One of my favorite rock artists is the wonderful multi-instrumentalist Richie Kotzen, most known by many for his early shred guitar material back on Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records in the late 80's.  He later did a short stint in both Poison and Mr. Big (replacing Paul Gilbert) for the "Get Over It" and "Actual Size" records, the later really being the one that caught my attention as it was a song he wrote, titled "Shine", that became that records hit single.  He later rerecorded what I consider a better version of "Shine" on his solo disc titled "Change".

His solo music has become so much more than was originally hinted at in his early shred period and once he really started focusing on more than just his guitar prowess, he has quickly become one of my favorite artists.  His music is an amalgamation of all his influences - classic rock, American soul, R&B, and funk,  with most of his lyrics and music reflecting periods of his life and his experiences.  He's written extremely dark albums like "Into the Black", and more upbeat discs like his most recent two "Peace Sign" and "24 Hours".  One of my absolute favorite discs is a tribute to artists like Otis Redding, Al Green, Sam and Dave and Curtis Mayfield he released under the name Wilson Hawk titled "The Road".  He's a multi-instrumentalist that plays most of the instrumentation found on his records, and doing a fine job if I may say so myself. 

I see the music that passes as popular these days and ask, why is this man not more popular than he is - it's really a subject that baffles me.  He's extremely varied in his music and has never presented the same album twice.

Check him out if his sort of music interest you and tell me how he's not more popular than he is.

http://richiekotzen.com/

jamesg1213

Jind


Check him out if his sort of music interest you and tell me how he's not more popular than he is.

http://richiekotzen.com/

Yeah, he's good! Like Lenny Kravitz, but better

WOW GREAT ! Thanks for posting I think I have a new fav

Riggs out of Atlanta.  Our agent back in the early 80s was loosley affiliated with their management so we played the same clubs along the southeast coast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebAgnVXoXEg&feature=related

The late Kevin Gilbert helped Sheryl Crow get started.  I'm confident that he would have struck it big if he'd lived longer.  

Goodness Gracious

Aerosmith.

Oh wait, you said bands that should have been huge but weren't, not bands that were huge and shouldn't have been.

My bad.

;)

The Quarrymen

 
Praying Mantis
 
Way back around '79/'80 I remember that they were talked about in the same league potentially as Iron Maiden and Def Leppard.
 
I think they're still playing today, but for some reason they never really took off.

Rbh


Kevin Gilbert had 2 great albums with Giraffe as well. Wish he kept his stuff together and was still writing, recording, performing. The guy was a formidable talent in all regards.

Yes.  

Old55


Walter Trout

He IS huge...  In Europe.  Go figure!