Peer Resources - Famous Mentor Pairings - Musicians, Songwriters, Singers

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The Mentor Hall of Fame
Musicians, Singers, Songwriters (Jazz, Popular, Folk, Rock)

Virtually anyone can benefit from having a mentor. And most well-known, accomplished and successful artists can identify people in their lives who acted as mentors.
The following list of mentor pairs was compiled by Rey Carr from a variety of sources including autobiographies, biographies, newspaper articles, personal interviews, and diligent historical research.
If you know of mentor pairs that ought to be added, we have provided an opportunity for you to submit the names and details: Add a Mentor Pair.

MUSICIANS, SONGWRITERS, AND SINGERS

Canadian blues musician and executive John Fisher (1947-2017) was a mentor to multiple young musicians who were in his bands or his classes.
Singer and actress Lola Albright (1924-2017), the sultry star of the TV-series Peter Gunn, was a mentor to actress Naomi Campbell.
Canadian jazz pianist and teacher George Essihos (1934-2017) was a mentor to jazz drummer Don Leppard. Mr. Leppard said of his mentor, "He was a little different, and he wasn't a talker. We'd do a rehearsal, and minimal words were said. It wouldn't even be much of a rehearsal. We'd run four bars, and he'd say, 'OK, do it that way.' And then we'd run through it and he'd do it differently."
American record producer Bob Hurwitz is a mentor to composers John Adams and Philip Glass and Canadian singer-songwriter K.D. Lang.
Legendary jazz trombonist Al Grey (1925-2000), who mostly played with the Count Basie orchestra and wrote the book on Plunger Techniques is a mentor to American jazz and fusion slide trombonist Robin Eubanks.
Canadian poet and writer Pauline Johnson (1861-1913), sometimes referred to as the "Mohawk Mentor" is a mentor to Canadian singer/songwriter, visual artist, advocate for Aboriginal rights and award-winning mentor Buffy Sainte-Marie.
American promoter and producer Sid Bernstein (1918-2013), credited with being the first promoter of stadium rock concerts and for kickstarting the British Invasion by bringing the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, the Moody Blues, and Herman's Hermits to America for their first stateside performances, was a mentor to singer-songwriter Gary Ra'chac. Sid took a college course in 1963 that required reading a weekly British newspaper. He said, "Here I was reading little stories about this group from Liverpool that is causing a lot of 'hysteria.' By the end of the course, I was so Beatle-ized by what I read, even though I did not hear a note, I said 'Gotta get 'em.'"
Award-winning American pianist Johnnie Johnson (1924-2005) was a mentor to American rock 'n' roll founder and great grandfather Chuck Berry (1926-2017) who was a mentor to British guitar singer/songwriter Eric Clapton and Keith Richards.
Award-winning, Victoria, British Columbia-born Canadian folk legend, singer, songwriter Ian Tyson, who took up the guitar while recovering from a rodeo injury, is a mentor to award-winning Edmonton-born country-roots artist Corb Lund.
Award-winning Calgary-born Canadian jazz virtuoso, member of the Canadian Senate, pianist, conductor, composer, TV personality Tommy Banks (1936-2018) was considered a mentor by Victoria, BC-born Canadian music producer, pianist and songwriter David Foster; and music professor Dean McNeill.
New York City-born American jazz pianist and composer Herbie Nichols (1919-1963) was a mentor to Sharon, Connecticut-born, avant-garde jazz trombone player Roswell Rudd (1935-2017).
American poet, book publisher and activist Haki Madhubuti is a mentor to American jazz flutist Nicole Mitchell.
Jazz trumpeter, composer, singer and author Hugh Masekela (1939-2018), known as "the father of South African jazz" and a leading figure to end apartheid is a mentor to model Anansa Sims; jazz pianist Nduduzzo Makhathini; Afro jazz guitarist Oliver Mtukudzi; South African singer Sipho "Hotsix" Mabuse; and many others around the world. The BBC produced a great documentary about his life.
New York-born American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress and record producer Mary J. Blige calls rap mogul Diddy (also known as Sean Combs and Puff Daddy) her mentor.
Independent record label founder and business executive Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith is a mentor to award-winning Compton, California-born American rapper and songwriter Kendrick Lamar.
Robin Benwell Palmer (1937-2017) is a mentor to Eric Clapton.
Award-winning Georgia-born American lyricist, songerwriter and singer Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) was a mentor to Detroit-born singer and radio and television performer with a string of hit records Margaret Whiting (1924-2011), who was a mentor to Oklahoma-born cabaret singer and actress K.T. Sullivan and San Francisco-born actress, writer and cabaret singer Mary Cleere Haran (1952-2011).
Texas-born American jazz saxophonist also known as "Professor Smith"Buster Smth (1904-1991) was a mentor to American jazz saxophonist and composer Charlie Parker (1920-1955), also known as "Yardbird" or "Bird." A great documentary produced by the BBC, The Charlie Parker Story.
Canadian folk music singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle (1946-2010) was a mentor to Juno award-winning Canadian folk singer-songwriter Connie Kaldor and many others. Ms. Kaldor said of her mentor, "She let us know that as a woman you can keep your own vision, that you can sing of things that women know, that you can, no matter how difficult, chose how you integrate country, family and career and write music that matters. They (with her sister Anna) opened the good doors and changed how women in this industry were perceived."
Award-winning Canadian singer, songwriter Justin Bieber says his mentor is American award-winning singer, songwriter, dancer Usher. "He teaches me to stay humble through this whole process, because it can get shady, the business. You've got to be humble. You've got to be grounded."
Canadian musician, known as the Ambassador of the Saxophone, Paul Brodie (1934-2007) was a mentor to founding member of the National Arts Centre Orchestra Jean-Guy Brault and concert saxophonist and composer Daniel Rubinoff. Mr. Rubinoff said of his mentor that he contributed to his career as a saxophonist but also helped him learn life lessons about how to talk to an audience, how to be tough about criticism, how to cold call a concert promoter and how to set up a music studio. Mr. Brault echoed the lessons learned from his mentor: "He changed my life. He opened my eyes to so many thingsÑthe realities of the professional music world."
The Father of rock 'n' roll, American guitarist and singer Bo Diddley (1928-2008) was a mentor for many rock heroes, including Canada's Ronnie Hawkins, the Rolling Stone's guitarist Ron Wood, and the Beatles. Bo Diddley felt that his role as a mentor was never properly acknowledged. "I opened the door for a lot of people, and they just ran through and left me holding the knob," he said in an interview in 2003.
Canadian fiddler, composer and music producer Oliver Schroer (1956-2008) was a mentor to many young musicians. Those he mentored said that they learned "nothing was too crazy or wrong when playing the violin." "Embrace any mistake and turn it into something cool." "He just made you want to go out and do great stuff; expand your sense of what is possible." "Learn how to live life."
Award-winning, legendary American jazz pianist, and host of NPR's Piano Jazz Marian McPartland (1918-2013) was a mentor to many young pianists including pianist Geri Allen, American jazz pianist and composer Roberta Piket, and American award-winning jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater.
Record producer and hitmaker Quincy Jones was a mentor teenage sensation singer and feminist icon Lesley Gore (1946-2015). Ms. Gore once said, "I don't care what age you are, there's nothing more wonderful than standing on the stage and shaking your finger and singing, 'Don't tell me what to do.'"
American lyricist, singer, songwriter, and founder of Capital Records Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) was a mentor to honey-voiced band singer Jo Stafford (1918-2008) and American stock-broker turned hit songwriter and music producer Michael Masser (1941-2015). "I was unhappy as a stock-broker," Mr. Masser said, "and someone said I ought to see a shrink. I walked in and told the doctor I wanted to write music. The doctor said, 'What's the problem with that?' I told him that didn't go over well with my family. He listened, took my money and said, 'Here's a note of permission to writer music. That's all you'll need to clear your conscience.' That's all I was looking for. I had been the dutiful husband and son for so long, I had forgotten about living for myself."
Grammy Award-winning music producer Tommy LiPuma (1936-2017) is a mentor to Canadian jazz pianist and vocalist Diane Krall. Mr. LiPuma considered Los Angeles disc jockey Bobby Dale and record executives Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert his mentors.
Tom Murray was a mentor to music impressario and film producer Fred Weintraub (1928-2017).
American jazz flautist Hubert Laws was a mentor to Grammy Award-winning American flautist and Latin jazz teacher David Valentin (1952-2017). Mr. Valentin said "I started out as a percussionist in school. But I wanted to meet this girl, Irene, who was a flutist. She showed me a scale, and I played it immediately. Do-re-me-fa-so-la-ti-do. Without knowing nothing! So, I borrowed a flute, bought a Herbie Mann record and learned 'Comin' Home Baby.' Three weeks later, I went to her and played it. I knew I had her! She said, 'I've been taking lessons for three years and you come in here in three weeks and play like that? DonÕt ever talk to me again!' I lost the girl, but kept the flute."
American guitarist and composer Jim Hall (1930-2013), American jazz drummer and composer Paul Motain (1931-2011) and guitar teacher and jazz guitarist Dale Bruning are mentors to American jazz guitarist and composer Bill Frisell.
Canadian award-winning composer and symphony music director Bramwell Tovey is a mentor to Canadian multiple award-winning violinist James Ehnes.
Grammy Award winning musician, saxophonist and flautist Paul Horn (1930-2014) was a mentor to multi-genre flautist Gary Stroutsos, and rock and folk performer Glen Dias.
Canadian radio host, actor, and DJ Terry David Mulligan is a mentor to Canadian folk music singer/songwriter Roy Forbes.
California-born, award-winning Canadian musician and singer/songwriter Shari Ulrich is described as a mentor to many songwriters.
Canadian agent for musicians Doug Kirby (-2009) is a mentor to Canadian folk musician/songwriter Valdy.
American folk blues singer Josh White, Sr. (1914-1969) and Canadian writer George Ryga (1932-1987) are mentors to South African-born, award-winning Canadian singer/actress/spiritual teacher Ann Mortifee.
Hungarian jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo (1936-1982) and Buddhist philosophyer Daisaku Ikeda (mentored by Japanese peace advocate Josei Toda (1900-1958)) were mentors to psychedelic jazz guitar master Larry Coryell (1943-2017) who, in turn, was a mentor to jazz guitarist Bob Wolfman.
Jazz organist Jimmy Smith (1925-2005) is a mentor to American jazz organist, trumpeter and vocalist Joey DeFrancesco.
American music producer and blues and folk guitarist John Jennings (1953-2015) was a mentor to singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Basketball coach John Calipari is a mentor to Canadian singing superstar Drake.
American jazz singer and lyricist Jon Hendricks was a mentor to seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer Al Jarreau (1940-2017).
Legendary jazz pianist George Shearing (1919-2011) is a mentor to pianist, educator, vocalist and songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway. And Carole King's album Tapestry gave Ms.Callaway the courage to become a songwriter.
Kanye West is considered a mentor by Chance the Rapper.
