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singer•songwriter•song-interpreter•teacher guitar•banjo•uke
Email:
reachrobin@robingreenstein.com
Phone: 917-822-8809
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Robin Greenstein + Cecilia Kirtland
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Recession Pricing – only $10! (listen below)
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“Songs of the Season” is a CD of music from a show that Robin Greenstein, along with Cecilia Kirtland, has been performing for the past decade in the NY metro area. It is a multi-cultural, multi-lingual collection of music from the major winter celebrations of Yule, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year’s, sung in English, Spanish, German, Hebrew, Ladino, Yiddish and Yoruban.
Robin and Cecilia go back to the Guitar Workshop in Roslyn, NY, a legendary music school where they were both guitar students, and eventually teachers. Their friendship spans decades and they have made music and sung together over the years. Around 2000, in response to a booking request, they put together a concert program based on their respective holiday traditions and “Songs of the Season” was born. Robin is Jewish and grew up with the music of Hanukkah and Eastern Europe. Cecilia’s mother is Chilean, so her Christmases had a hispanic influence. Their love of folk music led them to incorporate other ethnic music from Germany, Sweden, Puerto Rico, the Baltics, etc. The CD has a combination of holiday favorites along with some new classics, music for Kwanzaa and an original Hanukkah song by Robin. For more information on their show, which they have performed at dozens of libraries, schools, colleges, historical societies, etc, click here. The CD runs 45 minutes in length and features Robin and Cecilia’s gorgeous harmony vocals and intricate guitar arrangements. You can purchase “Songs of the Season” directly from this website. Digital Downloads are available at CDBaby and other digital e-tailers. |
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Song Listings:
1. Winter Wonderland (F. Bernard/R.Smith) / Deck The Halls (trad. Yule) All songs traditional, arranged and adapted by Robin Greenstein and Cecilia Kirtland, except where noted |
Musicians include
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Safe online purchasing of hard copy CDs is available through Paypal.com |
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Sound Clips:
1. Winter Wonderland/Deck The Halls – Yule
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YOU CAN PURCHASE DIGITAL DOWNLOADS at CDBaby Or you can purchase the hard copy CD here.
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Images of Women, Vol. 2
(purchase digital downloads by scrolling down to the bottom of the page) |
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Volume 2 picks up where Vol. 1 left off, with more songs from Robin’s concert-lecture of the same name. It is nearly an hour of music and has 14 traditional Anglo and Afro-American folk songs, all about or by women, sung by Robin and performed on banjo and guitar with bass, percussion, fiddle, harmonica and more.
New in Volume 2 are a few contemporary songs (composed 20th Century) by such luminaries as Peggy Seeger and Christine Lavin. There is also the iconic song “Union Maid” by Woody Guthrie. On this CD you will find such classic folk and blues songs as “Frankie and Johnny”, “Sweet Betsy From Pike”, “Come All You Fair And Tender Ladies”, “I Never Will Marry” and others. The CD is available here. You can also purchase it at CDBaby and digital e-tailers everywhere. |
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Song Listings:
1. Sweet Betsy From Pike (3:07) All songs traditional, arranged and adapted by Robin Greenstein except where noted |
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Click here to buy hard copies of the CD. You can listen to sound clips of each song by clicking on the arrow in the red circle to the left of each title. |
Lyrics and notes for
Vol. 2
click on a song for the lyrics and notes
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I’m pleased to offer another musical side of myself which features my love of traditional folk music. This CD also features more banjo than my previous recordings, as well as lots of solo acoustic finger-style guitar.
