Vocalists/Musicians Wasting Their Talent

I suppose some of the questions you're asking could be paraphrased as "Why do talented people not always live up to their full potential?"

My answer would be: Distractions. Money and fame are of course some of the prime distractors for almost anyone. I went to college, and I had the opportunity to stay 'in academia' and do interesting research that might have made a difference, while at the same time developing my skills and talents, maybe even resulting in something meaningful and lasting in my field. In stead, I choose to work in private enterprise. Many things I do are not meaningful to anyone other than our customers and my employers. I put out what the customers and employers want, and that's where I stop. Nine out of ten times, it's far short of greatness. My employers do not expect greatness beyond functional, they just want enough functionality to make things commercially viable and to meet the customer and business objectives.

And why do I do this good to mediocre work, in stead of exceling at everything? So I can make money and afford the lifestyle I desire! So I am not a starving academic. So I can afford the passtimes I want, including this hobby. I bet many artists settle in similar ways.

Many people that are truly great are driven, they go to extremes to achieve that greatness. Often times, they go to extremes in their field and outside of their field. This is one of the reasons, IMO, why so many truly great people are anywhere from a bit excentric and obsessive to unstable and self-destructive. Along those lines, seeing as to how this a hobby that lends itself perfectly to those characteristics, I would not be surprised if at least some great artists are in to this very hobby. Maybe this is where some of that 'search for excellence' that cannot come out in the everyday work environment comes out?

Alright, time to get off the soapbox now...

Guitar Players:
I think someone who is finally USING his talent again is Eric Clapton. I really like his new albums with his return to the blues. What was that 1980's decade about anyway?!? A great semi-known player is Eddie B. Campbell out of Chicago. I think he's one of the top blues players I've heard. Maybe he just likes local life in Chicago. Speaking of Eddie's, I wish we could see more out of Van Halen too.

Singers:

For singer's, I wish Johnette Napolitano from Concrete Blonde would start making albums again. It would be great to see her trying to make a blues album with some old line blues artists like Buddy Guy or Eddie Campbell. She's amazing. I saw her do a live show in Denver a few years ago. We could barely hear the opening act's vocals (a man!) because the mike was set up for her. I think she could give Aretha Franklin a run for her money on sheer power. Another great vocalist is Linda Perry, oddly enough, from 4 non-blondes. I saw her do a live solo show in colorado springs a few years ago. Great singer.

sting, a/ka/ gordon summoner. a great voice and great performer but he needs to break out ot the sameness of his more recent stuff.

Charlotte Church is making big bucks with a voice that sounds like an adult. To bad that an adult that actually sings like her would go nowhere as a classical "artist". I hope she is saving some of that money or can morph into a pop singer.

Prince, great musical talent, too much show business.