More Than the Grammys? The Music Pantheon

As you may know, I'm a lifelong music-lover and musician that comes from long line of music-loving musicians. I grew up surrounded by the sounds of my grandmother–a charter member of the USO–singing and playing jazz tunes from her career in WWII, while my mom, aunts, and uncles strummed, played, and sang the music of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, and a bunch of other stuff (from the very famous to the very random, like my mom's cover of Patsy Cline's "Crazy," my Aunt Terese's renditions of "Teddy Bear Picnic" and the waltz from the 1951 Scrooge, starring Alistair Sim, and my Uncle Joe's hilarious "Mama, Yo Quiero").

As for me, I started playing the piano and singing with my grandmother when I was very young. Over the years, I took up the piano–first classically and then branching out into jazz and rock–trumpet, percussion, voice, and a bunch of other things. I've tried my hand at rock, classical music, conducting, composing, and just about everything else (to varying degrees of success). Needless to say, music has always been and will always be a central part of my identity.

So, with another Grammys behind us, I thought I'd give my take on a few things musical, in the form of what I want to call THE MUSICAL PANTHEON, a possibly-controversial table showing who I think ranks where in the musical stratosphere. Because you know, it's easy to get caught up in NOW! THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC 3,458 and forget just how much work and talent it takes to "make it," and I think it's worth remembering–albeit with limits–the great women and men who have shaped the music industry making it the sometimes praiseworthy and sometimes ludicrous thing it is today.

Let me know what you think, and I'll add your suggestions to the chart (this definitely isn't exhaustive, or disagree with you and start Twitter wars that put Iggy to shame.

Without further adieu, here goes!

---

THE OLYMPIAN GODDESSES

Those women permanently enshrined in music history.

Ella Fitzgerald, Queen of Jazz and Mother of the Gods

Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul and Queen of the Gods

Diana Ross, Queen of the 60's

Whitney Houston, Queen of the Belt

Céline Dion, Co-Queen of the Belt

Madonna, Queen of Pop

Janet Jackson, Co-Queen of Pop

Stevie Nicks, Queen of Rock

Dolly Parton, Queen of Country

---

THE LESSER GODDESSES

Those women permanently enshrined in music history, 

but on a slightly lower rung than the Olympians.

Patti LaBelle

Dionne Warwick

Minnie Riperton

Patsy Cline

Loretta Lynn
Janis Joplin

Gloria Estefan

Christina Aguilera
Shakira

Mariah Carey

Jennifer Lopez

Mary J. Blige

Kelly Clarkson

Carrie Underwood

---

THE DEMIGODDESSES

One foot in heaven, one foot on earth, or:

Sure to be enshrined, but final verdict to be seen.

Beyoncé, the Greatest of the Demigoddesses
Taylor Swift
Rihanna
Jessie J
Katy Perry
Adele

---

THE NYMPHS

Starlets, making their way–but will they stay or will they go?

My predictions below.

Colbie Caillat–might be, but probably off-mainstream. Time will tell.
Ariana Grande–With some diction lessons, maybe.

Selena Gomez–No.

Meghan Trainor–Has a good shot.
Ellie Goulding–Signs point to yes. Talented live, which helps.

Ella Henderson–I hope so, but most likely with Colbie.

Tove Lo–One hit wonder.

---

THE FALLEN ANGELS
Known once, but likely to fade from memory.

Macy Gray
Lady Gaga
Norah Jones

---

THE GODDESSES OF OFF-MAINSTREAM

The greatest singer-songwriters;

goddesses in their own right, but not mainstream.

Cyndi Lauper

Joni Mitchell

Sara Bareilles

Ingrid Michaelson

Rachelle Ferrell

---

THE OLYMPIAN GODS

Those men (singers and musicians) permanently enshrined in music history.

Buddy Holly, Grandfather of the Gods
Elvis Presley, Whose Hips Didn't Lie Before Shakira's
Marvin Gaye, Father King of the Gods
Eric Clapton
Bob Dylan
Paul McCartney and John Lennon (or The Beatles), and not without George (not R.R.) Martin
Stevie Wonder
Sting
Steven Tyler
Bono and The Edge (or U2)
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (or The Rolling Stones)
Michael Jackson, King of Pop

---

THE LESSER GODS

Those men permanently enshrined in music history, 

but on a slightly lower rung than the Olympians.

Sam Cooke
Michael McDonald
James Brown
Jim Morrison (or The Doors)
John Fogerty
CSNY
Neil Young
Joey Ramone (or The Ramones)
Elton John
Billy Joel
Bruce Springsteen
Usher
Tim McGraw

---

THE DEMIGODS

One foot in heaven, one foot on earth, or:

Sure to be enshrined, but final verdict to be seen.

Bruno Mars
Justin Timberlake
Adam Levine (with Maroon 5)
Ryan Tedder (with OneRepublic)
Luke Bryan
Brad Paisley
Lady Antebellum

---

THE SATYRS

Starlets, making their way–but will they stay or will they go?

My predictions below.

Pharrell–Already proven as a producer. Let's see what he can give. I say yes.
Ed Sheeran–He has talent to last a lifetime. Sorry the Grammys didn't give him something.
Hozier–Probably, but off-mainstream.
Sam Smith–Successful first album, but can he do something else? We'll see.
Jason Aldean–It's likely, though only in the country market.

---

THE FALLEN ANGELS
Known once, but in danger fading from memory.

CeeLo Green
Ted Nugent

---

THE GODS OF OFF-MAINSTREAM

The greatest singer-songwriters;

gods in their own right, but not mainstream.

Carlos Santana 

Jason Mraz

Johnny Cash

Davd Bowie

Bob Marley

---

What say you? Am I wrong, right, or somewhere in between?

Make your mark on music history (or this post). Say what you think!