Jazz pianist, improvisation teacher, and composer Lennie Tristano (1919-1978) was a mentor to Connie Crothers (1941-2016), jazz pianist, composer and instructor.
Belgian-born French guitarist Django Reinhardt (1910-1953) was a mentor to swing-jazz guitarist, accordionist, harmonicist and whistler Toots Thielemans (1922-2016). The Allman Brothers Band song "Jessica" was written by Dickey Betts in tribute to Reinhardt, and "Django," composed by John Lewis (1920-2001), has become a jazz standard performed by musicians such as Miles Davis (1926-1991). The Modern Jazz Quartet titled one of their albums Django in his honour.
Record producer and multi-woodwind specialist Bob Sheppard is a mentor to saxophonist & composer Kirsten Edkins.
Trumpeter Warren Vache is a mentor to jazz trumpeter Bria Skonberg.
Vibraphonist Milt Jackson (1923-1999), member of the Modern Jazz Quartet, composer of "Bags' Groove," and discovered by Dizzy Gillespie, was a mentor to vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson (1941-2016), who played with Steely Dan, Herbie Hancock, and a variety of other jazz and jazz rock artists.
Canadian organist Léo Le Sieur (1897-1983) was a mentor to Lucille Dumont (1919-2016), the grande dame of chanson.
Dr. Dre (Andre Young), hip-hop pioneer mentor to award-winning rapper Eminem (Marshall Bruce Mathers), who has six consecutive U.S. No. 1 albums. "He believed in me when not many others did." Eminem told the audience at the 2010 Rhythm & Soul Music Awards in Los Angeles. "It would have been a lot easier for Dre to dismiss me like most people did: What's with the white guy from Detroit that rapsÊwith a funny voice? But he didn't. He stepped up to the challenge because he saw something in me."
French singer, songwriter, and actress Edith Piaf (1915-1963) was a mentor to American actress, singer, dancer and activist, Eartha Kitt (1927-2008).
Grammy Award-winning Texas singer/songwriter Guy Clark (1941-2016), a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, was a mentor to many, including Rosanne Cash, who said of him "I would not be the songwriter I am if I hadn't sat at your table and learned from a master."
L.A. Reid, Chair & CEO of Epic Records, is a mentor to Jennifer (JLo) Lopez.
Master collaborator, producer, and great feedback giver, George Martin (1926-2016) mentored the Beatles out of their comfort zone to provide the world with some of the greatest music ever produced.
Román Díaz, master percussionist and Santer’a priest, is a mentor to Perdito Martinez, Cuban percussionist.
Victor Olaiya, a Nigerian high-life musician, is a mentor to King Sunny Adé, guitarist.
Record producer Bob Crewe, creator of the Four Seasons, is a mentor to songwriter, J. Russell Brown, writer of Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree.
Sun Records founder Sam Phillips is a mentor to Muscle Shoals founding producer Rick Hall.
Ron Richards is a mentor to Graham Nash, co-founder of The Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Jazz baritone saxophonist Josh Sinton calls Steve Lacy, soprano saxophonist, his mentor.
Banjo Hall of Fame member Eddie Peabody is a mentor to banjo Hall of Fame member Dave Marty.
Oliver Jones is a mentor to Dione Taylor thru Canada's Governor General's 2009 Performing Arts Mentoring Program.
Canadian singer Nelly Furtado calls Gerald Eaton of The Philosopher Kings her mentor, according to the Kamloops Daily News.
Songwriter Glen Ballard is a mentor to Katy Perry.
Cesária Évora mentor to Fantcha as well as other singers such as Lura, Mayra Andrade and Sara Tavares and mentored by Cape Verdean producer JosŽ da Silva.
Magic Sam (blues musician Sam Maghett, 1937-1969, Bio) was a mentor to Magic Slim (1938-2013) (blues great and Teardrops leader Morris Holt, Bio)
Jerry Wexler (music journalist, record producer, chairman of Atlantic Records) mentor to Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Wilson Pickett, Clyde McPhatter, Aretha Franklin, Solomon Burke, Dusty Springfield, Linda Ronstadt, Sam and Dave, and Willie Nelson - Details and photos (Requires membership in the Peer Resources Network)
Country legend Ray Price (1926-2013) is a mentor to singer/songwriter Willie Nelson.
Johnny Cash (1932-2003) is a mentor to singer/songwriter/actor/musician/Veteran Kris Kristofferson.
Voted top female vocalist in 1955, 1956 and 1957, Santa Rosa, California-born American singer, actress and elevator operator Julie London (1926-2000) was a mentor to Sacramento, California-born American actor Randolph Mantooth.
Multiple Grammy award-winning Ohio-born American jazz singer and inductee to the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame Nancy Wilson (1937-2018) is a mentor to Chicago-born multiple Grammy award-winning American recording artist known as the "Queen of Funk" Chaka Khan.
Leading American producer of black cultural events such as the TV-program Soul Ellis Haizlip (1930-1991) was a mentor who advanced the careers of many black artists including singers Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, North Carolina-born American singer and pianist Roberta Flack, Brooklyn-born American actress and singer Novella Nelson (1939-2017) and New York City-born American actress Anna Marie Hosford.
American singer, musician, guitar virtuoso, longtime TV host and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame Roy Clark (1933-2018) was a mentor to many musicians and acted as a guitar catalyst for some of the biggest stars in country music, including American singer/songwriter Brad Paisley and New Zealand-born singer, songwriter and record producer Keith Urban. Brad Paisley said, "My story is not unique. How many guitar players started with a Roy Clark guitar method book? How many guitars were sold to people wanting to play because of him? How many lives were made better because of his wit and joy? I'm one of so many. When the Nashville floods wiped out most of my guitars, Roy heard about it and showed up at a show and gave me one of his. This is who this man was. Constantly giving. I owe him so much."
New Orleans-born American musician, bandleader and TV personality Jon Batiste considers his father his first mentor but also acknowledges jazz impressario and jazz festival founder George Wein; and award-winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis as mentors.
American-born Canadian "synthesizer doctor," keyboardist with pioneering rock group Iron Butterfly, and resident expert at the National Music Centre (NMC) in Calgary, Alberta John Leimseider (1952-2018) is a mentor to National Music Centre colleague Jason Tawkin; and Jesse Moffatt, director of collections at the NMC.
Canadian composer and fiddle player Oliver Schroer (1956-2008), who played with performers such as Bruce Cockburn, James Keelaghan, Loreena McKennitt, Sylvia Tyson and bands Great Big Sea and Spirit of the West; and Canadian folk singer, songwriter and artist Joni Mitchell are mentors to award-winning Canadian violin/fiddle player and teacher, who has played with a variety of artists, including Led Zeppelin, The Chieftains, Blue Rodeo, James Taylor, and Roger Daltry, Anne Lindsay.
British Columbia jazz pianist and music educator Bob Murphy (1945-2015); and jazz trombonist and pianist Hugh Fraser are both mentors to British Columbia-born vocal teacher, improvising voice artist and jazz vocalist Christine Duncan.
American singer-songwriter Chip Taylor, noted for his songs "Angel of the Morning" and "Wild Thing", is a mentor to Calgary, Alberta-born Canadian singer and fiddler Kendel Carson, who performed mostly with the folk music band, The Paperboys. Ms. Carson also recognizes Janis Joplin, Lucinda Williams, The Band, and Emmylou Harris among her many influences.
Canadian pop/rock singer-songwriter Barney Bentall is a strong advocate of mentoring. He was quoted in the Vancouver Sun "Having them access some time with people who have gone through some of this stuff is invaluable. "I've often said to somebody that it's terrible in rock n' roll, there's no kind of mentor system. When we were all of a sudden touring and putting out records I would have loved to have been able to call up someone, like Randy Bachman, and say 'I don't know what to do at this particular juncture; - to be able to talk to somebody who's had a lot of experience." Barney also is part of The Cariboo Express, a musical touring group of artists, that raise funds for mentoring troubled youth to reduce crime.
World Vision Canada President and CEO Dave Toycen is a mentor to multiple award-winning Canadian singer and musician Tom Cochrane is known as one of the most influential musicians in Canada and has been described as a mentor to many.
American guitarist, bassist, and co-founder of the rock duo Steely Dan, a group that has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Walter Becker (1950-2017) was a mentor to Grammy-nominated keyboardist, composer and arranger John Beasley. Mr. Beasley recalled the role his mentor had in helping him stretch his boundaries: "Walter was a mentor to me. Of course I was a Steely Dan fan, and I met him when I was in my mid-20s and he hired me as a young guy to play on this Rickie Lee Jones record and we kind of hit it off. I wasn't really able to be there that long. That was when Miles Davis called me, and I didn't know what to do. So I talked to (Becker) and he, of course, said, 'Well, you gotta go,' so he kind of pushed me out the door. And while I was out with Miles he got a production deal at Windham Hill and he signed me to my first record deal and produced my first two records, and we became really close."
American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor Bobby Darin (1936-1973) was a mentor to Chicago-born American musician, best known as a co-founder of the Byrds, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Roger McGuinn. He said of his mentor: "Bobby was a mentor to me. He gave me a sense of what the old school of show business was all about. He was meticulous, suit pressed, shoes shined and always on time and in tune. He had worked with George Burns, and had learned the vaudeville approach to performing. He had mastered singing, dancing, mime, impressions and many musical instruments. I asked him for tips on succeeding in the music business and he was generous with his advice. One tip was to get in front of audiences as much as possible. He said it didn't matter how good you were in front of a mirror, you had to test it under fire. I took his advice and performed in as many clubs and coffee houses as I could to develop my confidence as a performer. Another tip was to get into Rock and Roll. I did that as well and the result was my band The Byrds. So I owe a lot to Bobby Darin. He was a true hero to me."
Chicago-born American musician, best known as a co-founder of the Byrds, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Roger McGuinn was a mentor to Florida-born American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor Tom Petty (1950-2017).
American singer, songwriter, poet and lead vocalist of the rock group The Doors Jim Morrison (1943-1971) was a mentor to biography and autobiograpy writer as well as manager of the rock group The Doors Danny Sugarman (1954-2005).
Paris-born French vocalist, songwriter, cabaret performer, and actress Edith Piaf (1915-1963) was a mentor to Paris-born, multiple award-winning singer, songwriter, diplomat, and advocate for the Armenian people Charles Aznavour (1924-2018).
International pop musician from Senegal Youssou N'Dour is a mentor to Hondouras singer, guitarist, composer, percussionist and musician Aurelio Martínez. The mentoring relationship began in 2017 as part of the Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative.
American musician and singer-songwriter Buddy Holly (1936-1959) was a mentor to country singer/songwriter/outlaw Waylon Jennings (1937-2002).
American singer/songwriter, musician and composer Ray Charles (1930-2004) was a mentor to Detroit-based jazz soul trumpeter Marcus Belgrave (1936-2105) who in turn was a mentor to a generation of jazz musicians, including pianist Geri Allen, saxophonists Marcus Elliot, Stephan Grady, Kenny Garrett and James Carter, the violinist Regina Carter, the bassists Marion Hayden, Rodney Whitaker and Robert Hurst, and the drummers Gayelynn McKinner, Karriem Riggins and Ali Jackson.
