Who are the most important artists that aren't from the major English speaking countries?

Well, Sir George was an English. (I’m kidding.)

 

And you can add:
Celine Dion
Gino Vannelli
Arcade Fire
Frank Marino

 

Quebec is not a country.

 

And Michael Buble.

 

I believe he's from Vancouver though.

I could add HARMONIUM who in prog rock circles are well established and respected.

 

But Canada is officially designated as a Bilingual country (English/French). As is Belgium (French/Flemish).

 

Sure but who thinks of Gino Vannelli as a Frenchman?

 

My post above of `Manu Chau` showed him in a more laid back mood, but as `Eris S` has stated above his band puts on an Insane live show, and can bring the house down, so I make no apology for posting another video of the band in full flow..........
`Mr Bobby - Bob Marley`

 

I'll go with Fela Kuti, as he invented a new genre, Afrobeat.

 

Michael Schenker (born 10 January 1955) is a German rock guitarist who has played in UFO and led the Michael Schenker Group. He was an early member of Scorpions, the band co-founded by his elder brother Rudolf Schenker. In the mid-1970s Michael joined UFO, playing lead guitar. He left the band in 1978 to found the Michael Schenker Group.

Schenker debuted with Scorpions on their debut album Lonesome Crow at age 16. Scorpions went on tour after recording their first album as the opening act for up-and-coming UK band UFO in Germany. Schenker was offered the position of lead guitar player for UFO (taking over for Bernie Marsden, himself a temporary replacement for Mick Bolton)[6]and, with the blessing of his brother, accepted (Scorpions replaced him with Uli Roth), even though he didn't speak English.

His "unmistakable midrange tone"[1] emphasised by the partially engaged wah,[15] as exemplified on the song "Rock Bottom" from the live UFO album Strangers in the Night, was listed among the 50 greatest tones of all time by Guitar Player magazine.

Schenker has been on the covers of many guitar magazines and has influenced many notable guitar players, including Kirk Hammett[21] and James Hetfield[22] (Metallica),[23] Dave Mustaine (Megadeth and also a former member of Metallica),[23][24][25] Dimebag Darrell(Pantera and Damageplan),[23][26] Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson (Testament),[23][27] Mike McCready (Pearl Jam),[23] Gary Holt (Exodus and Slayer),[23][28][29] Rob Cavestany (Death Angel),[30] Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden),[23], Slash,[23] John Norum (Europe), Paul Gilbert,[23] Randy Rhoads,[23] George Lynch (Dokken),[23] Warren DeMartini (Ratt),[23] John Petrucci (Dream Theater),[23][31] Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, ex-Carcass),[23] Dan Spitz (Anthrax), Criss Oliva (Savatage), Jeff Waters (Annihilator),[23] Phil Campbell(Motörhead), and Kerry King (Slayer).[23]

 

Heino

 

That's stretching it. Most of the bands mentioned all sing in English. ABBA is a Swedish band, but their fame came from singing in English.

 

If you mention Zucchero, you could also mention Adriano Celentano, Umberto Tozzi, Toto Cotugno, Gianna Nannini, Alice and Eros Ramazotti. While I am unsure of their US fame, they certainly were popular and successful in non-Italian Europe.

 

I picked the best in my list, but obviously there are a lot of Italian musicians popular outside Italy.

 

It's hard not to put Alizee right up there near the top after seeing this performance!

 

Another song from Rosalia that I like

 

Françoise, my love

 

Klaus Nomi is from Germany

 

Many, the vast majority unknown to English-speaking audiences, some notable and with large discographies
-Ruben Blades
-Willie Colon
-Soda Stereo
-Gaetano Veloso
-Fito Paez
-Miguel Rios
-Manu Chao and Mano Negra
-Miguel Bose
-Serrat
-Gal Costa
-Celia Cruz
-Tito Puente
-Fella Kuti
-Cesaria Evora

 

Well finally...
Solid State Survivor is a masterpiece. And they trump Kraftwerk (as much as I like them) for me any day.

 

I’m suprised no one mentioned them sooner either, one of my favorite groups ever. I love Technodelic, they really pushed the envelope on that one

 

According to AcclaimedMusic.net, here are the top artists that are not from USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand:

25. Bob Marley & The Wailers
34. Bjork
53. Kraftwerk
68. Daft Punk
147. Can
150. Serge Gainsbourg
163. Sigur Ros
190. Air
201. ABBA
226. Rihanna
227. Phoenix
236. The Knife
253. Nico
289. M83
307. Robyn
385. Joao Gilberto
390. Neu!
411. Justice
415. Manu Chao
419. Fever Ray/Karin Dreijer
461. Jacques Brel
467. Grace Jones
482. Alain Bashung
523. Toots & The Maytals
539. Antonio Carlos Jobim
544. Fela Kuti
545. Faust
547. Todd Terje
548. Caetano Vveloso
563. Mano Negra
567. Edith Piaf
572. Augustus Pablo
576. Neneh Cherry
593. Lee Perry & The Upsetters
603. Noir Desir
607. Les Rita Mitsouko
617. Os Mutantes
621. The Notwist
623. Burning Spear
628. Jorge Ben
638. Youssou N'Dour
639. Royksopp
657. Arca
663. Buena Vista Social Club
665. Lykke Li
672. dEUS
687. Jimmy Cliff
722. Blumfeld
739. Sepultura
767. Michel Polnareff
769. The Congos
772. The Hives
789. King Sunny Ade
819. Desmond Dekker
826. Mitski
828. Salif Keita
840. Charles Trenet
841. Ennio Morricone
853. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
863. Tocotronic
871. Peter Tosh
881. Ricardo Villalobos
882. Einsturzende Neubauten
885. Ruben Blades
898. The Sugarcubes
899. Ali Farka Toure
903. Georges Brassens
921. Barbara
934. Culture
961. Tangerine Dream
971. Fennesz
976. Amadou & Mariam
990. Jacques Dutronc

 

Pierre Kartner - Wikipedia
Nobody knows his name, but everybody who listens to radio every now and then has heard his music.