hc_earwicker

Amazing that nobody has heard of Tom Waits on this forum and it takes an immigrant like me to tell you about one of America's most unique artists. Nobody else sounds quite like him and his voice is definitely an acquired taste - however, he has a very devoted fan base. If you are interested in finding out more, look at this fan website. While few people seem to have heard any of his albums, chances are that most serious music fans would have heard some songs of his covered by other artists - including The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Norah Jones, The Ramones, Johnny Cash, Bob Seger and quite a few others (for a more complete list of covers look here). He isn't a perennial chart topper but he has been quite successful for the past 30+ years - so he isn't exactly some penniless nobody. He does have an extreme distaste for his songs being used in any form of advertising and has consistently refused to allow his songs to be used in any kind of advertising campaign and has sued when people have tried to go around his back to and use impersonators. BTW - it is quite easy to spot a Waits impersonation. I don't think there are ANY other artists who sound like Louis Armstrong with a sore throat singing this weird fusion of rock, jazz and '30s German Musical Theater. - HCE