Not recognized in their lifetime?


I have appreciated the composer Bach for some time, and was startled to learn this week that he was ignored and abused during his own lifetime. The music that he wrote covers a broad range of types and styles, though it was mainly written to be performed in church. It is majestic and mathematical at the same time. Johann Sebastian Bach died poor, and his wife died in a home for destitute women.. On her death bed she was quoted as asking God not for anything for herself, but that her husbands music should live on.

At age 11 Mendelson , took a liking to Bach’s work. It was not till Mendelson's love for Bach's work that it became popular. Unfortunately Mendelson was abused physically and mentally for his appreciation of what was considered musical exercise. Mendelson, a Jew, left the school he attended, was baptized as a Lutheran and began to study the work of Bach. When Mendelson began performing the music of his mentor, Bach was accepted as the genius that he was.

Which other people can you think of that were neglected in their own lifetime, but have been recognized since as having something great to offer to the world of music?
128x128nrchy
The documentary "In the Shadows of Motown" really hit home for me. Here was a group of very talented men,"The Funk Brothers", many accomplished jazz musicians in their own right, and they got almost no credit or money for what they did. Don't quote me, but I think the doc. said that their music sold more records than Elvis, The Beatles, and Michael Jackson combined.
Kate wolf, Bessie Smith come to mind. Two great talents that come to mind that were never fully recognized in their lifetimes. Undoubtibly Kate Wolf would not have wanted celebrity as much as recognition for work well done.
Jack Elliot...well still alive...but developed the style and fusion of Woody Guthrie and southern blues/gospel into the real folk-rock which he has relentlesslty brought to the back roads, bayous, bars, road houses and barns... where the roots and true soul of American music lives.

Dylan, a late commer at Woody's temple, ripped this sound from Mr Elliot.

Ramblin Jack produced one or two albums and is unknown commercially.

And another, as others have pointed out the beautiful Songbird...Eva
Most African-American Blues singers. Stifled by all that racism crap, despite that, they influenced many rock&roll artists.
Kings X
Perhaps the most underappreciated rock band of all time. They did make VH1's top-100 rock bands of all time (#83), but no one seems to know them. They were mis-labeled early on as a Christian band, in the day when that was a commerical death sentence. Maybe one day they'll get the credit they deserve.