Igor Stravinsky- Its Ok to be ground breaking

Jan Sibelius- Its Ok to be dramatic

Jascha Haifitz- Simply the best that ever was

Joe Hill- Proved to all that this music has power

Jimmie Rodgers- Sang jazz and blues and convinced the world its country.

Bessie Smith- Showed that women could sing Mightily

Robert Johnston- Showed us how to sing the blues

Charley Christian- Showed us the potential of the electron in music.

The Nickolas Brothers- Showed us what tap was about.

Fred Astaire-Showed us what style was about.

The Sons of the Pioneers-Where harmony begain (for me anyway)

Woody, Pete, Burl, Cisco, helped to keep folk alive and fuel its re-emergence after the War.

Malvina Reynolds-For showing that women could write and sing on their own terms.

Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Buffy St. Marie, for picking up after Woody, Pete, Burl, and Cisco.

The Clancys and Tommy Makem- For bringing Irish music in from Tin Pan Alley and showing us the sod and the shanty.

This list becomes endless. There are so many people who have influenced and continue to influence people in the was they perform. Of course subjetc as it is to opinion there is no right or wrong answer. But I would have to say that only one person has influenced so broad a area of musical tastes and style be on his years. That would be Jimmie Rodgers.

Don