Oklahoma-born American singer-songwriter and one of the most significant forces in American folk music Woody Guthrie (1912-1967); Brooklyn, New York-born American folk singer Dave Van Ronk (1936-2002); and Staten Island, New York-born American folk singer, songwriter, musician and social justice activist Joan Baez are all mentors to Bob Dylan.
Jerry Garcia mentor to Carlos Santana and Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is a mentor to Jewel.
American singer/songwriter, guitarist, pianist Gram Parsons (1946-1973) is a mentor to country star, singer/songwriter, Grammy-award winner Emmylou Harris.
Aline Shader (1936-2002), singer, songwriter is a mentor to Julie Silver, singer/songwriter
Vibraphonist Gary Burton is a mentor to Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, and Julian Lage.
Yusef Latif (1920-2013) was a mentor to many younger musicians.
American jazz tenor player Joe Henderson (1937-2001) was a mentor to Chick Corea and bassist Stanley Clarke.
Kenny Dorham and Art Farmer are mentors to pianist Steve Kuhn.
Ammon Nennacy (pacifist) mentor to Bruce "Utah" Phillips (folk singer, box car patron) mentor to Rob Weir (history professor at Smith College and folk music reviewer)
Mel Torme mentor to Maureen McGovern (Broadway singer)
Jazz pianist Dick Twardzik (1931-1955) was a mentor to musician, composer, conductor, sax player, Bob Freedman.
Mitch Miller (1911-2010) is a mentor to Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Marty Robbins, Jerry Vale, and Mahalia Jackson
Singer Sam Cooke (1931-1964, Bio) is a mentor to singer Lou Rawls (Bio) and trumpeter, arranger, composer Herb Alpert (Bio).
Muddy Waters (1913-1983) was a mentor to Solomon Burke and Paul Butterfield (1942-1987) of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Don Cornelius (1936-2012) was Mr. SoulTrain. He taught the world how to dance through his innovative Soul Train TV-program, which became the longest-running syndicated show in TV history. However, all of his success might not have happened if he hadn't met his future mentor when he was working as a beat cop. One day he was giving a ticket to Roy Wood, who was the news director at Chicago's WVON. As Wood listened to what Don was saying, he was taken by Cornelius' rumbling, seductive baritone. Though he lamented getting a ticket, Wood couldn't help but ask Cornelius, "Have you ever thought about getting into radio?"
Jack Benny mentor to Gisele McKenzie (Canadian singer, violinist, comic actress)
Ravi Shankar mentor to Shambu Das (sitar teacher of George Harrison), George Harrison, and Phillip Glass
Legendary guitarist Sabicas (1912-1990) was a mentor to flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia (1948-2014)
Jann Arden (Canadian singer and songwriter) mentored by her parents
Chris Sheppard (songwriter and producer) mentor to Simone Denny (singer, Love Inc.)
Rex Sexsmith (Canadian songwriter and singer) mentored by Kurt Swinghammer (Canadian singer and songwriter Bio)
Max Martin (Backstreet Boys) mentor to Britney Spears
Jewel mentored by her mother, Nedra Carroll
Mike Appel (manager) mentor to Bruce Springsteen
Robert Stigwood (manager) mentor to the Bee Gees (Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb)
Brian Eno, John Lennon (1940-1980), Lindsay Kemp (British dancer, mime, and choreographer), and the Velvet Underground were mentors to David Bowie (1947-2016)
John Prine is a mentor to singer/songwriter Paul Thorn
Lowell George (Little Feat band leader, died of a heart attack in 1979) mentor to Valerie Carter (Bio)
Huey Lewis mentor to Bruce Hornsby
Don Henley mentor to Sheryl Crow
Former Eagle Bernie Leadon & guitarist Andy Fairweather Low are mentors to Grammy-nominated Ethan Johns
Stevie Wonder mentor to India.Arie and soul stylist Andra Day.
Harvey Fuqua mentor to Marvin Gay
Carol Welsman mentored by George Welsman, Tony Tobias, and Christiane Legrand
Lenny Breau mentor to Randy Bachman
Randy Bachman mentor to Burton Cummings
Burton Cummings mentor to Robert Plant
David Foster mentor to Michael Buble
John Mayall mentor to Debbie Davies (blues guitarist)
Lucinda Williams (singer, songwriter) mentored by her father, Miller (biology teacher and poet)
Amy Sky mentor to Olivia Newton-John
Country singing legend George Jones (1932-2013) is a mentor to country singer Vince Gill
Josephine (Dolly) Rathebe (South African singer and actress) and Harry Belafonte were mentors to Miriam Makeba (1932-2008).
Gram Parsons mentor to Emmylou Harris
Chiquinha Gonzaga (Brazilian composer, Bio 1847-1935) mentored by Joaquim Antonio da Silva Callado Jr. (Brazilian flutist, 1848-1880)
Whitney Houston mentored by her mother, Cissy Houston and Clive Davis
Whitney Houston mentor to Brandy
Mentor College is located in Mississauga, Ontario
Abbey Lincoln mentor to Cassandra Wilson
George Burns mentor to Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin (Bio) mentor to Wayne Newton
Florence Greenberg (record company owner) mentor to Dionne Warwick
Ustad Shahid Parvez (world's best sitar player, Bio) mentor to Anwar Khurshid (Canadian sitar player and co-founder Sitar School of Toronto)
Gloria Estefan mentored by her grandmother, Consuela Garcia
Eddie Jefferson (jazz composer) mentor to George V. Johnson (jazz vocalist)
Stanley Crouch (writer) mentor to Wynton Marsalis (musician - trumpet)
Wynton Marsalis (jazz trumpeter) mentor to Roy Hargrove, Terence Blanchard and Harry Connick, Jr.
Ellis Marsalis, Jr. mentor to Harry Connick, Jr.
Ruby Braff (trumpet) mentor to Scott Hamilton (sax) and Harold Alden (guitar)
Sidney Bechet mentor to Bob Wilbur (thanks to Stan Brager for documenting this connection)
Sonny Rollins mentor to David Ware
Jack DeJohnette (jazz drummer-bandleader) is a mentor to many young musicians.
Dave King (producer, drummer) is a mentor to Chris Morrissey (jazz bassist)
Elvin Jones (Bio) mentor to Paul Goldberg (Bio) and John Densmore (A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385304471/peerresources">Bio)
The great composer Antonio Carlos Jobim is a mentor to Brazilian music icon Sergio Mendes.
Giovanni Marradi (composer and pianist) mentored by his father Alfredo Marradi
Steep Wade mentor to Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson mentor to Benny Green
Albert Pratz (violinist and conductor of the TSO) mentor to Lenny Solomon (Juno award-winning jazz violinist)
Conductor Gustavo Dudamel calls $50,000 Glenn Gould Prize winner Jose Antonio Abreu his mentor
Leonard Bernstein is a mentor to Maurice Peress (orchestra conductor at Queens College)
Hugh Masekela mentor to Anansa
African hand drumming musician "Papa" Emile Latimer (1934-2013), American playwright and writer, Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965), poet, novelist and playwright Langston Hughes (1902-1967), & writer, producer, singer Rexino Mondo were all mentors to singer Nina Simone (1933-2003).
Clark Terry (1921-2015) mentor to Tony Lujan, pianist Justin Kauflin, Cecil Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, Miles Davis,, Quincy Jones, and trumpeter Byron Stripling
Wayne Shorter mentor to Rachel Nicolazzo (Rachel Z)
Joe (King) Oliver (1881-1938) mentor to Louis (Satchmo) Armstrong (1901-1971).
James P. Johnson mentor to Fats Waller
Fats Waller (1904-1943, Bio) was a mentor to Duke Ellington (1899-1974, Bio)
Dennis Sandole (jazz guitarist) mentor to John Coltrane
Hakan Hardenberger (Swedish virtuoso) mentor to Alison Balsom (British trumpet player)
Roy Hanyes, Art Blakey and Ellis Marsalis mentors to Donald Harrision (jazz sax player)
Jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave is a mentor to bassist Marion Hayden & drummer Gayelynn McKinney
Lester Young mentor to Zoot Sims
Mario Bauza (Cuban trumpeter) mentor to Don Byron (jazz clarinet player)
Generoso "Tojo" Jimenez (Cuban trombonist) mentor to Juan Pablo Torres
Edward C. Buchanan, Sr. (American jazz trumpeter and teacher) mentor to Miles Davis
Miles Davis and Billy Higgins mentors to Bennie Maupin
Miles Davis mentor to alto and soprano saxophonist Kenny Garrett, bassist Darryl Jones, and jazz pianist Chick Corea
American pianist and singer Shirley Horn (1934-2005); and Quincy Jones were mentored by jazz trumpeter and composr Miles Davis (1926-1991).
American pianist and singer Shirley Horn (1934-2005); and African-American jazz vocalist, actress, and songwriter Abbey Lincoln (1930-2010) are mentors to American jazz vocalist Kendra Shank.
Quincy Jones is a mentor to Tamia Washington.
Lenny Tristano (pianist and composer) is a mentor to jazz sax player Lee Konitz (Bio).
John Coltrane is a mentor to McCoy Tyner and Wayne Shorter
Dizzy Gillespie is a mentor to Arturo Sandoval (Cuban trumpet player and composer), Ray Brown (acoustic bassist of the Year), David Sanchez (jazz sax player), Paquito D'Rivera, and Ed Cherry (jazz guitarist).
Valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer (1929-2011) was a mentor to Darcy James Argue Secret Society and Canadian Boss Brass leader, composer and arranger Rob McConnell (1935-2010). Susan Smith, writing about Mr. McConnell's death from cancer in the Globe and Mail, said, "Because jazz owned his soul, it kept him up nights jamming in bars around town and sent him in search of mentors."
Lionel Hampton is a mentor to Quincy Jones and many other jazz greats
Musician Ike Turner (1931-2007) was a mentor to Mack Rice (1933-2016), who wrote Mustang Sally.
Bobby Shriver, activist, attorney, and journalist, is a mentor to musician Bono.
American Latin jazz musician Cal Tjader (1925-1982) is a mentor to Mexian American jazz band leader Poncho Sanchez.
American film and TV actor Timothy Carey (1929-1994) was a mentor to American musician and songwriter Frank Zappa (1940-1993).
American jazz pianist John Lewis (1920-2001) was a mentor to jazz pianist, arranger, and record producer Dick Katz (1924-2009).
English-American jazz pianist, composer, writer, and jazz radio host Marian McPartland (1918-2013) was a mentor to many young artists, including pianists Geri Allen, Roberta Pinket, and Joanne Brakeen.
Finish composer, conductor, and teacher Jorma Panula is a mentor to Finish conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen.
American jazz coronetist/pianist Bix Beiderbecke (1903-1931) was a mentor to American coronetist and one of the originators of "Chicago jazz" Jimmy McPartland 1907-1991).
