Janis Joplin. No other chick comes close, she was taking the legacies of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday et al to the next level. Monterrey pop, 1967, 'Ball and Chain' - one of the greatest all time performances by anyone, anywhere.......
Aretha and Otis. The Queen and King of tearin your heart outta your chest and settin it out on the table in front of ya so you can see it throbbin to the beat as proof you're alive.
I can't believe noone has mentioned Willie Dixon. He wrote songs like Hoochie Coochie Man, House of the Rising Sun & Backdoor Man. Janis is my #1 girl though. Always was always will be! Im also very influenced by the late great Jimi Hendrix. Otis was just amazing...I'll throw in Wilson Pickett into the mix since i'm a big fan of his work.
i know this thread has had no action in almost 6 years...but i just have to mention a song that i have heard many many many times.....and everytime i hear it, it does exactly that....it gives me chills. And the amazing thing about it is that it has no words in it at all... It's Stevie Ray Vaughn's instrumental version of Jimi Hendrix's "little wing". the emotional "ride" that he takes you on with his guitar is, well.... beyond words.