Your Top 10 Favorite Songwriters

Ok, here it goes....rank your top 10 songwriters. 10, TEN, not 12 or 15. When I set out to make my list I had over 20 that "had to be in the top 10". I had to really do some hard thinking in order to narrow it down, which is the whole point of this thread. I'm leaving out many of my heroes and greatest inspirations, but here is my top 10 in as good of an order as I can muster:

1. Townes Van Zandt. The ultimate poet/songwriter. Check out his Live at the Old Quarter album for a bunch of songs that will blow you away. His songs cut deeper to the bone than anybody else is able to do.

2. Bruce Springsteen. His first 8 albums were flat out brilliant. Amazing lyricist and composer. The Born To Run album is the reason I ever picked up guitar. I first learned to play solos from Darkness On The Edge of Town. The themes that echo through the first 8 albums have really hit home with me (growing up, hope, wanting to get away, facing the challenges of becoming a man, dealing with regret). I will never forget hearing Born To Run for the second time, I haven't been the same since (the first time I didn't get it). I'm fearing that The Rising is being forgotten just how perfect it was for the time it was released. Is it his best album? certainly not, but fit the time perfectly.

3. Greg Brown. Grew up in the same region of Iowa as me. Has been fantastic for a long time, and is still as good as ever. Many of his songs deal with issues relevant to the rural midwest, things I grew up seeing and experiencing. Milk of the Moon is my favorite album of his. The only reason he isn't a household name like Dylan is because his stuff doesn't appeal to hippies and city folks. If you haven't heard his stuff, check it out. You won't be disappointed. Great deep voice too.

4. Tom Waits. Learned to play piano to his stuff. There isn't a songwriter on the planet like him, totally unique. Closing Time is my favorite album of his, with Rain Dogs and Mule Variations right behind. The Heart of Saturday Night is my favorite song of his.

5. Guy Clark. I discovered him a few years ago. As I've gotten older, his brilliance has become more and more apparent. Each time I listen to a song of his, I discover a line that I finally get. His first album, Old No. 1 is my favorite. As good of a storyteller as you can get.

6. Bob Dylan. No explanation necessary.

7. James Taylor. Nobody can sing like him, nobody can play guitar quite like him, and hardly anybody can write like him. The live album One Man Band showcases James at his purest and best.

8. Steve Earle. His first four albums were spectacular. His post-prison career has been good too. Being a Disciple of Townes and Guy Clark, he combines the qualities of both of them to be a poetic storyteller when he is at his best. Exit 0 is my favorite album of his.

9. Tom Petty. Even though he is backed by one of the best bands in the world, he his a fantastic lyricist. He still has it, as Mojo is an amazing album. However, Hard Promises is my favorite album, as I can relate to many of the songs. Damn the Torpedos is obviously fantastic as well (I wore out my vinyl copy of it, yes I dig vinyl).

10. I'm saving this slot for an younger songwriter. Brandi Carlile narrowly beats out Brian Fallon (of The Gaslight Anthem) for this slot. She is flat out amazing at writing great lyrics and singing them emotionally. Give Up the Ghost is my favorite album of hers. I strongly suggest checking it out, songs like Looking Out, Pride and Joy, and That Year are achingly brilliant. Her best and most famous song is The Story, it is one of my favorite songs to play with just me and an acoustic.

Wow, that changes every day. Let me say +1 on your list and today I'll add Lowell George. I'f I'm back tomorrow I'll add somebody else. (Pete Townshend?) I have a wide range.

Richard Thompson
Jackson Browne
Robert Hunter
Joni Mitchell
Sandy Denny
Bob Dylan
Leiber and Stroller
Chuck Berry
Pete Townsend
Bob Marley

That's just some favorites off the top of my head.

Richard Thompson
Jackson Browne
Robert Hunter
Joni Mitchell
Sandy Denny
Bob Dylan
Leiber and Stroller
Chuck Berry
Pete Townsend
Bob Marley

That's just some favorites off the top of my head.

Nice list. Several of the people on your list are the ones that narrowly missed mine, especially Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, and Marley.

Great stuff, but you have to put Lennon, McCartney and Harrison in there.

