I'll come back to this in a week, if it's still around, but some unmentioned names spring to mind, Merle Travis (yeah, his best work was pre-1950, but he was still doing stuff afterward), Lefty Frizzell, Buddy Holly, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry along with Hank Williams in the 50's. Merle Haggard. Barbara Keith in the early 70's and lately. David Hidalgo for the last 25 years. John Hiatt even longer. Kate and Anna McGarrigle for 30 years. Recently, in addition to Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch (with David Rawlings) and Iris Dement. Not counting anyone who writes good songs but can't sing.
1950-2000: The Top 25 Singer/Songwriters
1.Bob Dylan: I don’t expect any arguments here
2.Curtis Mayfield: Perhaps he should be #1
3. Paul Weller: Hideously underrated in the US, this whiteboy knows soul
4. Tom Waits: He makes two kinds of records: good ones & great ones
5. Van Morrison: If he ever put out a bad record, I haven’t heard it yet
6. Hank Williams: Some of his songs can even make Christianity sound cool
7. Marc Bolan: The pop genius of the 70’s
8. Toots Hibbert: The man who should have been Jamaica’s International Superstar
9. George Jones: A jug of wine, a George Jones album, another jug of wine, and then another…
10. Lou Reed: I’d put him on this list just for “Pale Blue Eyes”
11. Carole King: More for her songwriting than her singing
12. Elvis Costello: Not half as good as everybody says he is, but what a half!
13. Townes van Zandt: Have you heard him? Good, then you know what I’m talking about
14. Eldon “El Duce” Hoke: Hey, this is MY list. I can put anybody I want on
15. Beck: He’s the new Dylan. Honest
16. James Osterberg: It is frightening: The man has supernatural powers!
17. Leonard Cohen: Of course I’m going to include him
18. Bruce Springsteen: “Nebraska” is enough to earn him a place
19. Nick Drake: Volkswagen, The Estate of Nick Drake wishes to thank you
20. Neil Diamond: What if Elvis was a Jew who wrote his own songs, and never did half-assed karate kicks onstage?
21. Lucinda Williams: Great singer/songwriters cover HER songs!
22. Kurt Cobain: An ear for a great tune, and an eye for a pretty lady! Oh muse, sing!
23. Richard Thompson: Continues to delight
24. David Bowie: Demoted from #11 to #24 for failing to die immediately after "Scary Monsters"
25. Gram Parsons: Dude, love that Nudie suit!
2.Curtis Mayfield: Perhaps he should be #1
3. Paul Weller: Hideously underrated in the US, this whiteboy knows soul
4. Tom Waits: He makes two kinds of records: good ones & great ones
5. Van Morrison: If he ever put out a bad record, I haven’t heard it yet
6. Hank Williams: Some of his songs can even make Christianity sound cool
7. Marc Bolan: The pop genius of the 70’s
8. Toots Hibbert: The man who should have been Jamaica’s International Superstar
9. George Jones: A jug of wine, a George Jones album, another jug of wine, and then another…
10. Lou Reed: I’d put him on this list just for “Pale Blue Eyes”
11. Carole King: More for her songwriting than her singing
12. Elvis Costello: Not half as good as everybody says he is, but what a half!
13. Townes van Zandt: Have you heard him? Good, then you know what I’m talking about
14. Eldon “El Duce” Hoke: Hey, this is MY list. I can put anybody I want on
15. Beck: He’s the new Dylan. Honest
16. James Osterberg: It is frightening: The man has supernatural powers!
17. Leonard Cohen: Of course I’m going to include him
18. Bruce Springsteen: “Nebraska” is enough to earn him a place
19. Nick Drake: Volkswagen, The Estate of Nick Drake wishes to thank you
20. Neil Diamond: What if Elvis was a Jew who wrote his own songs, and never did half-assed karate kicks onstage?
21. Lucinda Williams: Great singer/songwriters cover HER songs!
22. Kurt Cobain: An ear for a great tune, and an eye for a pretty lady! Oh muse, sing!
23. Richard Thompson: Continues to delight
24. David Bowie: Demoted from #11 to #24 for failing to die immediately after "Scary Monsters"
25. Gram Parsons: Dude, love that Nudie suit!