These songs are part of a concert-lecture I have been performing for many years called “Images of Women in Folk Music” at colleges, universities and other venues. They include classic American and Anglo-American folk songs, from ballads to blues. This CD is an expansion of a 7-song cassette I did a number of years ago. Many of those songs were re-recorded along with many new songs I have added to the program. Joining me musically is Barry Wiesenfeld on acoustic and electric bass, Richard Sleigh on harmonica and Charlie Rury on fiddle. There is some percussion but no drrums. The CD is a departure from my first two CDs in that it’s very acoustic, with very few instruments and no drums. Song lyrics are only available here at the website. Song Listing (all songs public domain unless indicated otherwise): 1. The Wagoner’s Lad (intro) “Images of Women” can be purchased as a hard copy CD at my recordings page directly from me via online credit card charge, mailing in an order form, or at CDBaby.com. You can also purchase individual songs as digital downloads, or the entire album (digitally) by clicking on the tracks below: We’ve recorded so much material that this will be a multi-volume set. Vol. 2 coming in late 2009!
“Before hearing this recording, I had only known Robin Greenstein as a singer-songwriter. It turns out she once studied with the great Hedy West and, as she reveals on this set, she is, herself, a very impressive interpreter of traditional folk songs. With the exception of West’s “Cotton Mill Girls”, all of the songs here are traditional, all are performed in traditionally-oriented styles, and all are primarily about women. The women in many of these songs are tragic figures. There’s the regretful wife who wishes she were a single girl again, the suicidal lovers in “Katie Dear” – a variant of “Silver Dagger” – the battered, murdered woman in “The Wind and Rain” and the young mother who deserts her baby and husband, the house carpenter, to run away with a seaman, only to drown when his ship sinks. There’s also the rich man’s wife who deserts her husband to run off with Blackjack Davy and the wife of the farmer who was too much trouble for the Devil himself. Among my favorite tracks are a bluesy version of “I Know You Rider” that’s reminiscent of Hot Tuna’s arrangement and a lovely version of the lonesome lament “Dink’s Song (Fare Thee Well).” Greenstein complements her comfortable-sounding vocals with some fine guitar and banjo playing. She also sparingly uses a synthesizer for added texture and receives some tasteful support from Barry Wiesenfeld on bass Richard Sleigh on harmonica and fiddler Charlie Rury. As she implies in the album title, she’s planning to release a second volume of traditional songs in the future. I’m eagerly awaiting it.”. ( Mike Regenstreif for SING OUT Magazine) |
Lyrics and credits for
Vol. 1
click on a song for the lyrics
Released in 1994, this CD features 12 original songs as well as a unique version of “Someone To Watch over Me” and “Bye Bye Blackbird.” This is Robin’s most pop sounding album with a full production including horns and winds, and features many of NY’s finest musicians: Tony Conniff, Robbie Kondor, Michael Wolff, Drew Zingg, Frank Vilardi,Warren Odze, Ronnie Lawson, Lou Cortelezzi, Bob Malach and others. Available through Windy Records in the USA and Brambus records for territories outside the US.
Song Listing (All songs by Robin Greenstein unless otherwise noted): 1. New York Blues |
Robin, who has been compared with such greats as Karla Bonoff, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor and Carole King, balances personal songwriting with a pop sensibility and stellar singing to create an amalgam of funky, folky, bluesy, acoustic-based pop music which can break your heart in one minute and make you smile the next.
Slow Burn, recorded at Secret Sound and Evergreen Studios in NYC, features 9 originals (including her American Song Festival award-winner) and one cover song, an unusual arrangement of the Gershwin classic Someone to Watch Over Me. While Robin tours nationally as a solo or with an accompanist, this album features sterling back-up by many musicians who have played with her locally since her early days in New York and are now some of the hottest session/touring musicians in the City. They include bassist co-producer Tony Conniff (Phobe Snow, Golden Palominos, Longhouse), keyboardist Robbie Kondor (Bee Gees, Carole King, Linda Rondstadt, Bette Midler, etc.) synth player Ronnie Lawson (Joan Jett); pianist Michael Wolff (bandleader, Arsenio Hall show); drummers Frank Vilardi (Suzanne Vega, Curtis Steigers, Grace Pool) and Warren Odze (Judy Collins); sax player Lou Cortelezzi (Peter Allen, Dan Fogelberg, Billy Joel); Guitarist Drew Zingg (Steely Dan), singers Margaret Dorn and Millie Whiteside (Longhouse, Robert Plant & Diana Ross among countless others), singer/player Janice Hubbard (children’s group Parachute Express), engineer Hahn Rowe (WB act Hugo Largo), etc. All these musicians came together to offer their talents in creating unique musical arrangements (see LP liner notes).