I like all those mentioned above so I'll include some others. Especially Tom Waits and Earle. I like so many but I'll just name 10 more in no particular order

1. Todd Snider
2. Ryan Adams
3. Mike Cooley (from the Drive By Truckers)
4. Radney Foster
5. Paul Westerberg
6. David Pirner
7. Justin Townes Earle
8. Jason Isbell (formerly of the Drive By Truckers)
9. Hayes Carll
10. Bruce and Charlie Robison

In no particular order, and off the top of my head:

James McMurtry
Warren Zevon
John Hiatt
Jagger/Richards
Bruce Springsteen
Elvis Costello
Shane MacGowan
Lyle Lovett
Richard Thompson
Craig Finn (The Hold Steady)

I know I'm gonna kick myself later for forgetting someone....

Edit: Yep - just read KellyCaster's list and thought "Oh yeah, Westerberg..." Not sure who I'd take off though.

bob dylan, neil young, joni mitchell, jeff tweedy, ryan adams, willie nelson, Townes van zant, willie dixon, JJ Cale, paul westerberg

Great stuff, but you have to put Lennon, McCartney and Harrison in there.

It was tough. I love all them (especially Harrison). In the end I went with stuff I related to best. Lennon/McCartney still continue to amaze me. I'm really getting into Harrison's solo career lately, but more musically than lyrically.

I like all those mentioned above so I'll include some others. Especially Tom Waits and Earle. I like so many but I'll just name 10 more in no particular order

1. Todd Snider
4. Radney Foster
7. Justin Townes Earle
10. Bruce and Charlie Robison

Those guys were tough to eliminate too. My stepdad introduced me to Todd Snider, I really want to see him live. Justin Townes Earle is somebody we need to keep an eye in the future. I think he is really coming into his own lately. I enjoy both the Robisons, Charlie especially (El Cerrito Place is one of the best heartbreak songs you can ask for).

In no particular order (this week anyway)-
Jay Farrar
Mike Cooley
Dave Alvin
Neil Young
Jagger/Richards
Robinson Brothers
Lucinda Williams
Bruce Springsteen
Tom Petty
Louris/Olsen

Those guys were tough to eliminate too. My stepdad introduced me to Todd Snider, I really want to see him live. Justin Townes Earle is somebody we need to keep an eye in the future. I think he is really coming into his own lately. I enjoy both the Robisons, Charlie especially (El Cerrito Place is one of the best heartbreak songs you can ask for).

I saw Todd Snider open up for Robert Earl Keen (who I would also add) about 10 years ago and I've been hooked ever since. JTE just finished a new record and I can't wait to hear it. Just saw the Robison brothers at Gruene Hall last month, acoustic show, just the 2 of them with a fiddle player. I prefer Bruce's songs but with Charlies delivery. Damn, Jeff Tweedy totally forgot that one.

Larry Norman
Leonard Cohen
Paul Simon
Kris Kristofferson
John Lennon
Tom Waits
uh...that's it for now.

You know who I think is overrated? Bob Dylan. Yeah, there it is. Don't hate me.

I would add Chris Knight

Bruce Springsteen
Jackson Browne
Neil Young
Tom Petty
Tom Waites
John Mellencamp
Brian Fallon
Bob Dylan
Ray La Montagne
Mark Knophler

I cant think of ten off the top of my head, and there has been a lot of my favorites mentioned already but I would like to add Gram Parsons. He had a short career but he was a huge influence on country and rock music.

Hendrix
Dylan
James Taylor
Neil Young
Steve Stills
Carole King
Zappa
Lennon
McCartney
Leonard Cohen

Isaac Hayes and David Porter
Stevie Wonder
Holland, Dozier, and Holland

Jerry Jeff Walker
John Prine
Hank Williams Sr
Dolly Parton
Roger Miller
Brad Paisley
George Harrison
Lennon & McCartney
Nat King Cole
Robert Johnson

Johnny Mercer
Lorenz Hart
Richard Rodgers
Cole Porter
Marty Robbins
John Prine
Willie Dixon
Percy Mayfield
Neil Finn
Paul Kelly

Bruce Springsteen
Jackson Browne
Neil Young
Tom Petty
Tom Waites
John Mellencamp
Brian Fallon
Bob Dylan
Ray La Montagne
Mark Knophler

Not cool. You took a bunch of mine, a few that narrowly missed out, and it appears you have my first name too. I challenge you to a duel!

Just kidding. Nice list.

The ones who's entire written catalog that have affected me the most in no particular order.

