I have eclectic tastes. What can I say. I told you I liked early 80s punk rock! I wasn’t necessarily throwing out “what I listen or listened to” - just more who I think could be reasonable contenders for the category just below legend (which we still haven’t named).
@nottelling - Rapper’s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang
There was a recent documentary on PBS about the Carpenters: http://www.pbs.org/video/2365622951/
It made me remember how many songs they had an how many I knew word for word although they were a little before my time. My mom listened to them so that’s how I knew them so well. Sad story.
And I do know every sing word to Rapper’s Delight. 
Now that the original intent of this thread has been thrown out the window, I would feel remiss if I didn’t mention Bob Marley. And Lou Reed. Both of whom have not yet bern mentioned in this thread!
How many legends can we have, anyway.
I could make a case that Bob Dylan had the first rap song with Subterranean Homesick Blues. Talk about an iconic video (the first use of cue cards with words being read / tossed in the floor). I’d also make a case that Paul McCartney had the first blistering hard rock song with Helter Skelter and Brian Wilson had the first psychedelic song with Good Vibrations.
But we have not answered Abasket’s q very well!
Still thinking … Van Morrison? Queen?
How much of legendary/icon status is visually based? I hear the name Bowie - I picture the androgynous look with the star makeup and the blue/brown eyes. Prince - I think of the ruffled shirts and the symbol. M Jackson - the moonwalk and the glove. Even if you don’t like the Beatles, you’ll recognize nearly every album cover, the haircuts / Beatle suit look with the bow at the end, the Sgt Pepper costumes. David Byrne had the big suit.
Does a legend or icon need to have a strongly differentiated visual signature / presence? If so, how does that impact what we think of today’s stars? Since this grew out of the Beyoncé discussion, she’s upping her game in terms of visual style.
Personally, I think my criteria would be less on visual style, although that does seem to be part an parcel with many of these legends, and more on moving music in new, original and interesting directions - as well as longevity.
For me, Beyonce isn’t there yet. She’s fun to watch and listen to but is it new and original or just musically talented?
Doschicos, I too know every word to Rappers Delight and I will raise you the spoken-word-baseball-announcer part of Paradise by the Dashboard Light, but only if you promise to love me forever.
I can’t talk that fast. You take the guy’s part and I’ll carry (poorly) the female part.
Let me sleep on it.
Omg, I can’t believe it took til post 85 to mention Queen. We’re all going to rot in hell. Thank you for rectifying our error and supplying our redemption! I’d better just say the words Simon & Garfinkle and Paul Simon now.
I think you are onto something, Pizzagirl, with the strong visual image being a big part of icon status. Hmmm, need to think about this.
P.S. Rapper’s Delight is totally new to me. I feel a rabbit hole coming on. First use of scratching? Of samples? Can Bob Dylan really make a claim to rapping as PG suggests? Luckily it is earlier here in California, so I have the time to ponder all this AND get some sleep tonight.
@greenwitch I forgot I’ll be seeing Nathaniel Rateliff this summer. 
Any Nirvana fans? My lab buddies cried when they heard about Kurt Cobain…
Fast forward two and a half decades or so… Kiddo asks me if I know some obscure local group Nirvana… It is very popular within her circles.
I think the visual presence is part of the whole dramatic persona that makes a performer memorable. Even if they are really simple and “dressed in clothes their parents sent them”, it is a style.
I put that phrase in quotes because that is what David Byrne said about the Talking Heads when they were new and there was a shift from high concept drama (Bowie, Pink Floyd, P-Funk, etc.) to simplicity, “small” hair, flannel shirts, and no more than 3 chord changes - when punk first started. The giant suit came later!
The Sex Pistols were a bit different because they were more packaged by Malcolm MacClaren and he consciously wanted to shock people with their dress and attitudes. Very early American punk was simpler.
Adding Tina Turner to the list
Nirvana definitely transcends generations. I loved them as does my daughter.
Interesting, nottelling… Kiddo also got very interested in Sinead O’Connor and the Cranberries at the same time Nirvana became popular among her circles.
Here is one for you… I love Arcade Fire.
I too would have put Nirvana above Pearl Jam. I like Pearl Jam but I’m not certain they are iconic the way Kurt Cobain is. Maybe it’s the dying young and tragically piece per JHS’ hypothesis earlier on.
Greenwich, since we are hopelessly off topic anyway, check out the documentary Lambert and Stamp about how 2 filmmakers became the managers for the Who despite not knowing music, and “packaged” them much in the same way you are talking about with the SP.
Ok, here are 2 more to throw out for discussion. Legends? Icons? Bette Midler and Cher. Talk amongst yourselves!
Since several of this year’s jazzfest acts have been mentioned, I’ll throw out another. Stevie Wonder.
I think Pearl Jam’s album Ten is better than any Nirvana album. That said, it’s hard to say Nirvana’s cachet isn’t larger than PJ’s… of course partly due to Cobain’s passing.
Has anyone mentioned?:
Stevie Wonder
Gladys Knight
Aretha Franklin
The Four Tops
Diana Ross
Marvin Gaye
Genesis/Phil Collins/Peter Gabriel
Chicago
Commodores/Lionel Richie
Van Halen
Motley Crue
Metallica
Journey/Steve Perry
Hall & Oates
Little Richard
@Pizzagirl Do you know all the words to this one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vl1m5FYlAo