Stan Kenton mentor to June Christy
Benny Goodman mentor to Jack Sheldon
Band leader Woody Herman (1913-1987) was a mentor to Don Lanphere (1928-2003)
Willie 'The Lion' Smith, Henry Grant (high school music teacher), and Oliver 'Doc' Perry (music teacher) mentors to Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington mentor to Tony Bennett, Abdullah Ibrahim (jazz pianist) and Lena Horne
Carl Allen (drummer) mentor to Christian McBride
Teddy Wilson mentor to Lena Horne
Pierre Marchand mentor to Sarah McLachlan
Gil Evans (jazz composer/arranger) mentor to Maria Schneider (jazz composer)
Stan Getz (jazz sax player) mentor to Diane Schuur (jazz pianist Bio)
Jimmy Rowles mentor to Diana Krall
Johnny Mercer mentor to Margaret Whiting (singer)
Bing Crosby mentor to Frank Sinatra
Edward Garrison mentor to Hoagy B. Carmichael (composer, piano player, angler)
Margaret Whiting mentor to Paul Bernhardt (pop-jazz singer)
Irene Wilson Kitchings mentor to Carmen McRae (jazz singer, Bio)
Michael Meldrum (singer/songwriter) mentor to Ani DiFranco
Nat King Cole, Wes Montgomery and Hank Garland are all mentors to George Benson
Nat King Cole (1919-1965) is a mentor to singer, actress Diahann Carroll.
Charlie "Bird" Parker (1920-1955), sax player, and one of the greatest musicians of any age is a mentor to Max Roach (1924-2007), jazz drummer. In talking about his mentor's legacy, Mr. Roach said that had Bird thought about how he would be remembered by history, he probably would have not been consumed by drugs.
Chick Webb (jazz drummer and band leader) mentor to Ella Fitzgerald
Jazz composer Joe Venuti (1903-1978) is a mentor to jazz singer Kay Starr.
Arthur Taylor (drummer and band leader) mentor to Marc Cary (jazz pianist)
Billy Taylor (pianist) is a mentor to Christian Sands (pianist with the Christian McBridge Trio)
Cedar Walton (1934-2013, Bio) is a mentor to saxophonist Vincent Herring.
Tony Williams (drummer with Miles Davis) mentor to Herbie Hancock
Mario Bauzá mentor to Tito Puente
Gertrude Ma Rainey mentor to Bessie Smith
Mahalia Jackson mentor to Della Reese
John Christian Bach mentor to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Captain Lou Albano mentor to Cyndi Lauper
Eddie Cantor mentor to Eddie Fisher
Cole Porter mentor to Leslie Hutchinon
Jim Hall mentor to Pat Metheny
Jimmy Cliff, Ernest Papa Ranglin, and Rastafarian elder Mortimer Planno (drummer) mentors to Bob Marley
Tony DeFries (manager) mentor to John Mellencamp
Fred McDowell mentor to Mr. Wizard (blues artist, Fat Possum)
Chantal Kreviazuk (singer and songwriter) mentored by her mother
Walt Disney is a mentor to Donnie and Marie Osmond
Mariah Carey mentor to Christina Aguilera
Otis Clay mentor to Billy Price
Dave Van Ronk (1936-2002), singer and songwriter, was a mentor to dozens of artists, including Shawn Colvin and Suzanne Vega
Jeff Hardy (songwriter) mentor to Suzanne Vega
Jackson Browne mentor to Warren Zevon
Randy Bachman mentor to Bruce Allen (President, Bruce Allen Talent) and Burton Cummings
Rufus Thomas mentor to Otis Redding
Paul Robeson (Bio) mentor to Harry Belafonte
Berry Gordy (creator of Motown Records) mentor to Smokey Robinson and Diana Ross
Hank Snow mentor to Elvis Presley
Albert King mentor to Big Clara McDaniel
Clarence Gatemouth Brown mentored by his father and T-Bone Walker
Son House (delta blues pioneer) mentor to John Mooney (slide guitar player) and Robert Johnson
Ben E. King mentor to Jimmy Young
Muddy Waters mentor to Buddy Guy, Charlie Musselwhite (blues harmonica player, Bio), Jimmy Vaughan (blues guitarist, Bio), Solomon Burke (Bio), and Paul Butterfield (1942-1987) of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Buddy Guy is a mentor to teen guitarist Quinn Sullivan.
Singer Dee Dee Bridgewater is a mentor to jazz trumpeter Theo Croker.
Jazz trumpeter Don Cherry (1936-1995) was a mentor to Latin jazz sax player Gato Barbieri (1932-2016).
Tina Turner is a mentor to Mick Jagger
Solomon Burke is a mentor to Mick Jagger
Albert Collins is a mentor to Coco Montoya
Lou Reed (1942-2013) mentored by Delmore Schwartz (1913-1966) and Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Buddy Guy mentor to Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Mark Knopfler, and teen guitarist Quinn Sullivan.
B.B. King (1925-2015) is a mentor to many, including Eric Clapton and Randy Bachman. Mr. Bachman said of his mentor, "I first played a show with B.B. in the mid-60's. He told me I 'played pretty good for a white boy,' but needed to 'make a few faces' to show that I 'felt the notes and strings I was bending.' To this day, there are many pictures of me playing my B.B. King string-bending notes and my face looks like someone is stepping on my foot. Every time I do that on stage, I think of him."
Blues great James Cotton is a mentor to blues prodigy Joshua King (see them play together on YouTube.
Tom Waits is a mentor to Chuck E. Weiss
Andres Segovia is a mentor to John Williams (guitarist)
Chris Barber mentor to Lonnie Donegan
Box Car Willie and Porter Wagoner mentors to Dolly Parton
Rufus Payne (street musician) mentor to Hank Williams
Hank Williams (1923-1953) was a mentor to Ray Price (1926-2013)
Patsy Cline mentor to Loretta Lynn
Bill Monroe mentor to Ricky Skaggs (Bio)
Reba McEntire mentor to Martina McBride
Willie Mitchell (1928-2010), record producer and arranger, was a mentor to Memphis songwriter and guitarist Mabon Teenie Hodges
Linda Davis (Grammy award country singer) mentor to Rachelle Nicole
Songwriter Freddy Powers is a mentor to country singer Mary Sarah
Pinetop Perkins and Sippie Wallace mentors to Bonnie Raitt
The Midnighters (Paul Wainwright, Steven Dubey, and Eric Emde) mentors to Victoria High School music students
Buck Owens mentor to Dwight Yoakam
Owen Bradley (Nashville producer) mentor to Patsy Cline
Chet Atkins mentor to Suzy Bogguss
Bryan Lee mentor to Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Carl Perkins mentor to George Harrison
Tony Trischka (banjo teacher) mentor to Bela Fleck (jazz artist, composer)
Alan Lomax mentor to Pete Seeger
Lola Montez (actress, dancer) mentor to Lotta Crabtree (variety star, comedienne)
Lotta Crabtree mentor to Jake Wallace (minstrel)
Daniel Lanois (recording engineer and producer) mentor to Trina Shoemaker (recording engineer) and Malcolm Burn (record producer)
Fred Gaisberg (EMI Records) mentor to Isabella Wallich (first female record producer)
Master P (record producer) mentor to Mystikal (aka rapper Mike Tyler)
Rabbi Shumley mentor to Michael Jackson
FKA Prince mentor to St. Paul Peterson and Apollonia
Prince is a mentor to the all-female R&B group King
Fat Joe mentor to Big Pun
Take a walk down Mentor Street in the Hume Region of Victoria, Australia
Ruben Blades mentor to Paul Simon and Marc Anthony
Sting considers Paul Simon his mentor
Arthur Kratzman (high school teacher and retired university professor) mentor to Joni Mitchell
Merle Haggard (1937-2016) was a mentor to Nashville songwriter Max Barnes and country singers Billy Ray Cyrus, Tobey Keith and Jamey Johnson. Mr. Johnson said, "Merle Haggard was a mentor to me. But more than that, he cared about me. He wanted to make sure I learned something from him not just the music, not just the lifestyle, but something good. You've heard it said, 'You give a man a fish, he eats for a day. You teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.' Merle taught me how to make music, and that's how I make my living and feed my family today. I couldn't owe anybody a greater debt of gratitude than I owe Merle Haggard."
Amereican country singer Ray Price (1926-2013) is a mentor to country singer/songwriter Willie Nelson.
British singing teacher Mollie Petrie (1921-2016) was a mentor to English soprano Susan Chilcott (1963-2003).
T-Bone Walker was a mentor the keyboard legend Keith Emerson (1944-2016).
American rock musician Ronnie Montrose (1947-2012) was a mentor to rock musician Marc Bonilla.
Dan Hicks (-2016) was a mentor to Mandonlin Steve. "He became a mentor for me, both musically and personally, as the way he lived his life and played his music set examples for me and the way I did mine. Our friendship crossed generations and social and economic lines, occupying a place where such distinctions didnÕt matter."
American soprano, teacher and university dean Phyllis Curtin (1921-2016) was a mentor to American countertenor, Bejun Mehta. and many participants at Tanglewood.
American singer/songwriter performer Prince (1958-2016) was a mentor to Canadian singer/songwriter, and dancer Vanity (Denise Matthews, 1959-2016).
Jazz sax player Jim Pepper (?-1992) and guitarist Buddy Fite, musical director for Johnny Mathis and Henry Mancini are both mentors to blues band leader Linda Myers.
Bandleader and composer Mitch Miller (1911-2010), American Baptist minister and civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), and Gospel composer Thomas Dorsey (1899-1993) were mentors to American Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972) who was a mentor to American Gospel singer and humanitarian Albertina Walker (1929-2010), American singer and actress Della Reese and American singer/songwriter Aretha Franklin.
Iconic traditional jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain (1930-2016) is a mentor to clarinetist Tim Laughlin.
Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) is a mentor to Vancouver-based singer Kenny Colman.
Latino rock 'n' roll idol Richie Valens (1941-1959) was a mentor to American guitarist and vocalist Chris Montez.
American blues and gospel singer Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893-1929) was a mentor to blues singer/songwriter Robert Johnson (1911-1938).
Canadian jazz pianist and arranger Gil Evans (1912-1988) was a mentor to composer and big band leader Maria Schneider.
Swing-jazz guitarist, accordionist, chromatic harmonica player and whistler Toots Thielemans (1922-2016). is a mentor to Swiss jazz musician GrŽgoire Maret., guitarist Elliott Randall., and singer, guitarist and blues performer Rob Paparozzi
Jazz musician, composer, pianist and Grammy Award winner Ramsey Lewis was a mentor to Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White (1941-2016), who was a mentor to American jazz sax player and Grammy Award winner Gerald Albright.
Bandleader and composer Mitch Miller (1911-2010), American Baptist minister and civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), and Gospel composer Thomas Dorsey (1899-1993) were mentors to American Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972) who was a mentor to American Gospel singer and humanitarian Albertina Walker (1929-2010), American singer and actress Della Reese and American singer/songwriter Aretha Franklin.
Grammy lifetime achievement award winner, Cajun and Creole recording artist Clifton Chenier (1925-1987) was a mentor to great party band accordian player and Grammy award winner Stanley Dural Jr. (1947-2016), also known as Buckwheat Zydeco.
