Elvis Has Left the Building: Top 8 Favorite Solo Acts

I was afraid you would have grown weary of my music-centric posts and was planning to use some other topic for today's Top 8, but Ty convinced me that since he was anxiously awaiting my solo artist list, I should just post it now. So blame him if you're bored.

I am once again limiting myself to artists who started their careers before I was born. Sarah McLachlan and Vince Gill may have beautiful voices, but they wouldn't fit in my list. Maybe I'll do a "Modern Music That Doesn't Make Me Run Away Screaming" list sometime to give them their due.

To clarify, I consider a singer a solo act if the act could absolutely no longer exist if they were removed from the equation. For instance, I realize that at least one one of my artists (Jimi Hendrix, for instance) was backed by a stellar band. But once Jimi died, it wasn't like anyone was calling The Experience to book a stadium tour. Rush, if you don't like my parameters, you can make your own solo act list.

Also, I'm going to break my own rules and start my list with a duo--because Simon and Garfunkel don't really count as a "band" to me, and their harmonies are so tight they almost sound like one voice sometimes. And also because it's my list and I can do what I want.

So here you go...

1.) Simon & Garfunkel (yeah, yeah--see above)

2.) Eric Clapton

3.) Bob Dylan

4.) James Taylor

5.) Jimmy Buffett

6.) Van Morrison

7.) Marvin Gaye

8.) Janis Joplin

Feel free to compliment me on my excellent taste.