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Living Legends in Music

Pete Towshend
Carlos Santana
John Fogerty

HOF inductees/guitarists
Some great ones already listed in this thread, but here are some musicians okittexbecause of their genre…

Steve Jones


Captain Sensible


Mike Watt


Chad Smith


Earl Hudson
 
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Some really good suggestions, and some not so good suggestions.

I don’t recall seeing Tina Turner mentioned. She fits the bill at 82 years young.

Here’s one that nobody else has mentioned yet, John Williams. Imagine so many movies without his music behind them and they would be viewed very differently. Billions of people around the world will recognize at least one of the songs he wrote.

Another group of not widely known musicians that are legends within the industry would be any surviving members of the Wrecking Crew. I know Carol Kaye is still alive, not sure of any others.
 
Official updated list based on comments:

Willie Nelson
Madonna
Patti Smith
Bruce Springsteen
David Gilmore
Roger Walters
Billy Joel
Pet Townsend
Carlos Santana
Robert Plant
Jerry Lee Lewis
Smokey Robinson
Dolly Parton
Diana Ross
Phil Collins
Steve Winwood
Peter Gabriel
David Byrne
Tony Bennett
Linda Ronstad



The others haven't made it yet. What do people think about adding Phil Lesh?

If you want to argue someone else present a case.
It’s about time someone mentioned Tony Bennett! Keeeerist..might be the “best voice” in the bunch.
 
Some really good suggestions, and some not so good suggestions.

I don’t recall seeing Tina Turner mentioned. She fits the bill at 82 years young.

Here’s one that nobody else has mentioned yet, John Williams. Imagine so many movies without his music behind them and they would be viewed very differently. Billions of people around the world will recognize at least one of the songs he wrote.

Another group of not widely known musicians that are legends within the industry would be any surviving members of the Wrecking Crew. I know Carol Kaye is still alive, not sure of any others.
Good call on John Williams. He needs to be bolded in the list.
 
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Mick Jones of the Clash
Gene Simmons of KISS
Jeff Lynne of ELO
Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night
Mike Score from A Flock of Seagulls (his hair alone should be bolded)
Tommy James
 
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raffi-singing.jpg
 
Don Henley. Still touring even tho the band is a shell of it's original self. Had a hand in the first and third biggest selling albums in the 20th century. That's remarkable.
 
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Some really good suggestions, and some not so good suggestions.

I don’t recall seeing Tina Turner mentioned. She fits the bill at 82 years young.

Here’s one that nobody else has mentioned yet, John Williams. Imagine so many movies without his music behind them and they would be viewed very differently. Billions of people around the world will recognize at least one of the songs he wrote.

Another group of not widely known musicians that are legends within the industry would be any surviving members of the Wrecking Crew. I know Carol Kaye is still alive, not sure of any others.
John Williams was added in the second list. Tina Turner will be added. Carol Kaye not.
 
Updated list - Now has 4 segments. Top is ultra-premium living legend. Second group is living legend. Both groups sorted alphabetically by first name. Third group is under consideration to move up into living legends if anyone wants to present an argument. Fourth group is excluded and not really in consideration. Third and fourth groups are listed roughly in order of best chance to move up to worst.

This has been fun - keep it coming! Probably need more exposure to jazz and blues names.


