Top ten American composers/songwriters

Gotta toss in Irving Berlin.

I think we've reached ten.

I always loved how Andrew Hill's compositions were challenging which brought out the best of his session-mates on many occasions.

Yes Berlin and Monk deserve to be in there, but who would you toss out? 
This list is meant as what music historians would include in a future textbook or article.  Hard to narrow down. One of my criteria is the enjoyable hour. Does the candidate have an hour of music you can listen to non stop? Sousa excepted. He is special; forr as long as there are parades.....he will outlast the whole list. Joe

Yes!  Andrew Hill.  Charles Mingus should be on the list also.