 Million

Kris Kristofferson – $160 million

Greatest Hits: Me and Bobby McGee, Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

Speaking of Kris Kristofferson, he’s a famous singer-songwriter with an acting career. He was a writer, often combining his tracks with Shel Silverstein, other singers’ popular writer. He was known for his collaborations with the Highwaymen, including Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson. In movies like Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Heaven’s Gate, Blade, and A Star are Born. He won a Golden Globe for A Star’s Born. He lives in Maui, Hawaii.

Kris Kristofferson – $160 Million

Paul McCartney – $1.2 billion

Greatest Hits: Yesterday

The only name here that would overtake John Lennon in terms of fame is Paul McCartney, although it makes sense that he was a co-founder of the Beatles. He had over 2,200 song-covering performers, particularly for yesterday’s song. He was inducted twice, both into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for his Beatles career and solo performance. He won 18 Grammys, and he and his fellow members of the Beatles were called MOBs in 1965. Also, he was knighted for music services in 1997.

Paul McCartney – $1.2 Billion

Van Morrison – $90 million

Greatest Hits: Gloria, Brown Eyed Girl

Van Morrison is a music legend who, as a youth, began his career. He played with numerous show bands in Ireland, becoming famous as a part of the Northern Irish R&B party, Them. He was the lead singer to establish the genre, recording Gloria with Them. He launched the successful single ‘Brown-Eyed Kid’ in the late 1960s. His first album was Astral Weeks, but sales were initially sluggish. But a hit was his second release, Moondance. Van Morrison still performs music tours to this day.

Van Morrison – $90 Million

Elton John – $500 million

Greatest Hits: Rocket Man, Crocodile Rock

Elton John has released more than 300 million records and has 58 Billboard hits in the top 40. His album,’ Candle in the Wind,’ which he wrote after his devastating death to remember Princess Diana, remains the best-selling single in the United Kingdom and the United States’ history. He received five Grammys and numerous other accolades, putting him in vital popularity behind only The Beatles and Madonna. He is also an exceptional LGBTQ activist, earning over $300 million for LGBTQ persons.

Elton John – $500 Million

Bob Dylan – $200 million

Greatest Hits: The Times, They Are A’Changin’, Blowin In The Wind

Country singer Bob Dylan is one of the best artists in pop culture (and counterculture). In the early 1960s, accompanied by the Days They Are A’Changing ‘and’ Blowin ‘In the Sky’ Civil Rights anthems, he released his eponymous album, smash song, after success. Politically, several of the records and singles he published were there. He was also among the first to use electrically amplified instruments in his rock songs, a decision which was then contentious. He sold over 100 million records in 2012 and 2016 and was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Nobel Prize, respectively.

Bob Dylan – $200 Million

Brian Wilson – $75 million

Greatest Hits: Good Vibrations, I Get Around, God Only Knows, Barbara Ann

Brian Wilson co-founds the Beach Boys. Signed in 1962 to Capitol, he composed about twenty-four of the band’s top 40 songs. He is considered one of the twentieth century’s most innovative songwriters, and others claim he is a genius. He, along with his brothers and nephew, formed the Beach Boys. Wilson also performs occasionally and is regarded as a piece of indie music and punk godfather. While musicians (including the Beatles) learned a lot from their influence, initiating his melodies and orchestrations proved challenging.

Brian Wilson – $75 Million

John Fogerty – $70 million

Greatest Hits: Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Fortunate Son

John Fogerty had a successful solo career and a great career as a Creedence Clearwater Revival member, a group he founded with his brother Tom, Doug Clifford, and Stu Cook. He was the lead singer, the writer, and he wrote most of the tracks. The band, unfortunately, split up in 1972, beginning a brilliant solo career. Rolling Stone ranked him among the 100 best guitarists and singers of all time (respectively). Like “Proud Mary,” which Tina Turner brings back into a popular bop tune, he has penned many hits.

