# Music knowledge and bands you absolutely MUST recognize **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 2, 2009, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-knowledge-and-bands-you-absolutely-must-recognize/498479 "2009-06-02T13:05:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-knowledge-and-bands-you-absolutely-must-recognize/498479/81 "2009-06-03T17:01:44Z")
I’m surprised how many people haven’t heard of Kenny Wayne Sheppard. He was huge for awhile in the '90s. Was supposed to be the next big thing, the next Stevie Ray Vaughn, save rock’n’roll, the great white bluesman, etc etc. You’d probably know him if you heard him. He did that song blue on black, tears on a river, push on shove, it don’t mean much . . . ok I can’t sing as good as him but you get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-knowledge-and-bands-you-absolutely-must-recognize/498479/82 "2009-06-03T17:08:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by **RealityChuck** > Adding comments to the one I know of: > Jack Dejohnette – jazz keyboardist. > Quote: **It’s Not Rocket Surgery!** Close - jazz drummer. To be totally fair, Jack DeJohnette plays piano as well; I’ve never heard of him doing an entire concert without his drums there, but he does play. ---
**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:** [June 3, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-knowledge-and-bands-you-absolutely-must-recognize/498479/83 "2009-06-03T17:36:20Z")
I’m surprised so many people do not know the Atlanta Rhythm Section. They were pretty big back in the day. See if you recognize this (Youtube link): [So Into You - Atlanta Rhythm Section](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpPdLb69-qk) This was another big hit of theirs: [Spooky](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UngQVK7op4&feature=related) The Outlaws: There was the group mentioned, then the ‘supergroup’ of outlaw country stars. Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Tompall Glaser and Jesse Coulter. ‘Outlaw Country’ is a genre in its own right, containing country artists of the 70’s who moved away from the nashville/grand ole’ opry scene for a more raw, more roots-style country with hints of rock and blues. These include the four mentioned, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, and others. Modern descendents of the movement would be Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams. LIttle Feat was a very influential Southern Rock band, but didn’t really have any huge hits. They were more known for the quality of their playing, their concerts, and solid albums. Sort of a southern rock version of the Grateful Dead. Their lead singer was Lowell George, who went on to have a pretty big hit with “What do you want the girl to do?”. I couldnt’ find George singing it on Youtube, but here’s [Boz Scagg’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wj3wMjAXU8&feature=PlayList&p=B4C76F97EC8E691D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=45) cover of it. George was headed for stardom when he died of a heart attack at a very young age. Kenny Wayne Shepherd was huge for a while in the 90’s - seen as the second coming of Stevie Ray Vaughan. You might recall [Blue on Black](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee735pZ6kxk). He also had hits with “Somewhere, Some How, Some Way”, and “Everything is Broken”. Another person in the same category is [Jonny Lang](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DayCrQWJXuI&feature=related). Both of them were young phenoms. Jonny Lang did “Lie to Me” when he was 16 years old. That’s him singing, too. He has a voice that sounds about 80 years old. Kenny Wayne Shepherd did not do vocals. Trivia note: Jonny Lang’s sister was a contestant on American Idol this year, making it fairly far in the competition but not into the top 12. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-knowledge-and-bands-you-absolutely-must-recognize/498479/84 "2009-06-03T17:44:13Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Another person in the same category is [Jonny Lang](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DayCrQWJXuI&feature=related). Both of them were young phenoms. Jonny Lang did “Lie to Me” when he was 16 years old. That’s him singing, too. He has a voice that sounds about 80 years old. Kenny Wayne Shepherd did not do vocals. > > Trivia note: Jonny Lang’s sister was a contestant on American Idol this year, making it fairly far in the competition but not into the top 12. Know 'im, love 'im, in the collection. Did NOT know about the little sister. