Can't Imagine A World Without This Artist In It

Can you think of a vocalist, band or musician that, if they hadn't existed... you just can't imagine life without them. Their impact on your life has been profound, life changing and positively important. Tough question I know, because you may have several. Today my answer is Lee Morgan, but tomorrow it will probably be Art Blakey or Wes Montgomery or John Coltrane. I am so very, very thankful for jazz music. It has been there for me when I was at my highest highs and my lowest lows. Ok, final answer, the man who started it all, Louis Armstrong. (I still love you Billie!!!)

 

Thank you God for this

 

The thing is, how do you approach the question...do you go with who you feel "it" all began with or do you go with the artist that has meant more to you in your life than any other for a book of reasons? If I'm going with the latter, it's hands down, The Beatles and would remain as such today, tomorrow and for the rest of my time "here"...BUT if I went with the former...well, it *would* take a book.

 

Joni Mitchell

 

Go with the latter.

 

I know I mentioned jazz, but Elvis has meant a lot to me over the years. A. lot.

 

Bob Dylan ~ "If Not For You" .. Alternate Take

 

these are mine

John Coltrane.... changed my life

Jimi Hendrix.... same

Talk Talk, Mark Hollis, changed my musical life

The Beatles...

Joy Division

Midnight Oil

 

Brian Jones & the Rolling Stones
Canned Heat
Billie Holiday
Ike & Tina Turner
Patti Labelle
MFSB
The Three Degrees
A Taste of Honey
Candi Staton
Dionne Warwick
George McCrae
Faze-O
Pointer Sisters
Yvonne Elliman
Melba Moore
Dorothy Moore
Sister Sledge

 

I'd say Little Richard (my first introduction to rock n' roll when I was a kid).

 

Yes, it would be a different world without Cal Massey's wonderful tunes! Or is that not what you meant?

 

All of them.... music is a smorgasbord for me, not a set menu.

 

C'mon. Who do you think?

 

Hmm, Don Byron? (the liners to this fine album have Byron telling a story about that Flintstones episode and somehow tying it to his recordings of Raymond Scott, Ellington, and John Kirby)

 

I would have to say Michael Nesmith, his work with The Monkees and his 6 RCA solo albums have been an unexpected pleasure over the last 10 yrs or so. His music has opened and reopened so many doors that I closed when punk, post punk and some of the edgier new wave took over my ears and mind in the late 70's. Another one would have to be X, possibly my all time favorite American band. I can't imagine a life without John Doe and Exene as a part of it

 

Maybe I'm a pessimist. Wait I am. I always think about the music we missed. The Hendrixs and Cobain's. I try to remind myself we very easily could have missed 50 years of Dylan if he took that curve a little faster - that's hard to imagine.

 

Alan Parsons Project
The Beatles
Caravan
Cat Stevens
Jethro Tull
The Moody Blues
Nick Drake
Pink Floyd
Renaissance
Rory Gallagher
Supertramp
Syd Barrett
Vangelis
The Wizards From Kansas
The Youngbloods

Sorry, it can't be just one, life's a long song.

 

Robert Pollard
David Gedge
Robert Smith
John Lydon
Ian MacKaye
Greg Dulli
Eddie Vedder
Jack White
J. Mascis
Jim James
Lou Barlow
Wayne Coyne
Jeff Tweedy
Paul Weller

 

No, I cannot. Not at all.

No vocalist is worth anyone's life. Full stop. Period.

Have some perspective here.

 

Zappa

 

Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys

 

Zappa

 

Aaaaahh....

 

Well Captain Beefheart, obviously.