John Fogerty – $70 Million

Willie Nelson – $25 million

Greatest Hits: Family Bible, On the Road Again

When Shotgun Willie was published, Willie Nelson, a songwriter, musician, and actor born in Texas, got his big break. Plus, his Red Headed Stranger and Stardust records made him an enduring character of the 1970s. He has also appeared in thirty films, published several novels, and worked as a drug prohibition activist and biofuel use activist. Often known for its release is The IRS Recordings, a double-album whose proceeds went to the IRS to pay off its outstanding tax debt.

Willie Nelson – $25 Million

David Bowie – $100 million

Greatest Hits: Changes, Space Oddity, Modern Love

More than 140 million records have been released by David Bowie worldwide, winning ten Platinum certifications for several hit tracks. He was famed for graphic presentation and reinvention in a clear style. Ziggy Stardust, the androgynous, bold music legend, is an alter ego. When he was really young, Bowie, born in South London, started learning art and music. In 1983, he began his music career, launching Space Oddity. Before his abrupt death at sixty-two, he married the supermodel Iman. He’s also an artist with glam rock and iconic rock.

David Bowie – $100 Million

Glenn Frey – $200 million

Greatest Hits: Tequila Sunrise, Lyin’ Eyes, James Dean

Glenn Frey is The Eagles’ lead singer (and their guitarist as well). “He has written a variety of the most famous tracks, including “Tequila Sunrise,” “Lyin ‘Eyes,” “Take It Easy,” “Young Kid in Town,” and more. Afterward, he went alone when the Eagles split up in 1980. His debut was No Pleasure Aloud. He had several hits, cracking the top 40s, including “Blues Smuggler,” “The Heat Is On,” “Sexy Girl,” and more. At 67, he died in New York City.

Glenn Frey – $200 Million

John Prine – $6 million

Greatest Hits: Sam Stone, Illegal Smile, Dear Abby

Ever since the 1970s, John Prine has become a songwriter and guitarist with a promising career. At the age of 14, he learned to play guitar and attended Folk’s Old Town School in Chicago. He took a break from music after eighteen and worked in West Germany as part of the Army. He went back to Chicago, where he worked like a man before the singer Kris Kristofferson discovered him and launched his first Atlantic record. He is renowned for his sarcastic songs about life and public affairs in general.

John Prine – $6 Million

Bono – $700 million

Greatest Hits: Sunday, Bloody Sunday

In Dublin, one of the most famous musicians is Bono. He’s the manager of U2, and he produces almost all of the music for U2. He won 22 Grammys with that band. He spoke about his songwriting style at length. He incorporates social and political issues in his music, and his childhood at a religious school also affects his songs. In his earlier albums, he had a rebellious voice, but as he said, he “matured” and began writing about more intimate encounters he shared with U2 members. Ali Stewart, the musician, is married.

Bono – $700 Million

George Harrison – $400 million

Greatest Hits: Taxman, Here Comes the Sun

George Harrison was The Beatles’ lead guitarist, and since he was not one of their more prominent members, he was called “the Quiet Beatle” Any of the band’s songs were composed by him, like Here Comes the Heat, Taxman, Whatever, Etc. George Formby, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, and Django Reinhardt were among his artistic influences. He was also influenced by Indian culture and music, expanding pop music into the band’s work to combine Indian instruments and Hindu spirituality. Born in Liverpool, he died in 2001 in LA.

George Harrison – $400 Million

Sam Cooke – $650,000

Greatest Hits: Wonderful World, Chain Gang, A Change is Gonna Come

The resident, guitarist, and business owner was Sam Cooke. He was an influential songwriter too. His influence on pop music and common voice named him “King of Soul.” When he was young, he started singing and entered The Soul Stirrers before his later solo career. There was encouragement from Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack, Billy Preston, Marvin Gaye, and several others. He made James Brown and Otis Redding popular. It was dubbed the “inventor” of the soul genre by the editor of AllMusic, Bruce Eder.

Sam Cooke – $650,000

Bert Berns – $20 million

Greatest Hits: Hang on Sloopy, Twist and Shout, Here Comes the Night

In the 1960s, Bert Berns was a trendy producer and songwriter born in the Bronx. His credits include famous parts such as “Twist and South,” “Hang on Sloopy,” and more. He created successful Atlantic, Boom, and Shout-signed songs like “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Under the Boardwalk,” and “Baby Please Don’t Go.” At the same time, he was young and living in Havana until the Cuban Revolution took him back to America. He used to dance in mambo nightclubs. He died of cardiac complications at 38 years of age.