Many of the songs in Slow Burn reflect Robin’s experiences living in Europe as a music student in the late 70’s as well as her subsequent adventures in new York. With songs about London (“Living Your Life Alone”), Paris, Amsterdam and New York, The LP takes on an international flavor, yet, at the same time other songs such as “Slow Burn”, “Searching” and “He Always Liked the Ladies” have a distinctly American, folky, country quality.
In 1991 Slow Burn was re-released on CD in Europe by Brambus Records, a Swiss record label. 4 additional songs were recorded for the CD release including 3 originals and a ragtime version of “Bye Bye Blackbird.” Additional musicians for these tracks (only available on the CD version) include Mark Shulman (guitarist for Suzanne Vega) and acoustic guitarist Dave Hull (Flying Fish Recording artist). As of 1995 Slow Burn is only available in the U.S. on Windy Records and in Europe through Brambus. A distribution deal with Band Together Records in the U.S. is pending. SLOW BURN has been described as “music to relax to, music to cry by, music to make out to”.
For more information, please call Robin Greenstein at Windy Records (877) 374-9033
or Email her at: windyrec@aol.com
Fast Folk Musical Magazine
Released in 2000, this CD has 12 songs, 11 originals and a song by Bob Dylan, played on banjo. Produced by Rob Friedman. Core band: Robin, Rob Friedman, Doug Yowell and Michael Visceglia, with other guests. Two of the tracks were recorded in New Orleans with members of Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown’s band.
Song Listing (all songs by Robin Greenstein unless otherwise noted): 1. New Kick Now |
THE NEW CD FROM ROBIN GREENSTEIN : ACOUSTICNESS
Robin Greenstein is a multi-talented singer/songwriter from New York
City whose music merges many influences. She’s been compared with such
greats as James Taylor, Karla Bonoff, Bonnie Raitt and Carole King.
Robin is quite popular on the college circuit, performing at over 30
campuses a year.
Her many songwriting accomplishments include: signed as a writer for two
years to Bob Dylan’s publishing company; two songs on the debut album of
Atlantic Recording artist Janice Payson; two appearances on Fast Folk
CDs; and chosen on her first go-round for the 1989 Kerrville Festival
New Folk showcase. Robin has performed in over 44 states as well as
Europe, Japan and Mexico. She tours Denmark every summer.
“I was tired of people always asking me what kind of music I played, so
I wrote a song about it. I call my music Acousticness.”
Robin’s new CD “Acousticness” shows that while her roots are in
traditional folk (she plays both guitar & 5- string banjo) her personal
style fuses many genres. “Acousticness” features a full rhythm section
based around her accomplished acoustic guitar style. Traditional
instruments (harmonica, banjo, mandolin) mesh beautifully with
contemporary keyboards and electric guitars. Of course, a CD by Robin
wouldn’t be complete without wonderful harmonies. The title song is a
celebration of musical influences, and defines her music; a style that
is rooted in acoustic folk & blues music, but contains elements of rock,
pop, country, R&B and jazz.
Awards and Distinctions
1989 – Kerrville Folk Festival, finalist, New Folk Competition
1993 – Touring Artist for Penn State Cultural Arts Series
1993 – Nominated Best Female Entertainer, Campus Activities Today
Reader’s Choice Awards
1994 – First European Tour
1995 – Riverbank Folk Festival Competition – winner
1996 – New Jersey Folk Festival New Folk Competition – winner
New Folk Showcase, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Showcased at Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Convention, Nov.