Harlan Howard
Hank Williams
Buck Owens
Johnny Cash
Dwight Yoakam
Waylon Jennings
Merle Haggard
Hank Williams III
Ray Scott
Marty Stuart

1 Lennon/McCartney
2 Paul Simon
3 Kate Bush
4 Roger Waters
5 Buddy Holly
6 Brian Wilson
7 George Harrison
8 Ray Davies
9 Jagger/Richards
10 John/Taupin (pre 1980)

Polly Harvey
Neil Hannon
David Bowie
Roger Waters
Elvis Costello
Kate Bush
Prince
Paul Weller
Neil Young
Andy Partridge (Though Colin Moulding wrote my favourite XTC song)

Welcome aboard SempreSami
I forgot about Prince.
He's a tremendous writer.


Just a quick question; Are you a marine?
(notice I didn't say "were you", I have learned thru the years
that all Marines have the same answer, "What do you mean "were"?
Once a Marine, always a Marine".)

Mine are the usual suspects listed many times above (Richard Thompson, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams, Hank Williams etc.).

Two more to add: Ron Sexsmith and Billy Bragg.

It's tough to limit them to ten, but here goes:

Steve Winwood
Roger Daltrey
David Gilmour
Paul McCartney
Alison Krauss
John Lennon
Ray Davies
Bonnie Raitt
Chris Cornell
Peter Gabriel

Welcome aboard SempreSami
I forgot about Prince.
He's a tremendous writer.


Just a quick question; Are you a marine?
(notice I didn't say "were you", I have learned thru the years
that all Marines have the same answer, "What do you mean "were"?
Once a Marine, always a Marine".)

Ta for the welcome Gary, and no, I'm not a marine! I just stick the Sempre in my username everywhere.

James Taylor
Paul Simon
Merle Haggard
John Lennon/Paul McCartney
George Harrison
Chris Difford/Glenn Tillbrook
Nick Lowe
Stephen Stills
Neil Young
Elvis Costello

In no particular order (this week anyway)-
Jay Farrar
Mike Cooley
Dave Alvin
Neil Young
Jagger/Richards
Robinson Brothers
Lucinda Williams
Bruce Springsteen
Tom Petty
Louris/Olsen

Great list.I would have to add Jeff Tweedy.

Nick Lowe
Tom Waits
Robbie Fulks
Jeff Tweedy
Paul Simon
Burt Bacharach
Dave Alvin
Lucinda Williams
Lennon/McCartney/Harrison
Strummer/Jones

Lennon and McCartney
Guy Clark
Jerry Jeff Walker
Steve Goodman
Townes Van Zandt
Warren Zevon
Lyle Lovett
George Harrison
Kris Kristofferson
Paul Simon

with Honorable Mention to
Merle Haggard
Tom T Hall

No particular order:

Hendrix
Townshend
Lennon/McCartney
Jagger/Richards
Dylan
Chris & Rich Robinson
Garcia/Hunter
Cash
Page/Plant
Zevon

No Order - and not really fair, because I used songwriting teams.

Elvis Costello
Jagger Richards
Lennon McCartney
Bob Dylan
Leon Russell
Lerner/Lowe
Johnny Mercer
Rodgers and Hart
Cole Porter
Frank Loesser

I really like Steve Earle, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Paul Weller, Lieber and Stoller, Andy Partridge, Frank Black, Becker and Fagen, Lol and Creme, Tom Waits

ah crap, maybe I better think about this for a while...

My Favorite Songwriters:

Dylan
Jimmy Webb
Fogerty
Robbie Robertson
Randy Stonehill
Logan Bazar

Jerome Kern
Benny Golson
Carol King
Jeff Tweedy
Cole Porter
Brian Wilson
Thelonious Monk
Pat Metheny
Hunter/Garcia
Bob Pollard

Glad to see other people put Dave Alvin in there.

1. Bob Dylan
2. Jimmie Rodgers
3. Hank Williams
4. Tom Waits
5. Warren Zevon
6. Townes Van Zandt
7. John Prine
8. Neil Young
9. Ray Davies
10. Willie Dixon

Hank Williams
Johnny Mercer
Ira Gershwin
Johnny Cash
Dylan
Lieber and Stoller
Fred Rose
Jimmy Webb
and many of the others already listed

Lots of good names listed, but have not seen the duo:


Henley, Frey




They should be in the top ten IMO.




