William Shatner, seriously. His version of "Rocket Man" alone is enough to testify of the truth of his brilliance. Of Shatner's rendition of "Mr. Tamborine Man", Bob Dylan said, "Bill took the song and made it his song."

It was Shatner who first took interest in a young Tom Jones late 1950s. Under Shatner's auspices, Jones recorded his first album, "Front Porch Pickin'", with Shatner playing autoharp & adding some harmony to the acoustic collection.

As an aside to this, when approached by A&R money men to change his style & image, Jones decided to somewhat emulate Shatner. Amazingly, Jones' emulation worked and he continued to do so throughout his career.

Listen to Jones singing on "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow" or "I Can't Stop Loving You" & think of Shatner. You can hear the over-dramatization, the "hamming it up" reminiscent of Shatner's acting & speech.

In Later years a "personality conflict" ended the Shatner / Jones relationship, & they rarely speak of one another. Yet, Jones, in a 1998 interview with Conundrum Magazine, stated bluntly, "Without Bill Shatner, I would probably still be in Wales tending goats."

Love him or hate him, Bill Shatner is a musical genius.

Sheeney