Who are your most inspiring/influential acoustic guitar singer songwriters?

[mahoriver]

I was enjoying reading the other thread "most influential guitarist"
but felt i couldn't put down the folks i like,as they are
all Acoustic Guitar based Singer Songwriters,not guitarist first
and foremost.Although they do influence my own playing too .

Enjoy seeking out artists.. And seeing others picks
So who are the folks that inspire you ?

For me historically -

Bob Dylan
Greg Brown
Mike Scott (waterboys)

===================================
Of recent times Ive been enjoying-

Robbin Williamson (mostly his recordings since 1990)
Robt Sarazin Blake
Frank Fairfield (i was sad to see he has given up the music business)
Ben Weaver
Michael Hurley (only found his music a couple of years ago,become one of my favourites)

[eljay]

Gordon Lightfoot all da way, baby!

[jaymarsch]

I am also mostly influenced by singer/songwriters who play guitar. you mentioned Greg Brown - he is one of my favorites.

If you like Greg Brown, you might also like:
Verlon Thompson
Guy Clark
Cheryl Wheeler
Darrell Scott

Rory Block is a great guitarist who has written some beautiful songs and Martin Simpson has written some fines songs. His guitar playing is top notch.

Here is one from Verlon:



Best,
Jayne

[lizzard]

Bob Dylan
Paul Simon
Willie Nelson

IMHO

[billgennaro]

For me it was always Paul Simon from the '60s thru the '80s and Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) thru the '60s and '70s. I also enjoyed James Taylor throughout the '70s, early Crosby, Stills & Nash, and a few others.

[Larry Pattis]

TR Ritchie

Chuck Pyle

David Roth

Cosy Sheridan

Kate MacLeod

Brady Earnhart

Don Charles & Deb Gessner (D-Squared)

Bat McGrath

Chuck Brodsky

Annie Gallup



...amongst others.

[choucas09]

I discovered Blake Mills last year and I'm amazed by the quality of his writing, both musically and lyrically. The icing on the cake is that he's a staggeringly good guitar player.

[Goat Mick]

There are so many out there that have influenced me and the stories I try to tell in my songs, but to make a list it all comes down to the main three. These are the ones that shaped my idea of what good songwriting is.

Bob Dylan
Townes VanZandt
Guy Clark

[Greg Rappleye]

So many! But I'd start with Ry Cooder and John Hiatt. At the moment, they top my list.



Greg Rappleye

[Riverwolf]

Neil Young
John Fogerty
John Lennon

[watchingfool]

Originally Posted by eljay

Gordon Lightfoot all da way, baby!

^ What he said!!

[gfspencer]

John Stewart (Not the comedian but a former Kingston Trio member) He wrote and sang the songs that got me interested in playing guitar. "Chilly Winds" is still one of my favorites.

[TheJackal]

Jesse Winchester
Guy Clark
Darrell Scott
Robert Earl Keen
Townes Van Zandt

Plus those on Larry's list.

We are fortunate to live in a world where technology allows us to access so much fine music. Think about it, a short trip to YouTube and a search will likely land us right in the middle of some fine music offered by someone suggested on this list that we'd never heard of but needed to know.

[Marshall]

Darrell Scott (Tim O'Brien sort of [he plays mando])

Paul Simon in yesteryear..

[Earwitness]

Kris Kristofferson.