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The Beatles. No question.
Their body of work is incomparable to any other artist of the 20th century. They not only transformed popular music but were experimental before you even referred to bands as being experimental. They were constatnly one step ahead of everyone else. The Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys envied their extraordinary talent and both Pet Sounds and Their Satanic Majesties Request were created as a direct result of the recording of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Lennon/McCartney were the greatest and most prolific songwriting duo of the 20th century. Lennon is quite possibly the greatest lyricist popular music has ever seen. Their work has been covered so many times it's staggering... by greats like Frank Sinatra, Joe Cocker and Ray Charles.
Their influence will live for hundreds of years.
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