Trumpeter, band leader, and funny guy Jack Sheldon calls fluglehorn player and bandleader Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993), American guitarist and composer Jack Marshall (1921-1973), and American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader Benny Goodman (1909-1986) his mentors.
Twenty-two time Grammy winner Chick Corea counts American jazz tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson (1937-2001), jazz trumpeter, bandleader and composer Miles Davis (1926-1991), and jazz educator and vibraphonist Gary Burton, as mentors.
Professor Emeritus of Flute and former Director of the Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho and currently at the Lionel Hampton School of Music in Anacortes, Washington, Richard Hahn, is a mentor to Victoria-based musician Tom White.
Canadian rock band performer (Chilliwack, Hometown Band and Skylark) Doug Edwards (-2016), and wrote the lyrics to Wildflower.
Rock musician, singer/songwriter and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Leon Russell (1942-2016) mentor to multiple Grammy-winning legend Elton John and pianist Bruce Hornsby.
Jazz and blues pianist and vocalist Mose Allison (1927-2016) is a mentor to American jazz and rock musician Ben Sidran and British singer and keyboardist Georgie Fame and was mentored by jazz sax player and composer Al Cohn (1925-1988)
American jazz composer and alto sax player Lee Konitz is a mentor jazz sax and clarinet player Billy Drewes.
Multiple Grammy Award winner British musician Elton John was a mentor British pop superstar George Michael (1963-2016).
Roma musician and singer Esma Redzepova (1943-2016) was mentored by Macedonian composer Stevo Teodosievski.
Canadian vocal coach, pianist, radio broadcaster and recipient of the Order of Canada Stuart Hamilton (1929-2016) was described as a "great mentor and a great friend to everybody."
Jazz drummer and bandleader Jo Jones (1911-1985) and bandleader and composer Duke Elliington (1899-1974) were mentors to jazz writer, historian and advocate, Nat Hentoff (1925-2017).
American jazz player and bandleader Benny Carter (1907-2003) was a mentor to jazz trumpeter Miles Davis (1926-1991) and is a mentor to Quincy Jones.
Singer Nat King Cole (1919-1965) and bandleader Benny Goodman (1909-1986) were mentors to jazz pianist and pop singer Buddy Greco (1926-2017).
Multi-instrumentalist and jazz icon Cooper-Moore is a mentor to jazz pianist Mara Rosenbloom.
Canadian musician Al Pease is a mentor to many other Canadian musicians including guitarist and bandleader Avram McCagherty.
Award-winning American singer, actress and comedian Bette Midler was mentored by William Hennessy.
Champion of folk music and social change advocate Pete Seeger (1919-2014) is a mentor to Bob Dylan, Don McLean, Bernice Johnson Reagon, and Bruce Springsteen.
Lead guitarist of The Whyte Feather Band John Paull (1953-2013) of the Squamish Nation was an influential rock & roll and blues musician and mentor to several Aboriginal guitarists in Canada.
Paul Horn (1930-2014) was a flautist and the guru of New Age music. He was a Grammy Award winning musician who performed with Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole and many others, and who recorded over 50 albums, including the classic that began the New Age music era, Inside the Taj Mahal. A British Columbia resident Paul Horn studied transcendental meditation (TM) with the Maharishi in India at the same time as the Beatles, Mike Love of the Beach Boys and Donovan. His reverence for deep philosophical thought was considered a major influence on the Fab Four, and after their meeting in India Paul became one of the very first TM teachers in the United States. He said that TM was instrumental in changing the way he looked at a lot of things in life and that it reorganized his priority system: "You start gravitating toward what you really should be doing in life," he said. Despite his philosophical and spiritual interests increasingly pulling him away from the music business, his dedication to integrating those interests with his music led one of the many he mentored to say that Paul once told him "Listen close; listen for the possibilities in silence; and whenever you're playing, let people hear your soul."
Dr. Dale Louis, former, Dean of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Music is a mentor to Manitoba-born, award-winning Canadian musician, composer, harpist, pianist, member of the Order of Canada and awarded the Doctor of Laws by the University of Manitoba, Loreen McKennitt.
Canadian musician, teacher, storyteller and founding musical director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Glenn Mallory (1932-2017) was a "mentor to many."
Canadian-born artist, singer, songwriter, and musician Joni Mitchell was mentored by Australian-born Canadian teacher, professor, and educator Arthur Kratzman (1924-2015), who was a mentor to hundreds while he was a teacher in Saskatchewan and professor in Alberta and a professor at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia. While acting as a teacher to Joni Mitchell (then known as Roberta Joan Anderson) in grade 6 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he helped her find her own voice. When he first met her she said she was scared to go into grade 7 because everyone there can writer. Dr. Kratzmann said to her, "Don't be scared. Anyone who can paint such beautiful pictures with a brush can do the same thing with a pen." That idea stuck with her. "She also had a tendency to paint and copy others. I told her she had to learn to 'paint in her own blood.'" That also took hold of her. She dedicated her first album to her mentor. http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2008/11/arthur-kratzman.html
Gatineau, Quebec-born Canadian Paul Demers (1956-2015), a singer and founding president of the Association des professionels de la chanson et de la musique, is considered a mentor to generations of young francophone artists.
Montreal-born French-Canadian songwriter and composer StŽphane Venne
Award-winning Edmunston, New Brunswick-born Canadian singer, actor, musician and TV-host Roch Voisine who wanted to be a professional hockey player but had to set aside his plans as a result of a serious injury while playing baseball, was mentored by award-winning Quebec director and producer and Officer of Canada recipient Jean Bissonnette (1934-2016).
Canadian poet, songwriter, Ottawa cab driver and musician William Hawkins (-2016) is a mentor to Ottawa-born Canadian singer, songwriter and member of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Bruce Cockburn. Bruce said of his mentor, "Bill was an inadvertent mentor to me. I don't think he would have seen himself that way, but he had that influence and it was important to me. We were both interested in the mystical and metaphysical things that were around in the '60s. And I had been studying the beat writers in high school and I equated Bill with the great beat poets. I held him in great esteem.
Quebec-born Canadian singing superstar and businessperson and philanthropist Celine Dion, who has cited many artists as having an influence on her, described her late husband Quebec-born music producer, talent manager and singer RenŽ AngŽlil (1942-2016) as her mentor. Under his mentorship, Celine Dion became one of the greatest stars in the history of pop music, earning two SOCAN Awards, 20 JUNOs, five Grammys, seven American Music Awards, and 10 Billboard Awards, among countless others.
American musician Matt Cameron was a mentor to American musician, singer and songwriter Chris Cornell (1964-2017), lead singer of the bands Soundgarden and Autoslave. Chris Cornell was a mentor to American musician, singer, songwriter and lead vocalist for the band Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder.
American Neale Donald Walsch, author of Conversations with God, among others, is called a spiritual mentor by Ottawa, Ontario-born Canadian American singer/songwriter, musician, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and actor Alanis Morissette.
American impresario Harvey Lichtenstein (1929-2017) is a mentor to former Booklyn College of Music executive producer Joseph Melillo.
Detroit-born Motown singer/songwriter and producer Sylvia Moy (1938-2017), who helped Stevie Wonder find his sound, was described as a mentor to young people interested in the arts.
American jazz pianist, composer, educator and Grammy Award-winner Dr. Billy Taylor (1921-2010) is a mentor to jazz pianist Christian Sands.
American poet, playwright, songwriter and novelist Michael McClure was a mentor to American singer, poet, songwriter and lead singer of the Doors psychedelic rock group, Jim Morrison (1943-1971).
Miley Cyrus is a mentor to Ariana Grande.
American musician, bassist and producer George Reiff (1960-2017) was a mentor to Texas-born American alternative rock musician, songwriter and one-man-band Lincoln Durham.
Award-winning American southern rock musician, singer, songwriter, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, founder of the Allman Brothers Band and survivor of a ten-year marriage to Cher, Gregg Allman (1947-2017) was mentored by blues and sould musician, singer, songwriter Flloyd Miles and New York City-born record producer Tom Dowd (1925-2002), who is often credited with creating the multi-track recording method.
American rock bass player Ron Hill, who played with Magic Sam is a mentor to Scott Sharrard, blues guitar and rock and roll player.
London, Ontario-born, multiple award-winning Canadian singer and songwriter Justin Bieber is a mentor to Mission, British Columbia-born singer, songwriter, musician and multiple award-winner Carly Rae Jepsen, who began her working life as a barista and bartender and studied musical theatre at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, British Columbia.
Toronto, Ontario-born multiple award-winning Canadian musician, singer-songwriter, producer and director, member of the Order of Canada, entrepreneur and humanitarian Neil Young was mentored by American record producer David Briggs (1944-1995), who first met Neil Young when he picked him up as a hitchhiker in 1968; and Randy Bachman.
Canadian singer songwriter, musician and producer Neil Young, the man who brought the Lionel model train company back to life is a mentor to American singer songwriter, muscian, and record producer Jeff Tweedy.
The distance from Mentor, Ohio to Glen Campbell, Pennsylvania is 320km.
American trumpeter and teacher Marcus Belgrave (1936-2015) was a mentor to American jazz pianist and composer Geri Allen (1957-2017), who said about her mentor, "By believing in my talent, Marcus gave me a sense of hope and confidence to pursue jazz as an art and a lifestyle. He also gave many others and me the opportunity to test our abilities in real time on stage."
Cesária Évora (1941-2011) from Mindelo in the tiny Cape Verde islands of Senegal, and hailed as one of the most influential black voices in the world, is recognized as a mentor by several singers, including Fantcha, who was also born in Mindelo, Lura, also from Cape Verde, Mayra Andrade, the Cuban-born singer, and Sara Tavares, who was born in Lisbon. Cesária sang barefoot becoming known as 'The Barefoot Diva' and in a style called morna, a slow ballad, typically about love, sorrow and history. Her recorded music and live performances garnered an audience around the world, and captured the hearts of millions of fans with her catchy songs made for dancing or expressing laments, and singing the blues. Her own rise to fame and world recognition came after a considerable struggle to rise out of the poverty of her youth. She had a long history of health problems and had gone through several operations including open heart surgery in 2010. She returned to performing soon after her surgery, but in late 2011 while in Paris, her own mentor, Jose da Silva, a record producer, and her doctors noticed how weak she had become and told her she needed to give up her career and curtail her international travel. She had to cancel scheduled concerts in Armenia, Romania, France, Switzerland, and the U.K. At the age of 70 she told an interviewer for Le Monde, "I have no strength, no energy. I want you to say to my fans: I'm sorry, but now I must rest. I deeply regret having to take time off for illness, I wanted to give more pleasure to those who have followed me for so long. But life goes on. I came to you. I did my best. I've had a career that many would have wished for." The Cape Verdean government declared a national mourning for 48 hours after her death. She will be greatly missed and her legacy lives on in those she mentored.