Appeared on Montel Williams show
1998 – Appeared on Songs.com. s MP3 compilation (first of its kind)
1999 – Received Outstanding Associate Member Award, NACA’s East Coast Region.
Musicians featured on ACOUSTICNESS :
* Rob Friedman (producer, guitars, keyboards, percussion) Produced acts for SONY Canada
including Juno Award winners Melanie Doane and Kevan Jordan; the November Project
Columbia Records). Hit songwriter (“Don’t Shed A Tear” – int. l Top 10 hit for Paul Carrack)
* Doug Yowell – Drums (Sophie B. Hawkins, David Benoit, Richard Julian)
* Michael Visceglia – Bass player (Suzanne Vega)
* Bob Meehan – Harmonica (Stained Grass Window)
* Aske Jacoby – Electric Guitar. Well known player in his native Denmark with two CDs.
* Cecilia Kirtland, Frank Rendo, Eva Sklar background vocals
Clarence Gatemouth Brown’s band, Gate’s Express, plays on tracks #9 and #10:
* Joe Krown – piano
* David Peters – drums
* Harold Floyd – bass
TRACK LIST and general description:
(unless noted, all songs by Robin Greenstein and published by Tuddy and Pokey Music, BMI) &
1) New Kick Now (4:28) – pop-folk tongue-in-cheek break-up song.
2) Acousticness (5:22) a celebration of musical influences. A story song of sorts, in a funky bluesy riff,
replete with nods to musical greats of all eras .
3) I’ ll Be There (Anytime At All) (4:31) – a song about parenting and motherhood. Catchy chorus.
4) Tomorrow’ s A Brand New Day (4:20) quieter philsophical song about optimism.
5) Did Ya Know (4:16) a sexy groove tune about…. Well it’s sexy
6) Cry For the Lonely (4:28) up-tempo country rock
7) You’ re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Bob Dylan) (2:57) – the classic Dylan song from the
“Blood On The Tracks” album reinterpreted on banjo.
8) Let Go (4:15) -often requested, a philosophy of life song of personal experiences.
9) West Coast Swing (3:20) – A shuffle blues, Recorded in New Orleans, this is a song about a
dance style that is sister to East Coast Swing(Lindy) dancing. It is also written in the dance style
itself and can be danced to (like The Twist).
10) The Boys From Fargo (3:15)- Little Feat influence here on a rollicking tribute to men from the midwest.
11) Can’t Lose With You (Robin Greenstein/Janice Payson) (4:30)- classic pop/folk ballad, gospel treatment.
12) Sacred Song (4:20) – quiet pensive homage to friendship, filled with images from folk music.
Most Acoustic Cuts: #7 (Dylan song) and #11 (Sacred Song)
Songs with banjo: #2 Acousticness and #7 (Dylan song)
Most up tempo: #6 (Cry For The Lonely)
Danceable: #6 (country), #9 (swing) #10 (swing)
Best sing-along choruses: #1, #3, #6 #11
KEY MARKETING DATA
Full national press effort
In-store play CD/CS available
Tour in planning stages
Posters (2 or 4-color)
Color postcards, color buttons
Acousticness is initially being released on Windy Records in the U.S.,
and tentatively by Brambus Records in Europe.
CDs have internet distribution via SONGS.COM or by called 1-800 BUYMYCD.
for more info please contact Robin:
Windy Records
216 W. 89th St., #10C
New York, NY 10024
(212) 877-2662 fax (212) 877-3105
e-mail: windyrec@aol.com
Originally designed for the college market, Robin is bringing Coffeehouse Karaoke to other venues and private parties. Coffeehouse Karaoke is an interactive show with Robin where participants get up and sing with her. They can choose from about 300 songs that range from rock, folk, blues, country, Broadway, alternative, Tin Pan Alley –just about anything that Robin can play on a guitar. People are also invited to request songs they already know the words to… if Robin knows it, she’ll play it!
Lyric sheets are provided as well as rhythm instruments. Robin helps the singers find a good key, prompts them, sings harmony and they become the stars! People can sing solo or in groups.
