And toss in a young Louis Armstrong for good luck. 🎺🎤🎶🎶🎶
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Schubert, if he did, I'd be willing to bet he would be one of the good guys doing it. Might even be able to have a positive influence on some in need the most. Not sure I could see him working with Kanye West, Rolling Stones, or many others. I could see it working out with Metallica maybe. That would be interesting! Can't speak for Satan though. maybe it would worry him perhaps just a tiny bit? :^} |
I think that Paul Robeson would be a good choice. I suspect that he would be much more "at home," and therefore less radicalized, in today's society than in the society of his time, and politics and controversy would therefore not overshadow his immense singing (and many other) talents. I have some of his recordings, and his voice was truly special. Regards, -- Al |
Stephane Grappelli. There are countless greats chosen above-and I appreciate virtually all of them- but; Stephane was a very unique genius playing an instrument that's revered for it's wide ranging emotional impact. I saw him live outside London, England, near the end; sat immediately in front of him, was lucky he made the connection, and mine was the only program he signed. The only autographed item I have. Most interesting; his stage manager was a Canadian. |
What I would like to see was a longer life of what could have been to the one's that left us too early. All those timeless melodies and standards unwritten. To that end I would include Mozart, Chopin and Gershwin as a few good examples. So far as rock artists are concerned I can think of no better candidate than Buddy Holly, song writer, producer, and performer that by the time of his death at 22 was really just warming up to his unlimited potential, a pretty good example of "if only". So far as Bach is concerned how much more could he have packed in his 65 years? Father of 22, composer of upward of 500 cantatas mostly lost, accomplished organist/keyboardist and composer of some of the revered music ever written, a musician's musician at the top of the heap. Imagine what he accomplished relative to today's artists to get a sense of his greatness. Not only that but that family musical legacy continued after his death. Bach lived the fulfilled life in the truest sense. I can think of few other historical figures that accomplished so much. A keyboardist with a progressive rock group? That's funny but it might be fun too! Imagine what he might have contributed to rock, Yes's "Roundabout" for instance? Oh yeah, I sure would have loved to hear the young Louis Armstrong sitting on the Mississippi riverbank as that horn carries over the still darkness of that mighty river, the inspiration of another one that died too young, Bix Beiderbecke. Or maybe the Duke or Count Basie "One more time"! |
John Lennon..hmmm. I was listening to an old interview with his first wife a week or so ago on NPR, and for someone who promoted love and peace, it certainly seems that he didn't practice it in his own life. Yoko was even worse. He didn't support his ex-wife or son even though he was extremely wealthy. I never counted him among my favorite artists, but now even less so. |
I'll respond only for popular music and leave the classical to the more informed than me. The most tragic and biggest loss is John Lennon, hands down. But he had already made his mark before he died, and despite whatever wonderful music we missed out on because of this untimely death at age 40, his best work was surely behind him. So from the standpoint of who we lost at the peak or upswing of their career, I'll go with Buddy Holly overall (though before I was born I'm aware of his impact). And from a musician standpoint, Duane Allman. So much brilliant music never got made... |