A Kennedy Center Honoree, legendary jazz musician Dave Brubeck (1920-2012) died one day short of his 92nd birthday. He originally went to college to study veterinary medicine, but switched to major in music even though while he played jazz as good as the best, he couldn't read a single note. Like many other jazz musicians of his era he served in the military during WWII under the command of General George Patton (1885-1945). The Red Cross asked the General if he could provide volunteer musicians for their shows, and he asked Private Brubeck to volunteer, enabling him to miss the Battle of the Bulge. From the 1950s on, Dave Brubeck toured on behalf of the US State Department acting as a jazz mentor in unlikely places such as Turkey, Iraq, and Pakistan. He became an exceptional mentor for Western life resulting in the New Yorker magazine stating that, "Whenever (Secretary of State) John Foster Dulles visits a country, the State Department sends the Brubeck Quartet in a few weeks later to repair the damage." His own mentor, Duke Ellington (1899-1974), often stated how he never stopped learning from his mentee. I was fortunate to listen to Dave Brubeck at one of his many gigs at the Blackhawk in San Francisco. He typically played there with his trio of bandmates: Joe Morello (1928-2011) on drums, Paul Desmond (1924-1977) on sax, and Eugene Wright on bass. While this club was home to other jazz greats, including Cal Tjader (1925-1982), another jazz mentor, and comics like Canadian-born American Mort Sahl, the club itself was in a seedy part of the city known as the Tenderloin. This was the place where prostitution, drugs, and porn were prevalent in the city. It was always a scary routine to get there, and waiting for the Muni bus to go home after one of Dave's shows was even more scary. Despite the atmosphere outside the club (which I have heard is no longer there), Dave's personal, easy-going manner and his friendly banter with the audience, transported everyone in the club to a much higher plane. If the club existed today, I'm sure they'd have small dispensers of hand sanitizer on every table along with the great martinis they served.
Shirley Horn (1934-2005) was another jazz pianist and vocalist mentored by Miles Davis (1926-1991). Ms. Horn began her musical life with the dream of becoming a classical pianist. But jazz clubs in her hometown of Washington, DC were the only places she could listen to other pianists eventhough she was underage. Her recognition by Miles Davis catapulted her career, partly because Miles Davis was notorious for hardly ever saying anything positive about anybody. Eventually she was nominated for nine Grammy Awards, was awarded the Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and peformed at The White House for several U.S. presidents. During Ms. Horn's career she became a mentor to many women in the music business because of her ability to raise a family and actively perform. One of the people she mentored was singer Kendra Shank. Ms. Shank started as a folk singer during her college years and was influenced by the styles of Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell and James Taylor. She had studied French at university and also started singing French popular songs in Seattle restaurants. When she moved to New York she met her mentor, pianist Shirley Horn, who introduced her to the Village Vanguard stage in 1992. "I'm going to do for you what my mentor Miles Davis did for me," Ms. Horn told Kendra Shank. Working with Shirley Horn was, in part, an inspiration for her latest album, Mosaic, which is her fifth and most personal recording. On it are songs by Irving Berlin, Cedar Walton and Carole King, as well as some of her own original compositions. (Source: Hugo Kugiya, Seattle Times)
Jazz trumpeters Donald Byrd (1932-2013) and Miles Davis (1926-1991) were both mentors to jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock. Herbie's first musical experiences, however, started with training in classical music. His talent was recognized as early as age seven, and when he was 11 he played with the Chicago Symphony. As a teenager he started listening to jazz recordings of Canadian Oscar Peterson (1925-2007), and he began to teach himself jazz composition. Surprisingly, when he entered college he began his studies as a physics major and eventually switched to music. When Herbie Hancock met Donald Byrd, he complained to him that he was having difficulty composing his own jazz pieces. He didn't want to just copy the stylings of those great pianists that he admired like George Shearing (1919-2011), Don Goldberg, McCoy Tyner, and Wynton Kelly (1931-1971). Donald Byrd suggested that Herbie write about the "black experience" urban life, and city rhythms. He said, "Write about what you know." Herbie Hancock recalled the advice: "That's when I wrote Watermelon Man. That piece was based on the voice of a local watermelon vendor calling out in our neighbourhood. Became a best selling song. Mongo Santamaria, a conga player who found a way to blend Afro-Cuban and Afro-American music recorded Watermelon Man and made it a big hit all over Latin America in 1962. "Donald Byrd and I were roomates at the time and we were playing in a group together. One day I got a phone call from Miles Davis, who I didn't know even knew me. He asked me if I was working with anybody. I was so excited I put my hand over the phone and said to Donald, 'It's Miles; he wants to know if IÕm working with anybody.Õ Donald said to me, ÔI couldn't look at myself in the mirror if I stood in the way of you working with Miles Davis. Tell him you're not working with anyone.' I then said to Miles, 'No IÕm not.' He then said to me, 'Why don't you come over to my place and we'll play some.' I said, 'OK,' then he hung up. I was so stunned, thrilled and excited that it wasn't till about an hour later that I realized I had no idea where Miles lived or how to get in touch with him!" Herbie adds: "Miles could take bad music composed by a band member and make it great. He did the same for us as young musicians. He believed in our development and gave us the encouragement to grow."
As a member of the New York-based folk group the Weavers, American folk singer Ronnie Gilbert's voice on the song Goodnight Irene led the group, consisting of Pete Seeger, Lee Hays and Fred Hellerman, to the top of the music charts in 1950. But the group's song choices and political sympathies brought them attention from the FBI, and they were blacklisted as a result of the FBI's relentless anti-communist campaign. Ms. Gilbert's joyful contralto voice established a blueprint for folkgroups, encouraging audiences to sing along while Gilbert acted as a mentor for female singers. Their pursuit by the FBI haunted their performances and the Weavers disbanded in 1953. But in 1955 they reunited for a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. Mary Travers was in the audience. She was inspired by Gilbert's powerful voice, and with Ronnie Gilbert (1926-2015) as her mentor she would go on to sing with one of the greatest folk groups of the century, Peter, Paul and Mary. After the Weavers, Ms. Gilbert combined solo singing with acting, and in the 1970s she trained as a therapist and gained a degree in psychology.
Harvey Phillips (1929-2010), known as Mr. Tuba or the "Heifetz" of the tuba led a lifelong campaign to move the tuba from ridicule and its reputation as the "orchestral clown" to become a prominent solo instrument. His goal was to make sure "that no great composer is ever again going to live out his life without composing a major work for the tuba." He worked tirelessly around the world to create a wide-spread appreciation and understanding for his instrument. Mr. Phillips' first work as a tuba player occurred when as a teenager he left the University of Missouri to run away with the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The band in the circus had the responsibility to play an "alarm" in the case of any accident or problem. The purpose was to alert other circus folk that heard that particular tune to know there was trouble but to not alarm the audience. Often the "alarm" musical piece was a signal to "send in the clowns." On a trip to New York, Mr. Phillips met his soon-to-be mentor, William Bell (1902-1971), the tuba player with the New York Philharmonic. Mr. Bell arranged for Mr. Phillips to study with him at the Julliard School of Music. Mr. Phillips often practiced while riding in the back seat of his car. While his wife drove, their children watched the road to warn of approaching potholes. The children would yell, "Daddy, bump!" To honor his mentor William Bell, Mr. Phillips gathered tuba players for a special holiday concert in Rockefeller Center. This Tuba Christmas spectacular became a tradition and is echoed yearly in places around the USA. Mr. Phillips was regarded as a mentor by tuba players around the world, was the principal tuba player in the Circus Hall of Fame Band, was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in the same year as Yo-Yo Ma, and in 1994 was awarded the Association of Concert Bands inaugaral Mentor Ideal Award.
Behind almost every successful artist there is a producer or music business specialist who has played a significant role in identifying and developing the artistÕs musical talent. Even these music business specialists attribute their own success in business to someone who took the time to mentor them. UK citizen Don Grierson, legendary Vice President of A&R at Epic, Capitol, and EMI, is directly responsible for signing and/or working with some of the worldÕs most noted artists including Celine Dion, Heart, Iron Maiden, Sheena Easton, Joe Cocker, Wasp, Bad English, Little River Band, George Clinton, J. Geils Band, Kate Bush, Gloria Estefan, The Jacksons, Duran Duran, Tina Turner, Queen, Indigo Girls, Spin Doctors, Alice Cooper, and many, many more. Awbrey Madison, a Los Angeles-based independent artist, said that "Don has been a great mentor and I am currently working on my second project with him. He is a professional who knows every facet of the music business, goes the extra mile to find the best musical fit, and is great at finding the right people to work with. Above all, he is a great guy who's honest and supports the artist's vision. I count myself very lucky to have someone like Don Grierson guiding my career!" Don attributes much of his success to his mentor Jerry Moss, an American recording executive, best known for being the co-founder of A&M Records (he is the "M" in A&M Records). Don says that he owes his success, in part, to "Jerry saying to me 'I believe in you.' That support led me to work hard, and now I work hard to help others have their dreams. My advice to anyone who wants to be successful in the music business is to believe in yourself, hone your craft, fight for yourself, and educate yourself."
Malay music director and composer Zuber Said is a mentor to pioneering Malay singer, deejay, actress and feminist Nona Asiah.
American record producer and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Seymour Stein is a mentor to American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress Madonna.
American musician, songwriter and record producer Chet Atkins (1924-2001), often considered the guitarist who created the "Nashville sound," is a mentor to American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist Steve Wariner; and American country music singer, guitarist, songwriter and actor Jerry Reed (1937-2008).
Kentucky-born American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist Merle Travis (1917-1983), whose songs often focused on the expoitation of American coal miners, was a mentor to American musician, songwriter and record producer Chet Atkins (1924-2001), often considered the guitarist who created the "Nashville sound."
American television, film and stage actor, director, producer and football player Burt Reynolds was a mentor to American country music singer, guitarist, songwriter and actor Jerry Reed (1937-2008).
New Dehli, India-born Canadian-American indie rock singer, keyboardist and songwriter Emily Haines is a mentor to creator of Ghost Andrew Huang.
American swing and bebop trumpeter and fluglehorn player, composer, educator and member of the Jazz Masters Clark Terry (1920-2015) was described as a mentor to "many musicians including Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Pat Metheny, Dianne Reeves, and Terri Lyne Carrington among thousands of others." His mentoring was also depicted in a documentary, Keep on Keepin' On as he mentored blind piano prodigy Justin Kauflin.
Texas-born American jazz saxophonist, composer and musician Ornette Coleman (1930-2015), whose 2007 album received a Pulitzer Prize is a mentor to California-born American jazz pianist and music educator Joanne Brackeen.
American jazz guitarist and composer and considered to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century, Joe Pass (1929-1994), who played often with Canada's Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) and singer Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) is a mentor to jazz guitarist, music professor and author Frank Potenza.