Great for parties, orientations, open mikes, family events,birthdays, meeting entertainment, campfires, Coffeehouse Karaoke is fun and gets people involved! It’s truly a music sharing experience. Robin can do this show solo or as a duo.
Some places Robin has performed Coffeehouse Karaoke: U.S. Military Academy at West Point (NY), Polytechnic University (NY), East Stroudsburg Univ. (PA), Lyndon State College (VT), Rutgers Univ. (NJ) and elsewhere at private parties, children’s birthday parties, etc.
Some of the artists covered include classic rock from the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, the Police and Creedence; folk rock from the Eagles, Simon and Garfunkel, Monkees, Van Morrison, James Taylor: classic women artists like Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, etc.; 50’s acts like the Everly Bros., Buddy Holly, Elvis and Sinatra; 80’s acts like Springsteen, U2 and The Police; and modern rock and alternative like Green Day, Sheryl Crow, Five For Fighting, Maroon 5, Train, Matchbox 20, etc. Soul and Motown music are available as well as some acoustic based hip hop music.Karaoke classics like Summer Nights, Stand By Me, Build Me Up Buttercup…. there are hundreds of songs to choose from!
please contact Robin for references and pricing.
Cruise and Resort Work
Robin has had experience working for both Cruise Lines and Resorts. She was a headliner for Renaissance Cruise Lines up until they went out of business following 9/11. She was flown to Europe and India to perform on their ships and was the main showroom singer and banjo player backed up by a 7 piece band. She has performed for Club Med for the past decade at 7 of their locations in North America. She worked at Holland Village outside Nagasaki, Japan for three months in 1991.
Robin can perform with charts for a ship band or play solo, duo, trio, or full band. The material covers a wide range of styles as Robin plays guitar, banjo and uke. She has a cover list of over 300 songs ranging from standards to pop, folk, rock, folk-rock, country, blues and jazz. Song list provided upon request.
Prior Performances | |
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Top of the Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas | |
Holland Village, Nagasaki, Japan
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Club Med – Columbus Isle, Cancun, Turks and Caicos, Punta Cana, Paradise Island | |
Performing at Club Med Turks in April of 2009:
at Sharkie’s Beach Bar:
Programs for Seniors and Special Audiences | ||
Robin Greenstein does musical programs tailored for seniors and special audiences, including hospitals, nursing homes, health related facilities, shelters, special ed groups, psychiatric and senior centers. These programs include Sing-along to Standards, folk music, Patriotic programs and much more. Accompanying herself on guitar, ukelele and/or banjo, Robin sings in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Ladino and Yiddish. For many years she has worked for Hospital Audiences, Inc. performing throughout the five boroughs of New York City. More recently she has been performing for Music That Heals, which brings music to sick children in hospitals, homeless children and juvenile facilities. She has performed for Hadassah, Hatzilu, The Atria and The Hallmark at Battery Park City (upscale senior residence), Samuel Field Y in Little Neck, Mid-Island JCC in Plainview, NY and dozens of libraries in the tri-state area. Robin has a B.A. in Music and majored in classical guitar. She studied American folk music extensively. Her first job out of college was working under a grant to do music research in Sephardic Jewish Music by collecting songs from NYC residents under the auspices of the American Jewish Congress. Robin has sung the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden for the NY Knicks, was a headline performer for the Renaissance Cruise Line, played at Club Med in various locations, and spent 3 months singing at a theme park in Japan. She tours Europe regularly and her work with Martin Guitars took her to mainland China in October of 2002 where she performed in Shangahi and Beijing. She has a lot of experience working with all kinds of seniors, from very active to hospice residents. She has released two CDs of original material, two CDs of folk and blues songs about women; and a children’s music recording. Her latest recording is a multi-cultural holiday CD entitled “Songs of the Season.” |
Sample client list includes:
Daughters of Israel, West Orange, NJ | Tarrytown Care Center, Tarrytown, NY |
Meadow View Nursing Home, Secaucus, NJ | Jewish Home, New York, NY |
Hudson Valley DDSO | Block & Hexter Vacation Center, PA |
Atria and Sunrise Assisted Living -many locations | The Hallmark at Battery Park City, NY |
Sheepshead Bay Nursing Home, Brooklyn, NY | Kislak Adult Camps |
United Cerebral Palsy of NY | Hospital Audiences Inc. |
United Cerebral Palsy of NY | Hospital Audiences Inc. |
Repertoire includes:
Standards | Country | Jewish |
Sing-Along | Banjo / Ukelele | Foreign Language |
Gospel | Pop | Traditional Folk |
Rock ‘n Roll | Broadway | Swing |
Theme shows include: Patriotic Program – July 4, Earth Day, December Holiday shows, Valentine’s Day show “All You Need Is Love”, Passover programs, Purim programs, Women’s Month shows, Songs of the Sea, St. Patrick’s Day, Veteran’s Day, Black History Month, Autumm celebrations, Sing Along to Standards, Celebrate America, etc.
