Bob Neuwirth

Neuwirth is a hard one to figure. He is not prolific, having released only four albums in the last 20-odd years. His singing is of the Kris Kristofferson school, and he barely ever performs live. Despite this he holds an esteemed position in the music world. The reason for his notoriety may simply be his presence at many watershed moments during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a mainstay on the Cambridge, Mass., folk music scene that gave the world Joan Baez. Through Baez he became a close confidante of Bob Dylan, appearing in the concert film Don't Look Back and emceeing the notorious Rolling Thunder Revue tour. Along the way he also wrote the song "Mercedes Benz" for Janis Joplin and acted as something of a mentor to Patti Smith. This is apparently enough to secure semi-legendary status, as well as the odd record deal.