Happy Thanksgiving to all.

George and Ira* Gershwin
Cole Porter
Rodgers/Hart
Bacharach/David
Jimmy Webb
Brian Wilson
Robbie Robertson
Lennon/McCartney
Hank Williams
Jerry Jeff Walker

I do have many more favories though.

*)@Panheadless: Ira was a lyricist - George was the composer. So I don't think Ira qualifies as a "songwriter" of his own.

Just the first 10 that come instantly to my mind, there are more:

Lieber/Stoller
Jagger/Richards
Lennon/McCartney
Bruce Springsteen
Bob Dylan
Noel Gallagher
Tom Waits
Johnny Cash
Jimi Hendrix
Strummer/Jones

Bruce Springsteen
Billie Joe Armstrong
Lennon/McCartney
Martin Sexton
Tom Petty
Neil Young
Bob Dylan
Eddie Vedder
Doug Feaver
Cash/Prine/Earle/Williams/Haggard

I won't bother giving ten as most of my fave's have already been mentioned, but a few others occurred to me that I haven't seen mentioned yet....apologies if I missed them

Bernie Taupin
Nick Drake
David Bowie
Bob Marley

I won't bother giving ten as most of my fave's have already been mentioned, but a few others occurred to me that I haven't seen mentioned yet....apologies if I missed them

Bernie Taupin
Nick Drake
David Bowie
Bob Marley

LOL....I just re-read this post and realized they'd all been mentioned save for Drake. Guess I need a coffee :shock::lol:

Oh I forgot Freddie Mercury/Queen and the guys from ABBA...seriously, some great songs there that sound good in a non-pop/rock setting too.

Bernie Taupin

Like Ira Gershwin Bernie is a lyricist, not a songwriter. Lyrics without a melodi is no song. Together with Elton John he's one half of a great songwriting team though.

Lots of good writer already given

I like Gene Clark
Willie Dixon
Mckinnley Morgenfield
Chester Burnett
Steve Cropper and his numerous co-writers
Mary-Chapin Carpenter
Rodney Crowell
Rosanne Cash

I love most of those mentioned, especially Jerome Kern, Dave Alvin, Merle Haggard, Hank Senior, Dylan, Prince. I didn't see these, but they may have been mentioned:

Stevie Wonder
Marvin Gaye
John Hiatt
Van Morrison
Curtis Mayfield
Dan Penn

Some great songwriters here so I'm just gonna mention a couple that haven't made it yet.
Billy Joe Shaver
Rhett Miller
Pete Seeger

Great lists here, no doubt.
I would add Loudon Wainwright III somewhere, definitively in my top 10.

Oh I forgot Freddie Mercury/Queen and the guys from ABBA...seriously, some great songs there that sound good in a non-pop/rock setting too.

Sheee-it - the guys from ABBA, how could anyone forget. Good call.

One of the all-time great choruses: SOS

George and Ira* Gershwin
Cole Porter
Rodgers/Hart
Bacharach/David
Jimmy Webb
Brian Wilson
Robbie Robertson
Lennon/McCartney
Hank Williams
Jerry Jeff Walker

I do have many more favories though.

*)@Panheadless: Ira was a lyricist - George was the composer. So I don't think Ira qualifies as a "songwriter" of his own.


Won't split hairs with a man of such obvious good taste. Good call on Bacharach. He made it look easy, and writing a good song is anything but easy.

1. Richard Thompson
2. Michael Stipe
3. David Byrne

The rest are in no order:

Daryl Hall
John Cale
Patti Smith
Ozzy Osbourne
Brian Wilson
Arto Lindsay
Phil Collins

In no particular order:

Shane MacGowan
Paul Westerberg
Gillian Welch
Pete Townshend
Lucinda Williams
Lennon/McCartney
Mark Knopfler
Robbie Fulks
Gary Louris/Mark Olsen
Nick Drake

Lennon/McCartney

Chilton/Bell

Bob Dylan

Lou Reed

Laura Nyro

Auer/Stringfellow

Sturmer/Manning

Brian Wilson

William Robinson, Jr.

Todd Rundgren

Rodney Crowell

Oh, and my distant cuz, Rodney. Wish that I had inherited some of the family mo-jo.

How about...

