Let’s face it, we all have people we look up to and admire. Most the time, one may say that it is a celebrity that has overcome challenges in their life similar to one’s own. Or, someone may admire a close family friend because of the struggles they have battled. For me, I have to say that musicians are the people who I have admired a lot. They are the reason I am going to school to be a music educator and they are sometimes the reason I am even able to keep going some days. All of the musicians or bands on this list have indirectly effected my life and my choices in some way, shape, or form.
1. KISS
Everyone who has known me since I was young knows that I was engulfed in the music of KISS. They were my first favorite band and my first concert. I would dress up and admire the theatrics of their shows and music. They were just the most awesome thing I had ever heard! Looking back, I realize they are not very musically exceptional, but for a little four or five year old me, these four guys from New York were everything I aspired to be.
2. Dream Theater
Probably in my top ten favorite bands, Dream Theater has inspired me with their music since I was first introduced to the song "Pull Me Under" off of their second studio album Images and Words. It was absolutely incredible. The fact that they could fit so many notes into one beat of a very fast tempo exceeded the capacity of my mind at the time. It just did not seem possible. Their musicianship was very influential in every possible way. Their technique, tone quality, and articulations, were right where they needed to be. They have influenced my work ethic in a sense that they are an example of what efficient and effective practice can accomplish. They are truly inspirational to me as a musician and educator.
3. Pink Floyd
Ask me, what is the greatest rock album of all time? If you know me, you would think it would be a "Rush" album. But I regret to inform you that you would be incorrect. Ever since I sat through all twenty-plus songs of Pink Floyd's "The Wall," I have said over and over again that there is no better album in all of rock and roll. Pink Floyd did not just hit the nail right on the head with just this album, but with all their others as well. The music is engaging and the stories they are able to tell through their lyrics is so absolutely engrossing that it always had me wanting more. From a writing standpoint, Pink Floyd has influenced my own musical writing and arranging more than almost any other band.
4. Billy Joel
Billy Joel is one of the more recent artists to join this list because I just began listening to his music beyond "Piano Man." However, in the short time I have been listening to his deep tracks, he writes music in such a way that is almost like he is talking one on one with you. He makes the music personal and relatable. This is very inspiring and influential to me because it brings the fact that famous people (in this case musicians) are human. They make mistakes like us and have had experiences like us. To me, Joel's music effectively communicates to all different kinds of audiences; leaving each one with their own version of the meaning. Perhaps it comes from his love of classical music!
5. Pentatonix
What? A group of musicians on this list that formed after the year 2000? Yes, the Acapella sensation group Pentatonix deserves a spot on this list. I truly feel that vocal music is music in its rawest and most organic form. You cannot strip music past this point. If you do, it becomes silence (although according to John Cage, even total silence can be music). Anyways, these five people have brought strictly vocal music to the forefront and new and innovative ways that brings professional musicians and the average listener to one common ground to enjoy something spectacular. In my eyes, that is extremely influential and inspiring. Not just for me, but also for the music industry.
6. Rush
This list was in no particular order, but I did save the best for last. These three guys have effected the way I think about music, the way I play music, the way I write music, and the way I feel music. Long story short, they have been the most inspirational musicians for me. They have a way of making odd time signatures like 7/8 and 5/8 seem natural and dance-able. It is astonishing! Even going beyond their incredible musicality, Rush just has some of the best lyrics (some of which you can see in my 20 Of The Best Rush Lyrics For 20 Studio Albums article here: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/20-of-the-best-ru...). Their lyrics touch the lives and minds of so many fans. They discuss real life, relatable topics and even sometimes make complicated topics (like the building of the atomic bomb) sound simple. In every possible way, they have been the most influential musicians to me and many others across the globe.
