# I never knew they were \*that\* good - artists with under reported skills **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [July 27, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663 "2022-07-27T18:32:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/41 "2022-07-29T02:36:41Z")
Barbara Mandrell is mostly known as a singer, but she can play a lot of instruments. The one I’m most impressed with is her ability on the pedal steel. I own a couple I can barely play. She rocks it hard. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/x2M_J16z9sk/hqdefault.jpg "Barbra Mandrell - Steel Guitar Rag") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2M_J16z9sk) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/42 "2022-07-29T04:44:33Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Thanks for sending me down a Martin Mull/ Flo & Eddie rabbit hole My pleasure. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/43 "2022-07-29T16:55:59Z")
Sauron? Sauron?! I thought we’d gotten rid of that ring years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/44 "2022-07-29T22:54:44Z")
I’ll be amazed if anyone recognizes this artist, standing next to one of his paintings, but dopers of a certain age will have heard of him. [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxdJIF4XgAETb_d?format=jpg&name=large) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxdJIF4XgAETb_d?format=jpg&name=large) That’s Vinko Bogataj, Immortalized as the “agony of defeat” ski jumper on _Wide World of Sports_. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/45 "2022-08-01T12:26:17Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@Sauron](#): > > > > This may not be what you’re looking for, but … > > > > In addition to Roy Clark, another artist many guitar players refer to in reverent tones is one you might not suspect: Glen Campbell. - > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUBhE00h9U0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUBhE00h9U0) > The two legends together > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v\_kbgjsuCec](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_kbgjsuCec) - A better video of Roy playing Ghost Riders that truly shows what a monster he was. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/T-tPXPL2zf0/maxresdefault.jpg "Roy Clark - Ghost Riders In The Sky 1988") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-tPXPL2zf0) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/46 "2022-08-01T21:25:17Z")
I kinda missed The Stones as a kid (I was a bit too young); so things others may know very well can take me by surprise. Harmonica on Gimme Shelter? Wiki says it was Mick. I had no idea he could do that. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/RbmS3tQJ7Os/maxresdefault.jpg "The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (Official Lyric Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbmS3tQJ7Os) Save the wail! j ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/47 "2022-08-01T21:52:03Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Harmonica on Gimme Shelter? Wiki says it was Mick. I had no idea he could do that. There seem to be a lot of lead singers who play harmonica on just a small handful of songs (e.g. [John Lennon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp63A_-0XUU), [Ray Davies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juHldNxP9Yc)). George Harrison played the Dylanesque harmonica on [“Apple Scruffs.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw-ky3BvAFI) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/48 "2022-08-01T23:35:48Z")
Mick has always played harmonica. I have no idea if he’s technically accomplished but I really like some of his solos. My favorite is MIck’s closing at 3:05 in “Spider And The Fly” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vdjjPzuZsU8/maxresdefault.jpg "The Rolling Stones - The Spider And The Fly (Official Lyric Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdjjPzuZsU8) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/49 "2022-08-02T10:21:27Z")
He also blows a mean harp on “Stop Breaking Down”. On top of that, he also plays guitar more often (especially in the studio) than most people think. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NnDpW5vpbDY/hqdefault.jpg "The Rolling Stones - Stop Breaking Down") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnDpW5vpbDY) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/50 "2022-08-02T14:12:48Z")
Almost all of those British frontmen had harmonica chops back in the Sixties. Check out Roger Daltrey’s solo at 4:00. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LDknRxdHNog/maxresdefault.jpg "The Who - Baba O'Riley (Live)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDknRxdHNog) ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/51 "2022-08-02T15:19:46Z")
Not sure if this counts, because she’s a professional singer to begin with, but Melanie Chisholm – better known as Mel C. of the Spice Girls. I had put the Spice Girls down as just a bubblegum pop group, fun but nothing special. But in 2010, Mel C. sang Mary Magdalene in a production of _Jesus Christ Superstar_. I came across her performance of “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”, and holy moly – she _killed_ it. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lw5HdK8_p6w/maxresdefault.jpg "I Don't Know How to Love Him - Mel C | Jesus Christ Superstar") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw5HdK8_p6w) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/52 "2022-08-02T15:31:35Z")
A blues or rock harmonica is not hard to play. They are typically diatonic instruments that will only play notes in one key. If you play the harmonica of the same key as the song, you can’t play a wrong note. You might not be able to play the exact pattern you want, but if you miss the note you want the one you actually play will still sound okay. Really easy to improvise as well, for the same reason. That’s probably why so,many singers pick up the harmonica. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/53 "2022-08-02T16:27:38Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > If you play the harmonica of the same key as the song, you can’t play a wrong note. Blues harp is generally ‘cross harp,’ i.e. you would play a C harp for a blues in G. The wrong notes are there, all right. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/54 "2022-08-02T17:20:53Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > He also blows a mean harp on “Stop Breaking Down”. On top of that, he also plays guitar more often (especially in the studio) than most people think. In fact, the guitars in _that very song_ are Mick Taylor and Mick Jagger. Keith doesn’t play anything in “Stop Breaking Down.” ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/55 "2022-08-02T18:03:10Z")
You got me there! I didn’t know or remember this fact, respectively, but I checked my copy of “The Rolling Stones-All The Songs” and this confirmed that Jagger played the rhythm guitar on this track. It just sounds so much like a typical rhythm Keith would play that I wouldn’t have given it to Mick. Shows that they learned from each other. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/56 "2022-08-03T01:04:31Z")
I was shocked when I found out, just a couple of years ago. SBD has long been one of my favorite Stones songs and I had always taken it for granted that it was Keith. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/57 "2022-08-03T01:18:15Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I will posit Karen Carpenter. IIRC, sometime in the last 1-3 years a Doper posted quite a long and informative story about her life and the injustices she suffered. Was that you? It was a real eye-opener and completely changed how I felt about her as an artist, as well as providing an instructive and tragic tale about how familial, social and economic forces can interact in destructive ways. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/58 "2022-08-03T01:42:01Z")
Nat King Cole is undoubtedly known for his velvet voice, but he was a fantastic jazz pianist. As he fame grew he highlighted his singing more and more, but he was pretty amazing on the ivories. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7ytok8dRGEc/hqdefault.jpg "Nat King Cole - Tea For Two") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ytok8dRGEc) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/59 "2022-08-03T02:08:38Z")
Charlie Chaplin was quite good as a music composer. He wrote the music for all his sound films. Since he didn’t read music or play an instrument, he hummed the tunes for others to take down. One piece from _Modern Times_ was “Smile.” Lyrics were added and it became a standard after Nat King Cole recorded it. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YynxFjMXF1Y/maxresdefault.jpg "Smile - Charlie Chaplin - Nat King Cole") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YynxFjMXF1Y) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663/60 "2022-08-03T03:54:12Z")
As beautiful as his voice was, I much prefer his earlier piano recordings. I think he was one of the greatest jazz pianists. Favorite recording: “What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DzzbzKSR6ps/maxresdefault.jpg "What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry? (1946 Version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzzbzKSR6ps) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-knew-they-were-that-good-artists-with-under-reported-skills/968663.md?page=4)