American jazz double bassist and cellist Ray Brown (1926-2002), who played extensively with Canadian pianist Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) and American jazz singing legend Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) is a mentor to bassist, composer, arranger, conductor and educator John Clayton. Mr. Clayton said of his mentor: "He was the definition of mentor. He was not kind of a mentor, he was the mentor of mentors for me. Again, he saw how hungry I was. When I was 16, he let me follow him around. He became almost more of a father figure for me than my real father, because he connected with me on this level, this music level that even though my parents supported, they really didn't understand. Ray Brown would look at me and say, 'Here's what you gotta do.' That was one of his often-used phrases before he started talking to me. I remember one time when I was in the studio with him, and was getting star eyes about studio work. Here's Ray Brown, here's Quincy Jones, Sweets Edison, there's Snooky Young, there's all these jazz greats. I said to him, 'When I'm done with school, do you think you can help me get into studio work?' And he exploded. He started screaming at me and cursing, 'Are you out of your effin' mind, you don't even know how to play the effin' bass, and you wanna play this B.S.? First thing you gotta do is get your ass out there and learn how to play the bass from here to here, from top to bottom, and then get out there and make some music. And if you wanna play this when you're done, itÕll still be here.' I was so frightened, he'd never talked to me that way. So basically I did what he said. And he was right. Years later I said to him, 'Do you remember that time you blew up at me?' He said 'Oh, do I ever. I was afraid you were gonna get sucked into this studio world and not know how to make any music.' That was a huge lesson for me."
American finger-style guitarist, composer and painter John Fahey (1939-2001) is a mentor to Grammy Award-winning pianist and harmonica player, and record producer George Winston, known primarily for his solo piano work, which he refers to as "folk piano." In describing his mentor, Mr. Winston said, "When you see a mentor do something like what John did, you know that you still have to put the work in but at least you know it can be done."
Grammy Award-winning Swiss harpist Andreas Vollenweider, often categorized as a New Age musician
American jazz pianist who played a blues and soul style Gene Harris (1933-2000) is a mentor to California-born singer, saxophonist and songwriter Curtis Stigers.
American music industry manager and record producer Mike Appel and American folk singer and social activist Pete Seeger (1919-2014) are mentors to American musician, singer and songwriter Bruce Springsteen
Townes Van Zandt (1944-1997), a Texas poet, songwriter and folk hero, was a mentor to a wide variety of recording artists. Although Mr. Van Zandt struggled with bipolar disorder and died from alcohol addiction at age 52, his power as a songwriter attracted singer-songwriters from Bob Dylan to Willie Nelson as part of his legacy. He was a mentor to many other musicians including Steve Earle, who, according to online biography, said Van Zandt was "the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that." Van Zandt responded, the online bio continues, saying: "I've met Bob Dylan's bodyguards and if Steve Earle thinks he can stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table, he's sadly mistaken." Some of the other artists who described Townes Van Zandt as a mentor (and the songs he wrote that they sang) include: Mickey Newbury (For the Sake of the Song), Guy Clark (Old No. 1), Cowboy Junkies (Black Eyed Man), Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard (Pancho and Lefty), Emmylou Harris (many different hit songs), Lyle Lovett (Step Inside This House), the Flatlanders (pioneered the Texas brand of country-folk created by Van Zandt), Norah Jones (Feels Like Love), and Neil Young (Harvest).
American folk singer and social activist Pete Seeger (1919-2014) is a mentor to American musician, folk singer, songwriter, saxophone player and seven-time Grammy Award winner Paul Winter.
American acoustic guitarist and vocalist, born in Athens, Georgia Leo Kottke was a mentor to American composer, acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter Michael Hedges (1953-1997).
Native American flautist R. Carlos Nakai is a mentor to flute maker and artist Yusef Afox'e.
Cleveland, Ohio-born record producer and fiive-time Grammy winner Tommy LiPuma (1936-2017), American jazz pianist, vocalist, composer and bandleader Jimmy Rowles (1918-1996), and Dave McMurdo (1944-2011), Canadian bandleader and trombonist are all mentors to Canadian pianist and vocalist Diana Krall. Upon learning of Dave McMurdo's death, Ms. Krall, whom she first met at a piano workshop when she was 14, said, "he was a major influence on me personally and artistically. I would not be doing what I'm doing without his encouragement and generous knowledge and gifts of my very first Bill Evans records." About her mentor Tommy LiPuma, Ms. Krall said, "He took such joy in life. He had a tremendous sense of humor, and he taught me the importance of take time to be with my family." Ms. Krall is eager to use her veteran stature to mentor younger musicians the way Rosemary Clooney and Marian McPartland encouraged her.
John Wilfred Pepper (1919-2009), born in Saskatchewan, left school in grade nine to support his parents during the Depression. Although he didn't finish school, he had a life-long passion for music. He received a violin when he was a boy and fell in love with classical music. He was also an expert with his hands as he learned to do many repairs on his parent's farm. He also started to craft violas and violins. He moved to Victoria, British Columbia and played with the Victoria Symphony and local chamber groups. Like many other musicians, he needed to supplement his love of music with paid employment from another area. He used his Saskatchewan farm experience to establish a career in the grocery store business. Mr. Pepper's determination and compassion touched everyone who came into contact with him; and according to a story in the Victoria Times Colonist, one young boy who was strongly influenced by Mr. Pepper was Canadian and Grammy-award winning music producer David Foster (born in 1949), who lived next door to Mr. Pepper. Mr. Foster recalls, "This was a guy that was so dedicated to practicing. I was just a kid, practicing classical piano, and he had that work ethic that just filtered down to me. I remember thinking, 'Wow, so that's what you've got to do to be good.'" While Mr. Foster acknowledges the influence of Mr. Pepper's musical mind, what he remembers most is the "gentleness of the musician." Mr. Pepper died peacefully in his sleep with his family at his side at age 90. Mr. Foster has gone on to be a mentor to Celine Dion, Michael Buble, Philippine singing sensation Charice Pempengco, Josh Groban, Whitney Houston, Faith Hill, Christina Aguilera, and dozens of other highly successful artists.
A Grammy Award winning musician who performed with Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole and many others, and who recorded over 50 albums, including the classic that began the New Age music era, Inside the Taj Mahal, British Columbia resident Paul Horn studied transcendental meditation (TM) with the Maharishi in India at the same time as the Beatles, Mike Love of the Beach Boys and Donovan. His reverence for deep philosophical thought was considered a major influence on the Fab Four, and after their meeting in India Paul became one of the very first TM teachers in the United States. He said that TM was instrumental in changing the way he looked at a lot of things in life and that it reorganized his priority system: "You start gravitating toward what you really should be doing in life," he said. Despite his philosophical and spiritual interests increasingly pulling him away from the music business, his dedication to integrating those interests with his music led one of the many he mentored to say that Paul once told him "Listen close; listen for the possibilities in silence; and whenever you're playing, let people hear your soul."
Nova Scotia-born Canadian award-winning singer songwriter, member of the Order of Canada and member of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Rita MacNeil (1944-2013) is a mentor to Cape Breton singer and guitar player Joella Foulds and Cape Breton vocalist, pianist and recording artist Johnathan MacInnis.
Chilliwack, British Columbia-born award-winning Canadian musician, songwriter, arranger, producer and member of the Order of Canada, Jim Vallance, is a mentor to and songwriting partner with Kingston, Ontario-born Bryan Adams, an award-winning Canadian recording artist, singer, philanthropist, photographer, activist and member of the Order of Canada and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Montreal-born Canadian songwriter, musician and record producre Pierre Marchand is a mentor to Halifax, Nova Scotia-born Sarah McLachlan, a member of the Order of Canada and a Grammy and Juno award-winning Canadian musician, singer, songwriter and pianist, who founded the Lilith Fair tour, which featured female musicians on "an unprecedented scale."
Canadian jazz pianist and teacher George Essihos (1934-2017) was a mentor to jazz drummer Don Leppard. Mr. Leppard said of his mentor, "He was a little different, and he wasn't a talker. We'd do a rehearsal, and minimal words were said. It wouldn't even be much of a rehearsal. We'd run four bars, and he'd say, 'OK, do it that way.' And then we'd run through it and he'd do it differently."
Howard Adams (Canadian writer, orator, Métis Bio) mentor to Maria Campbell (Canadian writer and teacher)
American record producer Bob Hurwitz is a mentor to composers John Adams and Philip Glass and Canadian singer-songwriter K.D. Lang.
Winnipeg-born Canadian singer, songwriter, musician Chantal Kreviazuk (singer and songwriter) considers her mother to be her mentor and is a mentor to Ontario-born singer, songwriter and actress Avril Lavigne.
Saint John, New Brunswick-born. award-winning musician, country and folk singer-songwriter and Officer of the Order of Canada Stompin' Tom Connors (1936-2013), is a mentor to Nelson, British Columbia-born Canadian songwriter and musician Tim Hus. Stompin' Tom said, "I've been looking for 30 years for a young guy who's proud to write songs about our country. I'd like to pass the torch to Tim Hus." And Tim said of his mentor, "Playing Canadian country music wiht Stompin' Tom was kind of like playing hockey with Wayne Gretzky."
Shawnee Native American rock and roll guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Link Wray (1929-2005), a musician whose song Rumble inspired hundreds of modern rock and roll artists to take up the guitar, is a mentor to American musician Joey Welz, most known as the pianist with Bill Haley and His Comets.
Native American jazz singer and actress, known as the "Queen of Swing," Mildred Bailey (1907-1951) could have been mentored by Bing Crosby.
Grammy Award-winning American blues musician, vocalist and songwriter Willie Dixon (1915-1992) was a mentor to Grammy Award-winning American blues singer "Koko" Taylor (1928-2009).
American blues harmonica player, musician and singer Sonny Boy Williamson (1914-1948) was a mentor to American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter Billy Boy Arnold.
Afro-Cuban jazz percussionist and composer Mongo Santamaria (1917-2003) was a mentor to Latin and jazz percussionist Willie Bobo (1934-1983).
Award-winning London, Ontario-born Canadian artist manager and record company executive Brian Ferriman is a mentor to Chatham, Ontario-born award-winning Canadian country music singer songwriter, guitar player and member of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Michelle Wright.
One of award-winning Nova Scotia-born Canadian singer Anne Murray's mentors was her former husband Bill Langstroth.
Canadian early pioneer and innovator in developing "canned music" for parties, events, and lounges, Denny Gibbs (1943-2017) was a mentor to others in the canned music business, including Victoria, BC-based Murray Boyce of Murray Boyce Entertainment.
Canadian artistic director, founder and musical leader of the Victoria Children's Choir, Madeleine Hunter is described as "a positive mentor for hundreds of young choristers."
Quebec-born composer, teacher and member of the Order of Canada, known as the patriarch of the Montreal, Canada music scene and "a tireless guide to generations of younger musicians, including Claude Vivier, Isabelle Panneton and Serge Provost" Gilles Termblay (1933-2017) was mentored by award-winning French composer, organist and ornithologist Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992).
Award-winning Vancouver, British Columbia-born recording artist, jazz pianist and vocalist Laila Biali completed a residency as a mentor at The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
Award-winning, Manitoba-born Indigenious Canadian playwright, novelist, children's author and member of the Order of Canada Tomson Highway is a mentor to award-winning arts leader, Luminato Festival producer, performer, leader and Indigenous Canadian Denise Bolduc.
