Neil Young
Someone who's been successful in multiple bands and as a solo artist. He's a prolific songwriter and his work has a wide range too. He's covered rock, country, folk, western and other styles over his career and done all of them well. In his bands (Buffalo Springfield, Crazy Horse, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young) he's always brought something unique and Neil Youngish, like a falsetto to CSNY's harmonies or a biting guitar to Crazy Horse or songwriting skills to Buffalo Springfield. One of the best solo rock artists ever.
Weird Al Yankovic
The ultimate parody man deserves to be at the top of one of my pages. A comic genius who really puts a lot of work into his parodies. Many people could hammer out a spoof song that rhymes okay, but who else has done it so well, so on the beat, with such great subjects, for so long, and to so many people who deserve it? Only the master. Some of his songs even use the same rhymes as the originals while using completely different lyrics during the rest of the line. That's called genius. He also makes awesome music videos which are also hilarious. This is him (on the right) and his band.
Stevie Wonder
Just read my review for "Songs in the Key of Life" on the music page and you'll see how much I like his music. Piano seems to be the instrument of choice for blind guys, but Stevie goes out of his way and plays keyboards and synthesizers too. Even his most intricate songs all come from him sitting down and tickling the ivories which is pretty cool. I like listening to his stuff because it has good rhythms and it's mellow.
Ozzy Osbourne
The godfather of heavy metal. The Prince of Darkness. The Inmate of Alcoholics Anonymous. The man who can decaptitate a bat in a single bite. During his solo career he's gone through many musicians and it shows in his songs styles. Though all his songs are heavy metal, and an occasional ballad, the styles of the songs are different. He has adadpted to the listening tastes of fans throughout the years and that's why he's so successful and admired. He even has a concert series named after him.
Leo Kottke
An acoustic guitarist who's been around for a while. I saw him with my dad at a show in a place called the Vilar Center near where we live. It was just him, a mic, a six string and a twelve string. He's a greater guitarist and his story telling is eqally good. Well, no quite, but he was entertaining. He really got to the crowd of rich VIP's. He has a cool sound while using the twelve string that makes it sound like he using a slide. I recommend seeing him if you're into guitar.
Elton John
Someone who's done a ton for music both on and off the stage. His charity and anti-AIDS efforts have had almost as much positive impact as his music on the entire world. A top notch performer who's skilled at piano and also a great singer. One of few pianists who's become a big rock star.
Cat Stevens
I think his name is actually Yusif Islam since he converted to Islam a while ago. A singer and songwriter who was popular in the 70's with songs like Wild World and Peace Train. I guess he got a lot of flack for converting and moving to England but now people are forgetting they don't like him and I think he's going on VH1 to set the record straight. He's doing some things with teaching kids through music now and things are looking up, which is good.
David Bowie
One of the weirdest pop stars ever. He was a sort of Boy George type (I forget the technical term for a boy/girl mix person) in the 70's but he now has a wife and seems relatively normal. Even if you don't like his persona you have to admit his music is great stuff. Major Tom and Sufferagette City are two of my favorites.
Marvin Gaye
For me this guy is the epitome of soul. He was living through some tough times and his music is straight from the heart. The "What's Going On" record will make you feel his pain and his hope too. He also did a cool rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at a basketball game a couple decades ago that made it somehow swing.
Billy Joel
I first heard Billy when he did the music for the movie Oliver and Company. It was a Disney movie that used the plot of Oliver Twist, but with cats and dogs and with Fagan as a ratty, homeless guy. His most famous song is Pianoman, which is one of those folky songs like American Pie that makes people reminicse and get sentimental, even though what he's singing about probably never happened to them.
John Denver
A folk singer who lived his songs. He enjoyed the outdoors a lot and you can see it in his music. He died a few years ago in a plane crash I believe. I only have one song by him but what I've heard on the radio is good stuff. Rocky Mountain High and Take Me Home Country Roads are my favorite.
Ravi Shankar
The only thing I know about this guy is that he taught George Harrison, and maybe Jimmy Page, to play sitar, and he's know a musical legend in India. I've only heard one song of his and it was on AMC. They showed the Monterey Pop Festival and he had a duet with a percussionist (who was playing what I think is a tabla). The song was really long and it had different parts and it built and built until by the end his fingers were flying.
James Taylor
I only have Fire and Rain but I know he's a country-western/folk singer and his songs are mostly mellow. That's about it.
James Brown
He's the Godfather of Soul for a reason, but he should let someone take over his spot now. I think he's worked hard enough. Live at the Apollo is a CD that shows how well he sings and listens to the band and how he gets the crowd going. It's cool to listen to him work it.
