Favorite band or artist of all time?

Steve, the story Eric tells (in The Last Waltz, I believe) is that his reaction upon hearing Music From Big Pink was "Music had been heading in the wrong direction for a long time. When I heard MFBP, I thought, well, someone has finally got it right." He told Ginger and Jack Cream was over, and headed to West Saugerties (the upstate New York hamlet in which the Big Pink house is located) to hang with The Band, waiting, he says, to get up the nerve to ask them to join. He then says it finally dawned on him---they neither required nor desired his services!

All great choices! No one is right or wrong.
Queen would probably be a close second for me (especially old Queen) -1st 5 or 6 albums😎

Stevie Wonder

Favorite? Captain Fantastic. Oh and his lyricist the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

Root Boy Slim and The Sex Change Band

Eyeless in Gaza

Aaron
Tull. What can you say. So much great music and lyrics.   Missed them in their hey day, but have attended two recent performances at the Palace theatres in Greensburg Pa. Great venue.
I cannot select one favorite, but JT is right up there.  Why are they not in the R&R Hall of fame?

Little Feat with Lowell George. After Lowell left so did my interest.

Loved Little Feat when Lowell George was alive. 
I don't have one favorite at this point, over the years, I was very attached to one particular band for a period of time, from LZ1 or early Tull, to The Band or Allmans from the Duane era. Now, I love 'em all! :)

If this is like 'desert island' only one artist forever...BEETHOVEN. no question 100% BEETHOVEN.If I could have two....BEETHOVEN and MILES DAVIS

+1 Elizabeth re: our dear ole Ludwig Van.

+90 for J.S. Bach

No fair schubert. Everyone pales in comparison with JSB ;-) .

Am I Inside - Alice in Chains
Dead Girl-Acid Bath

I have to put in a vote for Mozart in the classical realm.  And while I am adding to my list that began with Duane Allman, the best female  singer for me (apologies to Janis who I saw and loved) is Eva Cassidy.  Her voice touches me every time I hear her sing.

I'm not a rabid Beatles fan, but I realized the other day that, when they finished recording "Abbey Road", their last recording, the oldest of them, Ringo, was 29.
Harrison was only 26.

And just 6 1/2 years had passed since their first album.

Decry them all you want, but I can't think of anyone else in 20th century contemporary music who accomplished so much musically and culturally in so short a time.