Bert Berns – $20 Million

Marvin Gaye – $5 million

Greatest Hits: How Sweet It Is, Ain’t That Peculiar, I Heard it Through the Grapevine

The 1960s Motown sound helped to form Marvin Gaye, dubbed “Prince of Soul” and “Prince of Motown,” Before becoming a solo artist, he was the first in-house player. In addition to Stevie Wonder, he was one of the first Motown artists to break free from the album business to produce his songs independently. He was a big influence on the form of neo-soul and silent storm pop. For midnight devotion, the Grammy won. In his last performance at the NBA All-Star Game in 1983, he performed the anthem.

Marvin Gaye – $5 Million

Chrissie Hynde – $12 million

Greatest Hits: Talk of the Town, Back on the Chain Gang

The Pretenders, its frontwoman since 1978, was founded by Chrissie Hynde. The hippy counterculture movement inspired her and working at a popular clothing shop in the London-based designer Vivienne Westwood. She gave music for clothes. She has performed songs with UB40, Cher, and Frank Sinatra singers, among others. She gave it to Real Records’ Dave Hill after a demo tape in 1978. She started paying the back rent she owed in her London practice room so that it would return and go back.

Chrissie Hynde – $12 Million

Lucinda Williams – $15 million

Greatest Hits: Can’t Let Go, Get Right With God

The country singer, Lucinda Williams, was born in Louisiana and is one of the most popular folk-rock artists. Since 1978, she has been in the music business and became recognized for her style when her debut album Lucinda Williams was released. The album ‘Passionate Kisses’ that received her first Grammy in 1994 was included for this debut. She’s noted for her relentless work, with two albums to date.

Lucinda Williams – $15 Million

Harry Nilsson – $7 million

Greatest Hits: Without You, Coconut

Harry Nilsson has made history one of his age’s few popular rock stars, never recording or traveling, but achieving major commercial success. He’s a well-established artist for his American type of songbook, combined with Caribean sounds. As a tenor, he had a selection of 3.5 octaves. He has a lasting influence on Indie Music. He composed music for artists including The Monkees. Nilsson Schmilsson is his most commercially successful record.

Harry Nilsson – $7 Million

Curtis Mayfield – $10 million

Greatest Hits: People Get Ready

Curtis Mayfield was a member of the big band The Impressions from the 1950s and 1960s, known for his civil rights advocacy and music. He was born in Chicago and started performing as part of a gospel chorus. As Mayfield encountered Jerry Butler, a fellow musician, he joined the Impressions. Because of the social conscience, it published songs that were part of the civil rights movement. His album ‘People Get Ready’ was listed as #24 on Rolling Stone’s Greatest All-Time Tracks. SuperFly was also directed.

Curtis Mayfield – $10 Million

Max Martin – $260 million

Greatest Hits: Baby One More Time, It’s Gonna Be Me, I Want It That Way

Max Martin is one of our most modern writers. The Backstreet Bocks (“…Baby One More Time”), Britney Spears (“I Want It That Way”), and NSYNC (“It’s Gonna Be Me”), who was born in Sweden, also produced a hit line for them. On the Billboard Charts, he wrote twenty-two albums. He also rendered several of these hits. For other musicians, including Maroon 5, Weeknd, and Katy Perry, he wrote for Taylor Swift. He’s up with the written number one people, Paul McCartney and George Martin.

Max Martin – $260 Million

Allen Toussaint – $3 million

Greatest Hits: Working in the Coal Mine, Yes We Can Can, Java

Allen Toussaint was a prominent figure in the rhythm and blues of New Orleans in Gert Town, Louisiana. He starts his career in the 1950s in his writing and composition as a “backroom figure” He has published many songs, including “Fortune Teller,” “Works in the Coal Mine,” and “Java.” As an elderly neighbor, he learned to play the piano, like “Lady Marmalade” He even did some brilliant songs, including “Right Place, Wrong Time.” His father was still playing trumpet and serving on the railway.