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-knowledge-and-bands-you-absolutely-must-recognize/498479/85 "2009-06-04T17:12:04Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > So the question is, how many bands _should_ the average person know about? And why? And how many of the bands in **DfrntBreign** ’s list do you recognize? Should age factor into it? I can’t speak for the average person, but I know a pantsload of bands. Why? because I like music. It, math, and food are the true universal languages on this planet. Most of the bands below featured something revolutionary in music. A certain chord progression. An off-beat flam. Strings in rock music. Just Plain Fun rock and roll. Power Ballads. Cowbell. Really cheesy or stupid band name. Untimely Death. Precursors to the crap that passes for music in 2009. Age is a factor. My musical tastes run from the 1940’s to the year 2000 (when, in my opinion, music jumped the shark), primarily thanks to parents that loved music from the 40s to the 70’s. These are the ones I recognize. Mahavishnu Orchestra Climax Blues Band Blue Oyster Cult Foghat Tommy Tutone Joan Jett Golden Earring Stevie Ray Vaughan Zebra Dokken Survivor Yngwie Malmsteen the Motels Robin Trower Guess Who Heart Fabulous Thunderbirds Foghat Atlanta Rhythm Section Outlaws Dave Mason Little Feat Jeff Beck Buddy Guy Eric Johnson Lynyrd Skynyrd Kenny Wayne Sheppard Joe Cocker I encourange those of you who don’t know these bands to go to [playlist.com](http://playlist.com) and give them a listen. The record industry is sitting on a lot a music from that past that needs to be heard. Try Dennis Coffey - Scorpio and Larry Graham/Graham Central Station - The Jam for some seriously old-school, real musicians playing real instruments, let it all hang out jam session funk. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-knowledge-and-bands-you-absolutely-must-recognize/498479/86 "2009-06-04T17:17:58Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > LIttle Feat was a very influential Southern Rock band, but didn’t really have any huge hits. They were more known for the quality of their playing, their concerts, and solid albums. Sort of a southern rock version of the Grateful Dead. Their lead singer was Lowell George, who went on to have a pretty big hit with “What do you want the girl to do?”. I couldnt’ find George singing it on Youtube, but here’s [Boz Scagg’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wj3wMjAXU8&feature=PlayList&p=B4C76F97EC8E691D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=45) cover of it. George was headed for stardom when he died of a heart attack at a very young age. I mostly know Little Feat through a long and elaborate story my high school English teacher told us that centered around her pretending to like Little Feat in order to impress a guy when she was in college, even though she had no idea who they were. Of course, I’ve looked them up since then, 'cause it was a really good story. > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Kenny Wayne Shepherd did not do vocals. :eek: Wat. I did not know this. Who is that singing? ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-knowledge-and-bands-you-absolutely-must-recognize/498479/87 "2009-06-04T17:19:10Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > It’s funny - I’m currently working on a project very similar to this (I hesitate to be more specific until the proposal is accepted) and the only artist on both the list in the OP and my list is Sun Ra. > > I recognize most of the list, but would hardly claim even 90% of them are “must-know” - Saxon? Zebra? Fastway? All second-rate NWOBHM/hard rock (from the 80s, no less, when they didn’t have the same excuse as the 70s bands doing the same thing). Arbitrary picks, too - why not have Trust or the Tygers of Pan Tang or another equally non-influential act in there? > Survivor? Heart? Corporate rock of no discernible consequence. I don’t think anybody but middle-aged guitar players consider Jeff Beck or Yngwie Malmsteen worth listening to. And on and on. > > Not to say no one on the list has any merit, but almost none of it is “essential” music knowledge. I’m NOT a guitar player, and since I intend to live to be 120, I’m not middle-aged. Name a guitarist today (not including Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, and Joe Satriani) that could hold Yngwie or Jeff’s jock. That person’s musical style would not have been acceptable without five aforementioned men. The five aforementioned men’s style would not have been acceptable if Jimi hadn’t opened the door first. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-knowledge-and-bands-you-absolutely-must-recognize/498479.md?page=4)