NEW: Robin is offering a tribute to Pete Seeger “The Power of Song”. Playing banjo and guitar, she recounts the important milestones of his remarkable life including the famous songs he wrote as well as the songs he made famous! Seniors who were his contemporaries are especially moved by this program as it touches upon their life stories as well.
Watch Robin perform:
Someone to Watch Over Me (George and Ira Gershwin)
Saving All My Love For You (Whitney Houston hit)
and many more songs on guitar and banjo at her Youtube Channel.
Prices for shows depend on type of venue and distance from New York City. Please contact Robin with any questions.
Robin’s Rainbow (Robin’s duos and trios) – music for adults
Besides her own original music concerts, Robin offers a duo or trio specializing in classic folk/rock/country songs from the 60’s & 70’s featuring great harmony, sing-alongs, etc. Repertoire includes Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, The Eagles, Linda Rondstadt, James Taylor, the Monkees, the Turtles, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, etc. — All the music the baby boomers grew up with and still love to this day. An up-tempo show with or without drum machine or drummer. Robin was half of the well known NY area duo Guitar People for many years, performing at venues throughout the tri-state NY region. Robin’s Rainbow is perfect for summer concert series, fall family events such as college family weekends, apple picking time, wineries, or private parties/bar mitzvahs, etc. Robin has a request list of over 300 songs.
Some of Robin’s favorite sidemen/performing partners are Barry Weisenfeld, bassist from Warwick, NY and Roy Goldberg, her former partner in Guitar People. Marshal Rosenberg on percussion can often be found backing up Robin at gigs. She also brings in Julie Bluestone on sax and flute for a jazzier and Latin feel.
Robin and Barry Weisenfeld at the Hudson River Park concert, July 2002 |
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Performing at the Renaissance Jambouree in Bloomsburg, PA – I’ve played there numerous times, performing both kids shows and on the mainstage. |
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Performing at Club Med Turks with Roy Goldberg April 2009 | Performing at Club Med Columbus Isle 2009 with Julie Bluestone |
Below is just a sampling of artists covered by Robin’s Rainbow:
Clapton, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Creedence, Simon & Garfunkle, Eagles, Everly Bros, Buddy Holly, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, James Taylor, Neil Young, CSN,Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, The Band, Cat Stevens, Harry Chapin, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Dusty Springfield, the Turtles, the Monkees, the British Invasion groups, Bill Joel, Elton John, etc.
Want More? Melissa Etheridge, Indigo Girls, Sarah McLaughlan, Sheryl Crow, Madonna, Avril Levigne, U2, The Police, Sting, John Mayer
Alternative groups? Five For Fighting, Green Day, Sixpence None The Richer, Uncle Cracker;
R&B artists like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, classic motown songs, etc.
Country artists like Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Emmy Lou Harris, Dixie Chicks, etc.