It's a tie between Stevie Wonder and Michael Franks. Michael Franks has the most romantic lyrics ever. He takes me to far away places and brings a sense of serenity. Stevie Wonder is an amazing lyricist and just all around talented musical artist!

My taste in music ranges from Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Teresa James, to Billie Holiday,Janis Joplin, Etta James, and Eric Clapton to Adele and Amy Winehouse.  I also like a wide range in between including some opera, folk music, Latino music, etc.  When I listen to music, my choices often depend on my mood at the time.  When I used to teach, I used the movie Remember the Titans for a specific tool to teach writing, and I play the music from that movie when I feel nostalgic about teaching.  Music for me is an important part of my life, and music is a way for me to express feelings.

Billy Holiday and Sarah Vaughan are two greats from the jazz era. Nina Simone, Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra, are some of my favorite singers from the 50s and 60s. Bob Marley, Muddy Waters (yes, Muddy Waters could sing!), and Aretha Franklin are some of my favorites from the late 60s and 70s...

As for today's singers, I really enjoy Lauryn Hill as a singer. I hope she will continue to make music, but what she has produced, vocally, since 1998/1999 has been really impressive. I've also liked what I've heard from Bruno Mars (I don't know if that's corny or not. I'm out of the "cool loop" for sure. All I know is he brings a strong singing voice to pop music.)

I also like Brandi Carlisle's singing, though in her case I think her most impressive talent is song-writing. She can definitely sing though. 

Patti Griffin is another impressive contemporary singer. If you like classical singers, Kathleen Battle is someone to look into. 

My tastes are very eclectic and I like things from my younger days (in my early 40s), things from long before my time, as well as a few things that I've heard today.  Of today's music, I like such varied artists as Adele, Eric Church, and the Decembrists.  So it's really quite varied.

I'm in my late 50s, and I still prefer the music of my era--the late 'Sixties and early-to-mid 1970s. The Beatles are still my favorite band, but I gravitated toward progressive rock (Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, The Strawbs) after they broke up. I still love to catch live shows of bands who still remain or have reformed from the 1960s and 1970s.

I do not necessarily have a favorite band, but I do like Michael Buble and U2.  Sometimes I also like to listen to older songs, especially old folk music.  I like music that touches me emotionally, whether it is "hip" or not.