Buddy Holly
Bruce Springsteen
Paul Simon
Mark Knopfler
Lyle Lovett
Smokey Robinson
Jagger/Richards
Pete Townshend
Hoagy Carmichael
Billy Strayhorn

All at their best, of course, because everyone writes a few clunkers. Everyone except Buddy, that is, because I like everything he ever did.

Great lists. I'm just going to add Brent Best of Slobberbone to it. If you're not familiar and you like country. rock and folky type stuff. You need to hear this guy. Brilliant writer, IMHO.

Won't split hairs with a man of such obvious good taste.

I can guarantee you that has not stopped some on this forum in the past ... Hee, hee! :wink:

in no particular order my favs are


Bob Marley, Tony Iommi, Paul H.R. Hudson, Sting, Sam Cook, Ray Charles, Roger Waters, Robert Smith, Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker

I'm suprised that Billy Joel hasn't been mentioned at all. He surely qualifies as one of the great singer/songwriters of our time...... well I think so.......:cool:

I'm suprised that Billy Joel hasn't been mentioned at all. He surely qualifies as one of the great singer/songwriters of our time...... well I think so.......:cool:
I think he's very gifted, but I don't care for his music. It's the same with Dylan, too. Dylan's songs are always better covered by another artist, such as Fairport Convention and the Byrds. Every Joel cover I have heard has been some sappy rip-off, though. If there's one thing I will say about Billy J, it's that he's a magnificent performer who is fairly manly in his approach. I think everyone should watch his Inside the Actors Studio episode, because you see how humble he is.

I must mention, that while a song is much more than a riff, the greatest riff writer of all time is Jimmy Page. Period.

John Hiatt needs to be mentioned more, so

John Hiatt

I must mention, that while a song is much more than a riff, the greatest riff writer of all time is Jimmy Page. Period.

True, he's written legendary riffs, but he doesn't ***** them out. Tony Iommi would be my pick for that category.

Elliott Smith

Wow, thread shows impossibility of naming just 10...Wayne Carson Thompson and Hunter/Garcia and Leonard Cohen also deserve a mention

And how did we forget a few more from the Brill Building who wrote some of the best pop songs of my youth?

Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield
Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart
Neil Diamond

So many!

Lennon & McCartney
Paul Simon
Neil Finn
Gruff Rhys/Super Furry Animals
Brian Wilson
Bob Dylan
Jimi Hendrix
The Doors
Burt Bacharach
Buddy Holly
The Bee Gees (I don't think they get enough respect as writers)
Smokey Robinson
Carole King (with and without Gerry Goffin)
...

Yeah, already way past ten... :)

Lennon/ McCartney..Chuck Berry...Bob Dylan.... Hank Williams... Brian Wilson.... Others which would be mostly repeats..

Ok, so i'm cheating here, but bear with me.. (and in no particular order)

1)Beatles
2)Robert Johnson
3)Brill Building
4)Jagger/Richards
5)Motown(Smokey, if I have to pick one, but please don't make me pick one)
6)Plant/Page
7)Willie Dixon
8)Brian Wilson
9)Dylan/Hendrix tie(I know, I know, cheating)
10)John Fogerty(i'm sorry, but this guy does not get enough credit)

(more cheating)Honorable Mentions-the Boss,Gram Parsons,Sly Stone,Leonard Cohen,Kris Kristofferson,Lee"Scratch"Perry,Neil Young,Prince,Chuck Berry,Hank Williams,David Bowie,Beethoven(gotta have somebody classical),Kevin Shields,Charles Mingus,Tom Waits,Miles Davis..

Ok, well, I could keep doing this for hours, so I'm going to cut out now, while I still can. This is way harder to do than it looks!

kudos to the guy(or gal)who mentioned Elliot Smith. And the guy who mentioned Chester Burnett. Howlin' Wolf is the best!

And Jimmy Page mops the floor with Tony Iommi(who I love), but I mean, he really mops the floor with him...I'm still not convinced Jimmy Page isn't the best guitarist of all time..

In no order:

Warren Zevon
Robbie with Levon.
Zimmy.
Jimmy Webb.
Leiber & Stoller.
Holland/Dozier/Holland.
Whitfield/Strong.
Hank Williams.
Bart Howard.
Cole Porter.

Off the top of my head, in no particular order, here's my list:

Richard Thompson
The duo of Elton John and Bernie Taupin (the '70's era EJ)
Townes Van Zandt
Warren Zevon
Steve Earle
Jeff Tweedy of Wilco
The duo of Joe Strummer and Mick Jones of The Clash
Guy Clark
Tom Waits
The duo of Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley of the Drive By Truckers

I could go on and on...

