10 top musicians worthy of local tribute shows

Thanks to Steve Key, the James Taylor song “Carolina in My Mind” is now in my mind.

Key’s latest Songwriters at Play tribute show, Thursday at Shell Café in Pismo Beach, will feature local artists performing Taylor’s songs, including his first hit — a soothing acoustic number about being homesick.

Key branded his Songwriters at Play series nearly six years ago, bringing local artists to smaller venues in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

While those concerts typically feature original music, Key whips together a tribute show every now and then. Past tribute shows have featured the music of John Lennon, Bonnie Raitt, Woody Guthrie, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell. And he’s planning others for Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Glen Campbell and the Eagles.

As I whistled “Carolina in My Mind,” I couldn’t help but think of other acts I’d like to see honored in the series. Here are my top 10:

David Bowie

In 2013, astronaut Chris Hadfield showed Bowie’s songs could be played in the most intimate of settings, performing a far-out cover of “Space Oddity” while floating aboard the International Space Station. As a pioneer of glam rock, Bowie influenced punk, new wave and metal music — and yet a song like “Heroes” works perfectly as a coffeehouse acoustic tune. And tributes for the recently departed are always good.

Essentials: “Changes,” “Rock n’ Roll Suicide,” “Rebel Rebel”

John Mellencamp

A young, feisty Johnny Cougar rolled up his sleeves, spit on the ground and belted out restless songs such as “Hurts So Good” and “The Authority Song.” By the time he reclaimed his real name, Mellencamp had fallen for the acoustic guitar, becoming a voice for underdogs in the American heartland.

Essentials: “Small Town,” “Pink Houses,” “This Time”

Buddy Holly

Much of the talk about Holly centers on what he could have done had he not died in that infamous 1959 plane crash. At age 22, Holly had amassed an impressive number of timeless songs, which have been covered through the years by Lennon, Mellencamp, Linda Ronstadt and scores of others who appreciate his gift.

Essentials: “Everyday,” “Rave On,” “True Love Ways”

Taj Mahal

While he enjoys less fame than some of his peers, Mahal is a fine tribute subject because he performs in so many different styles — including blues, folk, Hawaiian, calypso and soul. A banjo or a tuba works with a Taj Mahal song just as much as an electric guitar.

Essentials: “She Caught the Katy (and Left Me a Mule to Ride),” “Take a Giant Step,” “Fishin’ Blues”

Cyndi Lauper

In the 1980s, those crazy outfits and that thick Brooklyn accent took some of the attention away from Lauper’s real talent: an amazing singing voice. A tribute could focus almost entirely on her loaded “She’s So Unusual” album — plus a few cuts from her album “True Colors.” While those songs are generally seen as pop, they could be easily slowed down on an acoustic guitar.

Essentials: “Time After Time,” “She Bop,” “All Through the Night”

The Band

Essentials: “Stage Freight,” “Get Up Jake,” “Ophelia”

Stevie Nicks

Initially, Mick Fleetwood only invited Lindsey Buckingham into his band, but Buckingham insisted that he and his girlfriend were a package deal. Which, as it turns out, worked out quite well. With her unique phrasing and gypsy witch-inspired writing, Nicks became a vital part of Fleetwood Mac and, later, a successful solo act.

Essentials: “Rhiannon,” “Landslide,” “Dreams”

R.E.M.

This rock band broke through the synth-heavy New Wave era with a back-to-basics garage sound. By the time Rolling Stone magazine labeled R.E.M. the best band in America in 1987, the group was far from an underground sensation. Many of R.E.M.’s early songs, including “So. Central Rain” and “(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville,” would work well for solo performers.

Essentials: “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine),” “Wendell Gee,” “The One I Love”

Bruce Springsteen

The Boss is so good that even his rejects are better than most songs on the charts. With that in mind, I’d recommend a tribute to the best songs that didn’t make the cut.

Essentials: “Janey, Don’t You Lose Heart,” “Give the Girl a Kiss,” “Ain’t Good Enough For You”

Van Morrison

If everyone just sang “Brown Eyed Girl” at this tribute, I’d be happy as a clam. But then I’d want more Van Morrison songs because there are so many.

Essentials: “Into the Mystic,” “Redwood Tree,” “Tupelo Honey”

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 1:37 PM with the headline "10 top musicians worthy of local tribute shows."