Musical genius... who's better than the rest in opinion?

[Nate]

Hey this is my first post but... In your own personal opinion, who is a musical genius to you? It's cool if you have more than 1, even 20. Please state your reasoning, I'm always open to new music and this might help me study new musical cultures.

In my opinion i like Dave Grohl... He's the singer for the Foo Fighters, he also played drums for Nirvana from Nevermind album to the death of Kurt, he played drums for Queens of the Stone Age until being replaced. He's had a good long run in rock history.

Thank You for your input,
Nate :wink:

[Mrs.S]

Warren Haynes and Grace Potter are the first that come to mind

[ozzman62]

Frank Zappa , And Jimi Hendrix .

Mr. Zappa was always from the very beginning one of my faves because of his inovative guitar style and funny lyrics , His writings run from the obscure , To the in your face truths of real life with a humorous twist . And the fact that he took Steve Vai under his wing didn't hurt either .

Mr. Hendrix , Brought tears to my eyes with the soul moving power and emotion the man played with during his short stay with us . he revolutionized the way the electric guitar was played and created some electronic effects we still try and mimic to this day .

[Stormcrow]

HEY, cool thread!


I couldn't possibly list even a fraction of the Musicians I hold in such high regard, I'd take up the whole thread. lol

I'll just go with the obvious choice. Warren Haynes.

Warren Haynes is, in my opinion, the consummate "Rock" musician. Not only is he one of the best guitarists alive (Rolling Stone magazine rated him 23rd of all time a few years back), but he's a top notch vocalist, and a phenomenal and prolific song writer.

Stylistically, the man knows no bounds. He's equally at home in virtually every genre. From Jazz to Techno, from Country to Rock, from Blues to Metal the man just doesn't seem to have a weak point.

In his long and storied career he's played a major role in such well known groups as The David Allen Coe Band, The Allman Brothers Band, and The Grateful Dead, and his own power house rock band Gov't Mule just to name a few. You've also heard his work on hits by names like Alanis Morrisette, and Corrosion of Conformity. He's STILL pulling down royalties for a writing credit for "Two of a Kind (Workin' on a Full House)" by Garth Brooks.
A point of note. Warren is one of the VERY few musicians who actually sound BETTER live, than he does on album. His albums are excellent by the way. It's not like saying The Dead sound better live. lol
Warren Haynes is the musician today, that other musicians go to see/hope to sit in with. What's more, if they bring their instruments he will SO put them on stage with him.
I had the pleasure of meeting him last year, and I can tell you, he's a really good guy who hasn't let his fame go to his head. He was quick to pose for a pic and to sign my CD. He even complimented the (potentially copyright infringing) T-shirts I had made to sell bearing his image & lyics.

All 'round good guy, all 'round great musician, it's not hard to see why I hold him in such high regard.

[shiatsu^26]

WOW, I agree with Storm here. There are too many , all with their unique ways.

Ummm.. David Gilmour.
Nuff Said. :)

I dont really like all of their music, BUT Dream Theater is AMAZING. They are all like Prodigies. If you havent ever checked them out, you SHOULD. What they can do, is simply Mind Boggling. In fact . MARK (the drummer) Layed the drum tracks on the newest AV7x album.

I was going to say "Rev" from AV7x, and Dimebag Darrell (RIP) as well, BUT thought I would stick to LIVING musicians.

[CULPRITE_INC]

Uhh i would have to agree with ozzman, JIMI HENDRIX by a mile

if you listen to this song linky (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3222428405488271724#), you can hear the turmoil going on around the world at this time. You can hear the jets scream in and drop napalm on the vit cong. the man can tell you a story with his guitar alone, need i say more?

[Baldy]

Way too many to list, as others have said.

That being said, my choices would mostly be different than you young people's. I played in a few rock/soul bands back in the late 60's and have always had a love for good guitar music.

