Sorry, Satan, but I said this this earlier here or elsewhere.
There are certain artists that do not just define the genre but are the genre, become through no intention of their own the benchmark by which everything that follows is measured. Step forward and take a bow Mr Shakespeare and Mr Dickens. William, Charles, we thank you all these years later for showing us, and defining, the possibilities.
Some things, people, are of their time, (cough, cough, Charlie Chaplin), and others rip through the boundaries of time and space. Define or are of their time. I've said this before. The Beatles ...