Allen Toussaint – $3 Million

Chuck Berry – $10 million

Greatest Hits: Ida Red, You Can Never Tell, Johnny B. Goode

To build music, he refined and developed the rhythm and blues and created a kind of solo guitar and music at the core of the genre. Chuck Berry was dubbed as “Father of Rock ‘N Roll.” Born in St. Louis, he played music at an early age. He continued performing the Johnnie Johnson Trio with the vocalists Muddy Waters, then had a break. Muddy hooked him with Chess Records, and Ida Red sells over one million records for the first time.

Chuck Berry – $10 Million

Pete Townshend – $105 million

Greatest Hits: Happy Jack, Pictures of Lilly

Pete Townshend is a household name. He’s a co-founder of the iconic band named “The Who.” His band career lasted more than fifty years, and in the second half of the twentieth century, the band under his direction became one of the most influential musical voices. He wrote more than a hundred tracks for the eleven records, including songs for two rock operas, Tommy and Quadrophenia. He also published articles, novels, etc. He started a fruitful career as a soloist.

Pete Townshend – $105 Million

George Clinton – $1.8 million

Greatest Hits: Can’t C Me, Loopzilla, You’re Thinkin’ Right

George Clinton is renowned for writing and producing countless hit songs for indie Detroit soul labels. He formed The Parliaments, later renaming his own band Parliament and Funkadelic. After that, Clinton was known for its distinctive psychedelic rock and electro-funk style. He inspired rap music and wrote Tupac’s song “Can’t C Me” for artists including Ice Cube, Outkast, Redman, Wu-Tang Clan, and more. His name, Kunspyruhzy’s.

George Clinton – $1.8 Million

Isaac Hayes – $12 million

Greatest Hits: Soul Man

Isaac Hayes was behind Stax Records’ key force. Before being a singer-songwriter, he was a label in-house studio guitarist. He was born and wrote the song ‘Soul Man’ in Tennessee, one of the most influential soul songs. He also wrote well-known movie songs. He composed the film score for Shaft, earning his score an Oscar. As the third African-American man, Oscar won the “competitive.”

Isaac Hayes – $12 Million

Joe Strummer – $4 million

Greatest Hits: Rock the Casbah

Joe Strummer is an influential figure in punk rock. He established the group called “The Clash,” which was drafted into Fame’s Rock and Roll Hall in 2003. The band’s second album on the UK charts was #2, and their third and fourth albums were successful, becoming platinum-certified. Strummer worked with bands like Mescaleros, Pogues, Latino Rockabilly, 101ers, and more. He also had a solo career, wrote TV and film scores, made radio plays, and became a major performer for Rock Against Racism, an activist organization.

Joe Strummer – $4 Million

Patti Smith – $16 million

Greatest Hits: Because the Night

Patti Smith is a songwriter, poet, and singer, and through her groundbreaking debut album, Horses, she was a prominent part of New York City’s punk rock movement in the 1970s. She’s known as the laureate of a punk poet, merging poetry with punk rock. She wrote the song “Because the Night” with Bruce Springsteen, and maybe it’s her most famous hit. Also a novelist, she won the 2010 National Book Award for her memoir, entitled Only Kids.

Patti Smith – $16 Million

Madonna – $590 million

Greatest Hits: Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer, Vogue, Hung Up

Madonna is called the Queen of Pop and is known for breaking boundaries in her acting, songwriting, and singing, creating controversy in her pictures and lyrics. She has been in music since 1979. She moved to New York City to pursue a dance career before working for the Breakfast Club as a guitarist. She signed Sire Records’ record contract in 1982. Her songs include “Like a Virgin,” “Ray of Light,” “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” and more, award-winning. Other artists also call her an influence.