Ultra Premium Living Legends
Bob Dylan
Celine Dion
Dolly Parton
Dr Dre
Elton John
George Clinton
Iggy Pop
John Williams
Patti Smith
Paul McCartney
Paul Simon
Stevie Wonder
Yo-yo Ma
Living Legends
Billy Joel
Bruce Springsteen
Buddy Guy
Carlos Santana
Cher
Chubby Checker
Connie Francis
Dave Grohl
David Byrne
David Gilmore
Del McCoury
Diana Ross
Don Henley
Eric Clapton
Garth Brooks
George Strait
Gladys Knight
Hank Williams Jr
Herbie Hancock
Jeff Beck
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jimmy Page
Linda Ronstad
Madonna
Mick Jagger
Neil Young
Ozzy Osbourne
Pete Townsend
Peter Gabriel
Phil Collins
Placido Domingo
Randy Newman
Robert Plant
Roger Walters
Smokey Robinson
Steve Winwood
Sting
Tom Jones
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Trent Reznor
Weird Al Yankovic
Willie Nelson
Hon Mention Bob Mould
Next Level, not in - would consider
Tina Turner
Henry Rollins
Quincy Jones Jr
Phil Lesh
Berry Gordy
Michael Stipe
Mariah Carey
Emmylou Harris
Kris Kristofferson
John Fogerty
Bono
Rod Stewart
Thom Yorke
Skrillex
Peter Frampton
Alice Cooper
Jimmy Buffet
Frankie Valli
Ian MacKaye
Dave Clark
Snoop Dogg
Jay-Z
James Taylor
John Mellencamp
Jello Biafra
Stevie Nicks
Dion DiMucci
Ringo
Connie Francies
Excluded
Bob Seger
Bob Weir
Deadmau5
Deborah Harry
Neal Sedaka
Tony Iommi
Todd Rundgren
Bonnie Rait
Carole King
Dave Mustaine
Rick Astley
Chad Kroeger
Donald Fagan
Ian Anderson
Yngwie Malmsteen
Rita Coolidge
Tommy Victor
Paige Hamilton
Sheryl Crow
Flea
Richard D James
Mickey Hart
DJ Shadow
David Lee Roth
Brenda Lee
Neal Schon
Mark Knopfler
Jeff Lind
Justin Haywood
Robert Cray
Danny Carey
Harold Winley
Terry Johnston
Jimmy Merchant
Charlie Gracie
Ant Adams
Wanda Jackson
Janis Martin
Larry Collins
Freddy Cannon
Gary U.S. Bonds
Martha Reeves
Darlene Love
Steve Jones
Captain Sensible
Mike Watt
Chad Smith
Earl Hudson
Peter Noone
H.R. from Bad Brains
Jimmy Cliff
Mick Jones of the Clash
Gene Simmons of KISS
Jeff Lynne of ELO
Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night
Mike Score from A Flock of Seagulls (his hair alone should be bolded)
Tommy James
Greg Graffin
Jackson Brown
Peabo Bryson
Bruno Mars
 
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One that I don’t think has been mentioned is Bob Seger
This, especially this. And Billy Gibbons, Tommy Shaw, Kevin Kronin, Geddy Lee, Bono.

And if you didn't love Cat Scratch Fever as a young man you're lieing, so Ted Nugent. (assuming all these folks haven't been mentioned)
 
This, especially this. And Billy Gibbons, Tommy Shaw, Kevin Kronin, Geddy Lee, Bono.

And if you didn't love Cat Scratch Fever as a young man you're lieing, so Ted Nugent. (assuming all these folks haven't been mentioned)
I think Bono is a good call. U2, whether people like them or not, has had massive impact.
 
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Debby Harry should not be excluded. People wrongly think she was just the pretty front woman, but she wrote the words and music on many Blondie hits, including the #1 Billboard song for the year 1980 (co-written with Giorgio Moroder).
 
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3 pages and no mention of Keith Richards?
Yeah, seems to be mostly front men, and of course Mick and The Stones have been mentioned. Not many Drummers either, but if you include Billy Gibbons gotta add Frank Beard too. That list would be bonkers long.
 
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Sam Bush, Jorma kaukonen and David Bromberg are deserving of mention.

also, find it hard to believe Bob Weir is not qualifying per those in this thread. I’d wager Nobody has played more live gigs in history and his impact is incredible. Looking forward to seeing him next week in boulder.
 
Philip Glass. He’s most notable for his minimalist style of compositions, but he’s written dozens of operas and pieces for keyboards and strings. Chances are you’ve probably heard his mucus before but probably didn’t realize it.

 
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