Grateful Dead

Well said, Clovett, and true in my book too. They would have been my vote by a country mile, being disqualified by the four strong winds aside. I suppose it's just like the Dead or any band (or group) you fall in with, but I feel a kinship and respect those guys on an individual basis in addition to as a band. Richard is a hidden / unmentioned talent in the mainstream prism on the '60s' or 'classic rock' generation. Tragic ultimately, but I would consider him a white Ray Charles from Stratford, Ontario. Garth is a mad scientist, probably the least there to connect with personally, but his coloring has changed popular music, period. Robbie gets a bad rap from sour vibes, which there may be something to but it doesn't matter as far as I'm concerned. His songcraft and his Tele playing both stand on their own accord. Levon is now folk-Americana royalty, it seems, but he deserves it. I could write a lot about Levon but no one cares and Clovett summed it perfectly anyways. All I'll say is he kind of looks like Ron Howard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xD3uBGzjpw Danko has always been my favorite..he was hilarious and a ridiculously talented musician, though that was true for all of these guys. I thought I read somewhere they played 26 instruments between the 5 of them, and don't overlook their producer John Simon..as much the 6th Band*er (sure..) as George Martin was the 5th Beatle, in my opinion. Anyways, Danko was just..funky..in the best way imaginable. A line from Dylan's obituary to Jerry also sums up Rick to me, "the very spirit personified of whatever is muddy river country." And can you imagine hangin out with that dude??* Haha Did anyone ever see Danko, Butterfield and Gary Busey doing Bob Will's Stay All Night on SNL, I think it was? That is the greatest video ever, haha. I can't find a link but have it saved, maybe can upload it if it doesn't get flagged for copyright. The other great thing is that forgetting all that innovation and their own albums, if they never left Ronnie Hawkins, they would be bonefied just from being a shit kicking rock and roll band. I'm kind of pissed now because I'd like to augment that with some of my favorite videos and they're all gone now. There's a fantastic When You Awake from the 1990s, Danko in a studio or something on an acoustic guitar. Folks here probably know the Festival Express stuff, but this is always my go to just for straight rock and roll: http://rutube.ru/video/fa68a85a62cc9158f5e02ea71e122047/ *Related, hangin out with that dude: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVDDD9bScPk

I love how completely random your chances of successfully replacing you r picture is on this site. Stuck with this ridiculous fox.

How about REM, X or Ramones? A few bands that are from the more recent past, but still oldies. Two punk bands (west coast & east coast) and one post-punk band.

Canadians aside, it's hard not to think of The Band as an American band. I think Levon Helm was probably American enough all by himself to tip that scale.

I too saw the banner ad for this before the dead.net email. Pre-ordered first day. Yay! I was not a big fan of 78, but I can tell this will be a grate box. The Red Rocks 78 boots made me travel from home state California to Red Rocks in '79, only to get rained out after the first night. I returned several years. Had big fun with 7 friends doing RR 87 and Teluride. Loved the story about getting gear in giving up batteries, etc. I did the battery trick too, and even give up a small walkman at the Warfield 80 shows. They had a big box they stored all the decks they found at the door, and gave each owner a numbered tag to reclaim their deck at the end of the night. One night at the Warfield run I was busted by Dan Healy, but that's another story... Thanks Dave for more great music...

American origin aside - The Band is neck and neck with the Dead for #1 in my book. Then the usual CSNY (especially Stephen Stills), Allman, Dylan, Clapton. I love to listen to so much more but I always come to the goods. Recent? TTB all day and all night. Stay Truckin' my friends.

Robbie, Richard, Rick and Garth were all Canadian. Only Levon was American, from Arkansas.

Did not realize The Band was mainly Canadian. Just thinking of the upstate New York connection. Thanks for the info.

I like most of the nominees listed, but I am surprised nobody listed The Band. Their self titled album has to be a contender for one the best albums ever, from start to finish. And Pet Sounds alone has to make the Beach Boys a contender.

Does not make my list of candidates because they are mostly a Canadian band. Just like I wouldn't include the amazing Crosby/Stills/Nash/Young because Nash is British and Young is also Canadian.