Leo Kottke comes to mind as being one of the best guitarist I've ever heard. I went to one of his concerts several years back. Just him, sitting on a stage, with one of his guitars, playing a song that had been arranged for him by the conductor of the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra. It was so beautiful that tears came to my eyes. It was perfect.

John Fahey deserves a mention also.

Back in the day, I thought that Hendrix was the bomb.

And of course Clapton. I've always been amazed by Clapton. How in the hell could he remember all those notes, for all those songs, considering that the was a heroin addict?

Of course Les Paul would have to be included. He inventions for the guitar and his design of his name sake guitar and as the inventor of the solid body electric, makes him a true genius.

No list like this would be complete with mentioning Leon Russell, who could weave a story into a song and draw you deep into his spell. While he is a piano player, his singing and voice always amazed me.

And speaking of singers; Sarah Mclachlan has the voice of an angel with control and range that any decent singer would give anything to possess.

Alison Kraus, has such a pure clear heavenly voice anyone that doesn't love her, must be deaf. Brad Paisley said that if the angels in heaven don't sound like her, he's going to come back.


I, like Storm, could go on and on. There are just way to many to list.

[Stormcrow]

Baldy, your list is AMAZING.

[StoneTheCrow]

Wow, love music threads and this one is no disappointment.


I'll list one from a few different music styles.

Country I'd have to say Johnny Cash, he's been there and done that and could back up what he said.

Rock, just off the top of my head I'd say Angus Young. The dude never lets you down when he's on the axe.

Heavy Metal (I suppose people have different names for it) I'll say Dave Mustaine, the lyrics and guitar in Megadeth tunes always leave ya wanting more.


New Age I'll say Enya, LOVE how she arranges her songs and she plays most of the instruments herself.

I could go on but I'll leave it at that.

[LEFT]

I'm sitting here, my mind blurred accessing memory of 50 (ish) years of experiencing music and glancing at the 4' tall stack of mostly unopened TimeLife History of Music series....

Neil Diamond comes to mind, not so much for his performances but for the hundred of other artists that used his work.

Music done well (to me) is like a language 'ceptin more. If it moves a person emotionally, I see whoever is delivering it as a genius...

...from that picker with a tip jar at the icehouse to the church organist to that mutha f'r bust'n his rhyme (pull yer pants up and quitit) to them monks in the orange robes duin thier thing...


Ian Anderson is another name that wants mentioned, because, like, Tull rules.


...ere.

[4nik8]

The two guys who originally made Duelin Banjos















I figured the people from TIA would appreciate that one.

:bigsmile:

[Amadeus]

oy...this is gonna be hard. I personally enjoy music in pretty much all aspects, so I'll just start from the top with obvious choices.

Mark Knopfler~singer and guitarist from Dire Straits, his fluidity in both voice and playing skills went unnoticed throughout history, and obviously caught my attention as well.

That goes without saying Santana, Eric Johnson, Peter Frampton, and pretty much anybody else that can play guitar...or anybody that can decently play an instrument for that matter.

[TOAO]

"Better than anyone else" makes it hard.

The first that comes to mind is page, since he produced the Zep albums, and look how well they've done. And he couldn't even read music.

[shiatsu^26]

Wow, love music threads and this one is no disappointment.


I'll list one from a few different music styles.

Country I'd have to say Johnny Cash, he's been there and done that and could back up what he said.

Rock, just off the top of my head I'd say Angus Young. The dude never lets you down when he's on the axe.

Heavy Metal (I suppose people have different names for it) I'll say Dave Mustaine, the lyrics and guitar in Megadeth tunes always leave ya wanting more.


New Age I'll say Enya, LOVE how she arranges her songs and she plays most of the instruments herself.

I could go on but I'll leave it at that.


Ya KNow, I cant Beleive I forgot about Her. She really IS genius. I listen to her stuff all the time, and for ONE person to sound Like a choir of Angels, IS pretty amazing.