Who is your favorite under-appreciated musician?

I've never heard of Bill Mallonnee. I'm glad to know of him. In a strange serendipity, I was just listening to Nina Simone's version of I Shall Be Released.

I love Joe Henry and wish more people loved him too. Each song on Scar or Tiny Voices or Civilians is a short story, sad, yearning, sometimes hopeful. His voice is beautifully distinctive, has the slightly wrecked feel of Tom Waits. It's hard for me to describe the music, I've heard it called folk-noir, and there are elements of jazz, but in a good smoky room way, not a bad fusak way.

A staple in my life for nearly 20 years has been Over the Rhine. No matter where I am in my life, their work always plays the role of leavening.

I had the opportunity to have Bill & VOL stay at my place in Audible Sigh days and Bill is so real and such a beacon.

Other bands/artists that are often forgotten and nearly never talk about that are so hauntingly rich to me are Adam Again, the violet burning, 77s, Julie & Buddy Miller, Vic Williams, Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus, The Choir and Sam Philips.

Gene Eugene was taken from us much too soon. His five Adam Again albums, lyrically and musically profound, have been the soundtrack of my life. I can't imagine what uncharted territory he'd have explored over these last 8 years.

"It's strange... It's strange and it's wonderful..."

Matt Maher. His album "Empty and Beautiful" is one of the best kept secrets in the industry. But it's filled with incredibly annointed songs and lyricism. The CD also shows his command of different genres of music, though it's all based on praise and worship.

Chris Rea