As many of you know I have a huge love of music and love sharing music with others and with my family. I have tried to expose my children to many different types of music. They listen to records with me, dance to Sammy Davis Jr., sing along to the Beatles, and (thanks to Censie) make me sing along with Kelly Clarkson!
Music has been something that has gotten me through a lot of tough times and brought me close to others. While I was in the hospital recovering from my Ileostomy surgery I listened to music quite a bit, it helped me immensely during that time.
This brings me to our current conversation. Who are my top five singer/songwriters? Why did this come up? I was talking to a co-worker the other day I brought up Jim Croce and the co-worker had no idea who I was talking about! I was shocked so I wanted to compose this list and share my musical thoughts.
Top Five Singer/Songwriters
#5 Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm:
Levon Helm was born in Arkansas and was the drummer and multi instrument member of "The Band". The Band is often times known for their southern Roots Rock band, but all other members of The Band were from Canada, Levon Helm was the only American born member. Robbie Robertson is often times credited for writing all the songs but Levon Helm has claimed that they were mostly written collaboratively, this was an ongoing feud. The Band had many notable songs and The Last Waltz was an amazing collaboration last concert between many musicians. I am actually going to see a Last Waltz Revisited concert in Denver here in a couple of weeks. Some of the best songs from The Band are: Up On Cripple Creek, The Weight, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Atlantic City, Rag Mama Rag, and Ophelia.
#4 Randy Newman
Randy Newman is probably best known for writing songs for Pixar Movies, most notable Toy Story. The kids and I will sing "You've got a Friend in me" all the time when listening to Toy Story. Many though do not know that he had a great musical career prior to these movies. Randy Newman has been a professional songwriter since he was a teen. He is an amazing singer and piano player and is great to listen to. Some of his greatest songs are: Mama Told Me (Not to Come), You can leave your hat on, Short People, and I Love L.A.
#3 Jim Croce
I grew up listening to Jim Croce songs before I knew who he was. I have shared my love for his music and story telling with my family. More than likely you have probably heard his songs before and probably sang some of them without knowing they were written and sung by him. Jim Croce's career was unfortunately cut short when the plane he was on clipped a pecan tree causing it to crash. Jim Croce had a great way of telling a story during his songs so that as the listener you could see in your head everything he was talking about. Some of his best songs are : Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, You Don't Mess Around with Jim, Time in a Bottle, Operator, New York's Not My Home, Roller Derby Queen,. Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy), I Got a Name, and I'll Have to Say I Love You In a Song.
#2 Harry Chapin
There are many songs that were written or sung by Harry Chapin that many individuals know of the song, but like Jim Croce, they do not know that they were written by Harry Chapin. Harry Chapin is probably best known for his song "Cats in the Cradle" a song about a father being too busy with work to spend time with his son. One of my favorite songs. Chapin, like Croce, as well died in an accident but a motor vehicle accident. Harry Chapin was also a great humanitarian trying to fight world hunger. He started the Harry Chapin Food Bank (Long Island Food Bank) in 1980 a year before his death. Harry Chapin was also a great story teller and could paint a picture with words and music that amaze me. Some of my favorite songs are :Cats In The Cradle, Flowers are Red, Taxi, Mr. Tanner, I Wanna Learn a Love Song, 30,000 Pounds of Bananas, Circle and Dancing Boy.
#1 Warren Zevon
A great singer song writer that also suffered from a very bad case of OCD but was an amazing singer, song writer and story teller. One of his compulsions was buying and hoarding grey Calvin Klein shirts. He actually built a great friendship with Billy Bob Thornton around having OCD. Warren Zevon played piano for Everly Brothers and actually played with REM. Warren Zevon is probably best known for "Werewolves of London". This has been played at almost every piano bar that I have been to, and is a crowd favorite. Warren Zevon had many other great songs some of my favorites are: Lawyers, Guns and Money, Excitable Boy, Mr. Bad Example, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, Desperados Under the Eaves, Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner, and Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead.
These are just a few of the musicians that I love and wanted to share with you. I would enjoy hearing about some of the musicians that you enjoy so I can expand my musical knowledge and enjoyment as well. I hope you will listen to these artists if you have never heard of them and maybe you will enjoy them as well.
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