Tom Waits

Over the past 30 years, Tom Waits has established himself as one of the most idiosyncratic characters in rock. His musical persona is defined by a voice of gravel and grit paired with an edgy compositional style that varies from bizarre anecdotal tales to beautiful ballads. His sound ranges from minimalist to experimental to countrified to blues to cabaret to spoken-word and on, all delivered within the singer-songwriter realm. With minimal radio exposure and most mainstream success in the form of other artists covering his songs, Tom Waits remains one of the more elusive artists of recent decades. With parallel careers as a performer, actor and composer of movie scores, Waits' contribution to the arts has been invaluable, and he'll continue to be an icon for all artists struggling to find their voice.