Madonna – $590 Million

Fats Domino – $8 million

Greatest Hits: Ain’t That a Shame, Jambalaya, Lady Madonna

New Orleans pioneer Fats Domino was one of the most influential musicians of his genre. He inspired R&B. He sold over 65 million records between 1955 and 1960, with 11 top 10 hits. He was considered modest, camera-shy, so his impact on rock is often ignored. With 35 albums, he hit the top 40 charts. Many are platinum or gold-certified records. He released The Fat Man’s first rock and roll record in 1949 to sell a million copies.

Fats Domino – $8 Million

Kurt Cobain – $50 million

Greatest Hits: Smells Like Teen Spirit, Sappy

Kurt Cobain was Nirvana’s frontman, one of Generation X’s most influential bands. He’s also the band’s lead guitarist. Born in Washington, Aaron Burckhard and Krist Novoselic founded the band in 1987. It was in the Grunge scene, Seattle. Nirvana signed with DGC and flourished, mostly through his second album with “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Cobain resented media coverage, claiming that the mainstream misconstrued and oversimplified his message.

Kurt Cobain – $50 Million

Walter Becker – $20 million

Greatest Hits: Bad Sneakers, Do It Again

Steely Dan’s co-songwriter and founder was Walter Becker. He played guitar and bass for jazz/rock bands. He met his co-founder, Donald Fagen when Bard College students. They decided to start Steely Dan and moved to LA. After a successful commercial run, Becker moved to Hawaii after the breakup, becoming a record producer and part of China Crisis, an English band. Fagen’s 1993 reformed Steely Dan.

Walter Becker – $20 Million

Tom Waits – $25 million

Greatest Hits: Closing Time, Somewhere

Tom Waits is a California-born singer-songwriter and actor. His distinctive sound and punk lyrics are renowned. He specialized in jazz in the 1970s but also influenced blues and vaudeville. Generation Beat and Dylan inspired him. He began singing in San Diego, moving to LA for an asylum deal. His first albums included Closing Time, Saturday Night’s Heart, and Small Change, which marked his first successful album.

Tom Waits – $25 Million

Dan Penn – $1 million

Greatest Hits: Cry Like a Baby, The Dark End of the Street

Dan Penn is a songwriter who composed and released several songs in the 1960s, including “The Dark End of the Street,” “Cry Like a Baby,” and “Do Right Woman.” Bands such as The Box Tops, Chips Moman, Spooner Oldham all performed together. As camera-shy, he preferred songwriting to showmanship. His writing relationship with Chips Moman for Press Publishing Company was successful, although the pair had a collapse that ended the partnership, defined as “short-lived” but “intense.” His collaboration with Aretha Franklin is one of his most successful collaborations to date.

Dan Penn – $1 Million

Stevie Nicks – $75 million

Greatest Hits: Landslide

Stevie Nicks, the lead singer of Fleetwood Mac, is known for her poetic lyrics. She joined the band in 1975 with her boyfriend, Lindsay Buckingham. The band’s second album was their most commercial of the year. Sales have hit more than forty million copies. Both Nicks and Fleetwood Mac have sold more than 140 million records and had more than forty Top 50 hits on the charts. She released her most recent album in 2014. 

Stevie Nicks

Mick Jagger – $360 million

Greatest Hits: Midnight Rambler, Honky Tonk Women 

During his fifty-year career, Mick Jagger has had considerable influence on the rock and roll scene. He is known for his lively and distinctive voice. He is the founder of The Rolling Stones. Bob Marley and Keith Richards both became prominent legends. He grew up in England and left to pursue music before returning to school to study. He’s the only one who composed most of the band’s songs. He was renowned for making outrageous headlines for his crazy antics. 

Mick Jagger

Willie Dixon – $2 million

Greatest Hits: Hoochie Coochie Man, My Babe

Because of their Chicago blues music (post-WWII), Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters play a significant role in the city’s blues. Dixon was born in Mississippi. He sang and played guitar. He was one of the most prolific songwriters of the late 20th century. Charlie is known for his guitar playing, particularly on many of his popular songs. He has collaborated with artists including Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Willie Nelson, and others. He is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Willie Dixon

Morrissey – $50 million

Greatest Hits: Shoplifters of the World Unite, Sheila Take a Bow

Morrissey was born to working-class Irish immigrants and started to enjoy music as a child. He is the lead singer of a band that has no commercial success. He experienced further success with his solo career and then with his band, The Smiths. He began his solo career in 1988. O.K. toured solo albums like Viva Hate, Your Arsenal, Destroy Uncle, then went back to the artist’s role. He was a very influential indie rock musician. 

