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Musical influence, following and even creativity change over time, one's legacy changes very little. A mark of the great artists and groups of the progressive rock genre was one of innovation for the majority of their works; each release pushed the musical envelope. There were assaults on musical classification, depth and imagination and pure artistic virtuosity, with the next release progressing beyond where the previous one left us.

Even among these there are similarities and differences which were leveraged to place these groups in the annuals of progressive rock lore. Trailblazers broke typecasting and category classifications, forcing new adjectives, descriptors and sub-genres. Musical histories are filled with links between influencers and followers with most artists or groups assuming both these roles, either simultaneously or sequentially. To determine the fountainhead of a style or a movement - progressive rock can be seen as both the trail must be followed from each band that followed to each who influenced. Repeating the heredity from descendant back through musical ancestor until no further link is clearly found.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer, while not the first super group Blind Faith stakes that claim ELP was the first Progressive super group, and set a standard for blending classical and rock together and individual virtuosity that would perpetuate as a qualification for the genre.
Rush demonstrated that the progressive mindset was not limited to natives of England or the United States and also helped spawn a sub-genre of progressive metal. They also proved, despite the failings of the other groups on this list, that a group of independent, creative and talented artisans could stay together for over 30 years and produce quality as well as quantity.

Yes proved more than once that progressive music can appeal to the masses, with two number one hits Roundabout and Owner of a Lonely Heart - 20 years apart. The vision of this group was a parallel of progressive music in general as an example that a musical vision can survive numerous personnel changes and comebacks with dignity and success.

Pink Floyd elevated the status of progressive music to timeless with Dark Side of the Moon and its permanency on the album charts for decades, with no end in sight. Pink Floyd also showed that great artistry is sometime volatile and it sometimes walks along the border of madness.

King Crimson could be argued to have started the genre of progressive music and with an eccentric flair never stopped pushing the edge of the classification purely in the name of artistic exploration. And the school of King Crimson also produced or provided a vehicle for more than its fair share of defining progressive rock talent.

Preferences and experiences will always influence the identification of qualitative and artistic oriented rankings or top lists, but you'll likely find no fan of progressive music who has not tasted, seen or been touched by the audio experience of these progressive bands, without who there would be no progressive genre.

Learn more about this author, Chuck Moyer.
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