Reply #6: As icons? Elvis, Jackson, Lennon, Hank, Elton, Willie, Joplin, Cash.

[jobycom]

In terms of vocal ability: Joplin, Elvis, Willie, Jackson, Elton, Cash, Hank, Lennon

In terms of overall musical ability, including songwriting, originality, and vague other things: Lennon, Elvis, Jackson, Willie, Elton, Hank, Joplin, Cash

In terms of showmanship: Jackson, Elvis, Elton, Lennon, Hank, Cash, Joplin, Willie

In terms of dancing ability: Jackson.

I could probably come up with other categories. I left Caruso out of there because he's just too different a genre to compare.

And if I had to add anyone, I'd throw in Freddy Mercury and Robert Plant, and probably drop Cash. I love Cash, but his recent fame transcends his ability or his impact on music. He had a clever voice, but was an average singer. I'd rank him as a top ten country male vocalist, but George Jones, Merle Haggard, Garth Brooks at his best, Waylon Jennings, and even Hank, Jr. were at least as good vocally. Jr. has other issues, but their voices are similar and I think Hank sings better. On the other hand, Hank never had to soul to do something like Hurt, nor the conscience to do something like "The Man in Black." So maybe I should have ranked social conscience as one of the categories.

What the heck: Lennon, Elton, Willie, Jackson, Elvis, Hank, Cash, Joplin. (social conscience).

Just my thoughts. If I wrote this 20 minutes from now, they might be different.