Morrissey

Smokey Robinson – $100 million

Greatest Hits: Tracks of My Tears, Going to a Go-Go 

Smokey Robinson was the lead singer of The Miracles, and he was also their songwriter. He took the party from 1955 until 1972. After the band broke up, he began his solo career. He left Motown in 1990 and released other Motown artists’ music. The author wrote songs for Marvin Gaye. His real name is his uncle’s nickname. This nickname stuck with Smokey his entire life. 

Smokey Robinson

Kenny Gamble – $8.5 million

Greatest Hits: I’m Gonna Make You Love Me

Kenny Gamble was born in Philadelphia and was the founder of the Philly soul genre. He started playing guitar when he was younger, and it only developed. He founded the band Gamble & Huff, which Jerry Ross directed, lasting over 20 years. He signed a solo contract in 1963. He is well known for his hit “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” and “Expressway to Your Heart, “ covered by the Soul Survivors in 1967. 

Kenny Gamble

Jimmy Webb – $10 million

Greatest Hits: Wichita Lineman, MacArthur Park

Singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb was born in Oklahoma, and he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986. He has written songs like “Wichita Lineman,” “All I Know,” “MacArthur Park,” and more. He has worked with Linda Ronstadt and Art Garfunkel. Webb addressed his songwriting career and expressed interest in the “crushed lonely hearts” genre. He recently published his memoirs, The Cake and the Storm, in 2017. 

Jimmy Webb

Merle Haggard – $40 million

Greatest Hits: Okie from Muskogee, The Fightin’ Side of Me

Merle Haggard is considered one of the founding fathers of the outlaw country genre. He was born during the Great Depression, and after his father died, he moved on to country music. His songs became famous and helped him turn his life around. Thirty-eight number-one hits on the country charts and some crossed over into the Billboard charts. 

Merle Haggard

Taylor Swift – $360 million

Greatest Hits: Shake It Off, I Knew You Were Trouble

Swift was born in Pennsylvania, and she is one of the most famous singers in the world today. She began in the country in her early teens, moving to Nashville to follow her dream. She was the youngest artist to sign with Sony. Her first album was the longest-charting hit of the 2000s. She sold a lot of albums, in part because of her age. She’s switched to a pop-rock genre but writing all her own songs. 

Taylor Swift

Buddy Holly – $1 million

Greatest Hits: That’ll Be the Day, Peggy Sue

Buddy Holly was an influential singer-songwriter who appeared in the ‘50s as a figure central to the rise of rock ‘n roll in the U.S. He was inspired by gospel, R&B, and country, and his first success was in high school. To make his mark on the music industry, he wanted to take it seriously. Waylon Jennings, Tommy Allsup, and Carl Bunch formed a band, and they hit the road. He pioneered the double-guitar, drum, and bass rig that many bands use today. 

Buddy Holly

The Bee Gees – $86 million

Greatest Hits: Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love

The Bee Gees consisted of Maurice, Robin, and Barry Gibb. The most prosperous years were in the sixties and seventies, and later popular with the disco crowd. They rotated their vocalist regularly, with various brothers taking the lead. They are from the Isle of Man and grew up in Manchester. They first started The Rattlesnakes before changing their name. They formed a relationship with producer Robert Stigwood in 1967. They sold over 220 million records during their career. 

The Bee Gees

Ray Davies – $12 million

Greatest Hits: You Really Got Me, Something Better Beginning

English singer and songwriter Ray Davies is the lead singer of The Kinks. He is the godfather of the Britpop genre. The Kinks broke up, and Ray Davies became known for a solo career. The Kinks got a recording contract in 1964. The song “You Really Got Me” was their breakout song. Davies led the band into the seventies, adding new sounds to make the band more commercially viable. They also performed several popular songs.

