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LinkedMusicians List of Greatest Living American Songwriters

Forums › ALL THINGS MUSIC › LinkedMusicians List of Greatest Living American Songwriters

  • This topic has 5 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 6 days ago by LinkedMusicians.
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  • May 23, 2026 at 8:56 pm #1000049067
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      My list of the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters.

      1. Stevie Wonder
      2. Billy Joel
      3. Paul Simon
      4. Bob Dylan
      5. Randy Newman
      6. James Taylor
      7. Brian & Eddie Holland
      8. Carole King
      9. Jimmy Webb
      10. Don Henley
      11. Lionel Richie
      12. Ben Folds
      13. Dan Wilson
      14. Robert Lamm
      15. John Hiatt
      16. Bruce Springsteen
      17. Donald Fagen
      18. Todd Rundgren
      19. Jeff Tweedy
      20. Bob Seger
      21. Kerry Livgren
      22. Dolly Parton
      23. Willie Nelson
      24. Smokey Robinson
      25. Boz Scaggs
      26. Stephen Stills
      27. Graham Nash
      28. Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley
      29. Michael McDonald
      30. Paul Williams

      I would put Madison Cunnigham on the list; however, I didn’t because, while I think her songwriting quality is worthy of being on the list, she has yet to achieve the level of influence of the older songwriters on the list.I’m also going to put Aimee Mann, Jon Brion, and Rick Neilsen on the honorable mention list.

      What’s your list?

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      3
      May 25, 2026 at 12:40 am #1000049076
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        I mostly agree with you Peter, I’ll only add

        Neil Diamond
        Jesse Winchester
        Lyle Lovett

        • This reply was modified 6 days, 3 hours ago by bapu.

        My name is Ed. I Am still bapu though. My Studio

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        1
        May 25, 2026 at 5:34 am #1000049078
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          On May 25, 2026 at 12:40 am bapu said

          I mostly agree with you Peter, I’ll only add

          Neil Diamond
          Paul McCartney
          John Lennon

          It’s my take on the NY Times framework, the 30 best living American songwriters. If it included deceased songwriters or songwriters outside the US, there’s no way I could keep it to 30 and McCartney and Lennon would be at the top of the list.

          Neil Diamond was one I debated putting on. He probably should be there.

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          May 26, 2026 at 3:45 am #1000049084
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            On May 25, 2026 at 5:34 am LinkedMusicians said
            On May 25, 2026 at 12:40 am bapu said

            I mostly agree with you Peter, I’ll only add

            Neil Diamond
            Jesse Winchester
            Lyle Lovett

            It’s my take on the NY Times framework, the 30 best living American songwriters. If it included deceased songwriters or songwriters outside the US, there’s no way I could keep it to 30 and McCartney and Lennon would be at the top of the list.

            Neil Diamond was one I debated putting on. He probably should be there.

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            I revised my list

            • This reply was modified 6 days, 3 hours ago by bapu.

            My name is Ed. I Am still bapu though. My Studio

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            May 26, 2026 at 3:48 am #1000049086
            bapu
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              Graham Nash ain’t American Peter 😉

              My name is Ed. I Am still bapu though. My Studio

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              May 26, 2026 at 6:50 am #1000049087
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                On May 26, 2026 at 3:48 am bapu said

                Graham Nash ain’t American Peter 😉

                Nash is indeed an American. He became a US citizen during the 1970s.

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