Paul McCartney

As a member of The Beatles, Paul McCartney helped invent Art Rock and his songs for the Beatles helped pioneer Psychedelia and Art Rock proper. Moreover, his ambition helped suggest prog rock.

But, more than any other Beatle, his solo work has also helped influence future Art Rock artists. In some ways McCartney could be considered the Godfather of both Bedroom Music as a whole and Indie Pop in particular. (Though the latter role he'd share with Brian Wilson.) McCartney's use of the studio to record music almost entirely or entirely by himself set the template for numerous future musicians who could afford recording equipment and could play more than one instrument.