Ray Davies

Paul Westerberg – $9 million

Greatest Hits: Backlash, Dyslexic Heart

Paul Westerberg was part of the band The Replacements, an alt-rock band in the eighties. Since the band dissolved, he went solo. He became one of The Replacements during his janitor days. He followed the band, talked his way into joining the band, and did the same thing later. He persuaded the lead singer to leave and fire his bandmates to be the next lead singer. So this unorthodox move succeeded, and The Replacements were a success. 

Paul Westerberg

Robert Johnson – $500,000 (estate)

Greatest Hits: Terraplane Blues, Come On In My Kitchen

Robert Johnson was born in 1911 and is considered the definitive master of the Delta blues. His life hasn’t been recorded. However, his music continues to live on. He only made a couple of albums, one of which was not famous during his lifetime. The albums, which were published after Johnson’s death, were released by Don Rule. Since his guitar style and lyrics were so popular, other musicians borrowed and resurrected his style. Keith Richards and Bob Dylan have paid tribute to Johnson. 

Robert Johnson

Eminem – $210 million

Greatest Hits: The Real Slim Shady, Superman, Not Afraid

Eminem is one of the most popular rappers. Eminem is also a singer-songwriter, having launched other artists’ careers, including 50 Cent, Yelawolf, and Obie Trice. Eminem has sold over 230 million albums, won 15 Grammys, eight AMAs, 17 BMAs, an Oscar, and more. Nine of his albums have charted at the top of the Billboard 200 charts. He is still from Detroit, Michigan. 

Eminem

John Lennon – $800 million

Greatest Hits: Working Class Hero, Imagine 

Many musicians aren’t as famous as John Lennon. The British singer-songwriter is a co-founder of The Beatles. He formed his first band, which was called the Quarrymen. John Lennon was a singer-songwriter, and his solo songs, including “Imagine,” “War is Over,” and “Working Class Hero,” also became hit songs. He was married to Yoko Ono, who founded the band Plastic Ono. Lennon’s songs included a wide range of subjects, including politics, religion, and popular culture. 

John Lennon

R.E.M. – $75 million

Greatest Hits: The One I Love

“R.E.M.” stands for “Real English Music.” Bill Berry, Mike Mills, Peter Buck, and Michael Stipe formed the band. For its arpeggiated guitar solos, it was a landmark for pop-punk. It began on an indie label, Hib-Tone. “Radio Free Europe” took them to early prominence. They released their first EP, Chronic Town, and a full-length album, Murmur, later. It was well-received. They became mainstream’s first number-one hit with 1987’s “The One I Love.” 

R.E.M.

Jeff Barry – $1 million

Greatest Hits: Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Be My Baby

Jeff Barry was born in New York in 1938 and is considered a pop-rocker. He was a singer-songwriter and producer. He is best known for his relationship with Ellie Greenwich, both as a professional and personal partner. Many of Barry’s songs include “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” “Chapel of Love,” and “River Deep-Mountain High.” He also wrote, “Leader of the Pack” and “Sugar Sugar” with Andy Kim and Shadow Morton. 

Jeff Barry

Kanye West – $250 million

Greatest Hits: Monster, Graduation, Through the Wire, Slow Jamz

Kanye West is one of the most popular recording artists in recent history. The artist has sold over 140 million albums, and his career has been marked by significant changes in his style. West is also known for his close friendship with Jay-Z. West began rapping in 1996. He was a writer and editor for Roc-A-Fella before walking in front of the mic. He married a reality star, Kim Kardashian. 

Kanye West

Prince – $300 million

Greatest Hits: Kiss, When Doves Cry, Nothing Compares 2 U

The singer-career songwriter’s lasted more than four decades. He was known for his bizarre stage shows, and significant changes in his style have marked his vocal career abilities, ranging from a high falsetto to low bass. He was influential in all the rock, pop, R&B, and soul genres. He started singing at the age of seven and signed to Warner Bros. when he was seventeen. He became a force to be dealt with. He also had a film debut that enhanced his fame. He was dubbed The Movement. 

Prince