Good thing the OP narrowed it down to 10, I guess.

In no particular order:

Syd Barrett (you can have your repetitive roger waters dross all you like - Syd was the true artist)
Jimi Hendrix (probably doesn't get enough respect in this sense)
Jim Morrison/The Doors
Tom Waits
Captain Beefheart
Roy Harper
Arthur Lee
Shane MacGowan
Bob Dylan (although the early to mid 60s stuff only for me)
Nick Drake

Lennon, Harrison, McCartney.

Johnny Mercer
Lorenz Hart
Richard Rodgers
Cole Porter
Marty Robbins
John Prine
Willie Dixon
Percy Mayfield
Neil Finn
Paul Kelly

"Dumb Things" off the Young Einstein soundtrack is one of my all time favorite songs.

Lennon & McCartney, Paul Simon, Elliott Smith, Neil Young, James Taylor, Warren Zevon, Stephen Stills, Cat Stevens, Gallagher & Lyle and Stipe/Buck/Mills. I think Elliott Smith deserves to be at the top of this list..... one day he we get the recognition.

In no particular order:

Kurt Cobain
John Lennon
Neil Young
Hank Williams Sr.
Brad Nowell
Jim Morrison
Bob Dylan
Elliott Smith
Shane McGowan
Frank Black/Black Francis

1 Clapton
2 SRV
3 John Mayer
4 John Butler
5 Ben Burnley-breaking benjamin
6 Corey Taylor-slipknot/stone sour
7 David Draiman/Dan Donegan-disturbed
8 Rob Beckley/Noah Henson-pillar
9 Rivers Cuomo-weezer
10 Tie between Evh/Diamond dave and Jon Foreman from switchfoot

Paul Westerberg
Bob Mould
Grant Hart
Joe Strummer
Mick Jones
Elvis Costello
Nick Lowe
John Doe
Joe Jackson
Paul Weller

Noel Gallagher & Lennon of course

Hank DeVito.

Chris Whitley........Rest in Peace

My best effort at songwriting. Written for an old stray who took up with me.

He's a pain in the a$$ cat
I said a pain in the a$$ cat
Gonna kill me that cat
Then gonna render his fat
Make me some soap
And put it on a rope

Catchy, huh? I'm not sure it would appeal to a wider audience than the cat, but at least he loves it.
Johnny Mercer's legacy is probably safe.

Lennon/McCartney (Yeah, they wrote individually, but as a duo they acted as "quality control"on each other)
Jimmy Webb
Bob Dylan
Joey Spampinato/Al Anderson/Terry Adams (Collectively as NRBQ)
James Taylor
Carole King (with and w/out Goffin)
Laura Nyro
Richard Thompson
Joni Mitchell
Carl Perkins

Ask me tomorrow, there will be different names on the list.

lot of reverence for the older stuff, but everyones mentioned most of my old faves. this is more modern (save for a few that are just too good to be ever left out)

Neil Young
Justin Vernon (Bon Iver)
http://slowstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/justin-vernon.jpg
Jeff Tweedy (Wilco)
George Harrison
David Bowie
Cass McCombs
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FzJWNVNNme0/TUIZIipzshI/AAAAAAAAAxc/ceVr_Y8tScQ/s1600/3764050743_af079ca8fe.jpg
Brian Wilson
Elvis Costello
Steve Drozd (Flaming Lips)
Bradford Cox (Deerhunter, Atlas Sound)
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Bradford+Cox+Apple+Store+Live+Soho+Presents+Qz8pvK 9vfNLl.jpg

A fewof my favorites I haven't seen:

Carter Stanley
Loretta Lynn
Sly Stone

No particular order:

Bob Dylan
Bobby Womack
Jimi Hendrix
Stevie Wonder
Brian Wilson
Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter
Elton John/Bernie Taupin
Holland/Dozier/Holland
John Lennon/Paul McCartney
James Taylor
John Fogerty
Bob Marley
...
might be missing a few, hard to think of them all.

Bob Dylan
Townes Van Zandt
Robbie Robertson
Randy Newman
Neil Young
Leonard Cohen
Curtis Mayfield
Hank Williams
Tim Hardin