(African-)American Musical Styles:

 

Ragtime: Jelly Roll Morton

 

Blues: W. C. Handy, Robert Johnson, Willie McTell, Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters, B.B. King [Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin]

 

Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Bennie Goodman, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis [bop], John Coltrane, Wynton Marsalis

 

Gospel: black and white: Thomas Dorsey, Shirley Caesar

Soul: Sam Cook, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Smokey Robinson, Al Green

Funk: James Brown, Parliament/Funkadelic

Disco: Chic, Donna Summer

Hip Hop: Grandmaster Flash, Run-DMC, Dr. Dre, Atmosphere

 

Country (bluegrass): Carter Family, Jimmie Rogers, Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, etc

    bluegrass: Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, Stanley Brothers, Emmylou Harris

    honky-tonk: Buck Owens, Dwight Yoakam

 

Rock (rockabilly, rhythm and blues): Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Beatles

    folk: Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, John Prine, Bruce Springsteen

    rockabilly: Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley

    surf: Dick Dale, Beach Boys

    heavy metal: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, [Metallica]

    southern rock: Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, [Drive-By Truckers]

    art rock: Yes, Pink Floyd

    punk: Ramones, Sex Pistols, Clash, Green Day, Blink 182

    hardcore: Minor Threat, Black Flag

    "alternative": Nirvana, Pearl Jam, [Weezer]

 

[Ska/Rock Steady/Reggae: Toots and the Maytals, Bob Marley, Lee Perry, Augustus Pablo, Lady Saw, Sean Paul etc etc [Alpha Blondy]]