Award-winning Canadian throat singer Tanya Tagaq from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut; and award-winning Saskatchewan-born Canadian Indigenous musician, educator and social activist Buffy Sainte-Marie, who has a doctorate in art, are mentors to award-winning, Alberta-born, classically-trained cellist and Indigenous Canadian Cris Derksen.
American jazz musician, founder of one of the premier jazz venues in the USA, the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, California, and the person known as the father of West Coast jazz Howard Rumsey (1917-2015) is a mentor to American radio DJ and executive and the founder and director of the Los Angeles Jazz Institute Ken Poston.
American record producer and founder of Muse Records Joe Fields (1929-2017) was a mentor to Fred Seibert, former record producer and founder of Federator Studios, a company that makes cartoons for television, the Internet and digital video channels.
Award-winning American guitarist, banjo and mandolin player, singer, songwriter and studio musician Glen Campbell (1936-2017) was a mentor to award-winning performer Carl Jackson.
New York-born singer, songwriter, musician and producer Johnny Rivers is a mentor to award-winning Oklahoma-born American singer/songwriter Jimmy Webb.
American singer Bobby Taylor (1940-2017) brought the Jackson Five to Motown and was considered by the group to be their mentor. Jermaine Jackson said on Twitter, "Our mentor, Bobby Taylor put J5 on the path. Worked with us on many songs on first album. Taught me so much about singing with feeling."
New York-born award-winning American jazz singer considered to be one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century Carmen McRae (1922-1994) was a mentor to Providence, Rhode Island-born jazz singer and former legal secretary Carol Sloane.
American jazz bandleader, pianist, arranger and composer Bill Finegan (1917-2008) was a mentor to American arranger, composer and bandleader Nelson Riddle (1921-1985), according to American jazz bandleader Larry Elgart (1922-2017), who worked with both of them.
Texas-born American country music singer/songwriter with multiple top ten hits and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame Don Williams (1939-2017), also known as the "gentle giant" was a mentor to vocalist and songwriter Blakeston Tyler.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-born award-winning American jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal is a mentor to Japanese jazz composer and piano virtuosa Hiromi Uehara; and Harold Mabern. Ahmad Jamal considers educator Mary Cardwell Dawson as one of his mentors. She was responsible for placing the first African Americans in The Metropolitan Opera Company, and under her teaching, Mr. Jamal completed the equivalent of college master classes while he was still in high school in Pittsburgh. Mr. Jamal also considers one of his mentors to be Carl McVicker who led the Washington High School swing band that included Mr. Jamal (then known as "Freddie" Jones.)
Frank Richmond was a mentor to American jazz bassist James Cammack.
Ontario-born Canadian musician, singer and songwriter and member of the Order of Canada Gord Downie (1964-2017) considered Ontario-born Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame member and coach of Team Canada Harry Sinden one of his mentors. He said, "He taught us more than he will ever know. And I will always be grateful to him."
Montreal-born, multiple award-winning Canadian pianist and composer, Officer of the Order of Canada and recipient of multiple honorary doctorates Oscar Peterson (1925-2007), who made more than 200 records and played thousands of concerts worldwide, is a mentor to retired, award-winning Montreal-born Canadian jazz pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, educator and Officer of the Order of Canada Oliver Jones.
Grammy-award winning Toronto, Canada-born Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor and entrepreneur Drake is a mentor to award-winning British singer Jorja Smith.
Ontario-born musician and entertainer Helen Joyce MacKay (1928-2017) was considered a mentor to many aspiring pianists.
Austrian modernist composer and painter Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) was a mentor to Austrian artist and "psychologically insightfu"l portrait painter Richard Gerstl (1883-1908), who killed himself he had an affair with his mentor's wife.
Percussionist, poet and spiritual historian Román Dìaz is a mentor to Cuban jazz pianist, composer and syncretist Davie Virelles.
Czech Republic-born harpsichordist Zuzana Ruzickova (1927-2017) is a mentor to Czech Republic music professor Mahan Esfahani.
Florida-born American rock musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who had his own band ("The Heartbreakers") and played with many other famous musicians Tom Petty (1950-2017) was a mentor to healthcare administrator and doctor of chiropractice Billy DeMoss,; and Oklahoma-born American pop/rock singer/songwriter Dwight Twilley.
Louisiana-born American musician, bandleader, composer, arranger and record producer Dave Bartholomew was a mentor to New Orleans-born American pianist and singer-songwriter of Louisiana Creole descent Fats Domino (1928-2017), who was a mentor to Tupelo, Mississippi-born actor and singer, often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", Elvis Presley (1935-1977).
Artist and playwright John Patrick Byrne was a mentor to Scottish singer-songwriter, creator of the group Stealers Wheel Gerry Rafferty (1947-2011).
San Francisco-born songwriter Sammie Lee Hill mentored hundreds of students while working at California's Richmond High School and was known to his students as "Mr. Mentor." He is the composer of "The Mentor Theme Song." Mr. Hill was mentored by a police officer and he eventually became a California police officer.
Multiple award-winning London, U.K.-born singer, songwriter, record producer and philanthropist George Michael (1963-2016) is a mentor to multiple award-winning British pop singer Sam Smith. Mr. Smith said of his mentor, "He had a way of being authentic to himself and honest is a way that was warm."
Scotland-born British-Australian musician, songwriter and record producer George Young (1946-2017), one of the three Australian brothers of the rock band AC/DC was described as a mentor to the rest of the band. Another brother, Scotland-born Australilan musician, songwriter and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young (1953-2017) who died of dementia was known as an inspiration of by Canadian rocker Bryan Adams.
Georgia-born American Little Richard, one of the first entertainers to gain popularity with both black and white audiences was a mentor to the British rock group The Beatles who played as his opening act in England.
New York-born American record producer, civil rights activist and music critic John Hammond (19010-1987) and Massachusetts=born American jazz historian, critic, musicologist and founder of the Institute of Jazz Studies Marshall Stearns (1908-1966) were mentors to George Avakian (1919-2017), and who said of his mentor, Mr. Stearns, "He broadened my horizons enormously." Mr. Avakian was influential in the careers of Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Johnny Mathis and other jazz greats.
Ohio-born legendary jazz vocalist and singer Jon Hendricks (1921-2017) is a mentor to New York-born American jazz vocalist, singer and ocnductor Bobby McFerrin and the group The Manhattan Transfer that included American jazz singer Janis Siegel, who said of he mentor, "He's our mentor; mine in particular. We commissioned him to do a lot of new stuff for that, and he came out on the road with us. It would be like a masterclassafter the show."
New York-born jazz flutist and professor of music Nicole Mitchell is a mentor to Brooklyn, New York-born jazz trumpeter Jaimie Branch.
Award-winning Manhattan, New York-born jazz saxophonist, composer, musician and member of the Jazz Hall of Fame, Charlie "Yardbird" Parker (1920-1955) was a mentor to Florida-born American hard bop, soul, jazz and jazz rock saxophonist, band leader, teacher and member of the Jazz Hall of Fame, Cannonball Adderley (1928-1975), who is a mentor to award-winning Detroit-born American jazz musician and drummer Louis Hayes.
South Carolina-born American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, record producer, bandleader, and the hardest working musician of funk and popular music James Brown (1933-2006), known as the "Godfather of Soul," is a mentor to New York-born American spiritual leader, Baptist minister, radio and TV talk show host, and civil rights activist Al Sharpton.
Texas-born American jazz guitarist Herb Ellis (1921-2010) was a mentor to jazz guitarist Emily Remler (1957-1990).
American singer, songwriter, known as the first female singer-songwriters of the rock 'n roll period Jackie DeShannon who wrote many hits such as What the World Needs Now calls award-winning American musician, songwriter and composer for film and television Randy Edelman, her mentor.
Queens, New York-born poet and pianist Cecil Taylor (1929-2018) is a mentor to New York City-born American musician and composer Donald Sturge Anthony McKenzie II.
Chicago-born jazz pianist and composer Ramsey Lewis was a mentor to the Memphis-born founder of Earth, Wind & Fire, drummer, singer, songwriter and record producer Maurice White (1941-2016).
Netherlands-born American pianist and conductor and the first woman to conduct the New York Philharmonic Orchestra Antonia Brico (1902-1989) is a mentor to Seattle, Washington-born award-winning American folk singer, pianist and songwriter Judy Collins
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Award-winning American music professor and composer Olly Wilson (1937-2018) is a mentor to music professor Ben Brinner; and multi-instrumentalist, composer, songwriter and music producer Dexter Story.
Singer, songwriter Gloria Estefan considered her grandmother, Consuela Garcia Gloria Estefan her mentor. She said of her grandmother, "She always pointed out my strengths and filled me with hope for the future. She constantly nourished my inquisitiveness, wasn't afraid to let me see her vulnerability, and showed me that intimacy was an asset to be celebrated."
Castlegar, British Columbia-born Canadian singer, songwriter and producer Shawn Hook credits his high school music teacher, Rick Lingard, as a mentor; and said of his mentor, "If it wasn't for my high school music teacher, I wouldn't be here performing on this (Juno) stage today."
Montreal-born Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, novelist, visionary and member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Leonard Cohen (1934-2016) is a mentor to award-winning Greece-born citizen of the world singer and songwriter Nana Mouskouri.
Long Beach, California-born American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor Snoop Dogg is a mentor to North Dakota-born American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and cannabis entrepreneur Wiz Khalifa.
Queens, New York-born award-winning blues guitarist and music instructor Ronnie Earl is a mentor to Ottawa, Canada-born roots guitarist, singer, songwriter Sue Foley. She said of her mentor, "He gave me his stamp of approval way back when I was 20 years old. He was the first real established US based blues musician to notice me and help me believe in myself. That validation keeps me going to this day."
Mississippi-born American blues singer, guitarist, songwriter and record producerBB King (1925-2015) and Mississippi-born American blues musician, guitarist and harmonica player Muddy Waters (1913-1983) were both mentors to Mississippi-born blues musician and guitaristEddy "The Chief" Clearwater (-2018). Eddy said of his mentor, Muddy Waters, "He have me a lot of advice on ways to conduct myself in my career. He was a real mentor for me."
Grammy Award-winning Mississippi-born American country and gospel music singer, musician/guitarist, business owner and former baseball player Charley Pride, who became the best-selling performer for RCA records since Elvis Presley and has had 29 no. 1 Billboard country hits, is a mentor to Jacksonville, Texas-born American country music singer Neal McCoy.
Mississippi-born musician, music teacher and civil rights activist Lloyd Smith (1914-1999) was a mentor to American jazz saxophonist, bandleader, composer and arranger Oliver Nelson (1932-1975).
American actress and singer Pearl Bailey (1918-1990) was a mentor to Canadian-American actress Fay Wray (1907-2004). Ms. Bailey is quoted as saying: "The sweetest joy, the wildest woe is love. What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork."
Oklahoma-born American jazz musician, composer, educator, and music studio leader Sam Rivers (1923-2011) is a mentor to Canadian percussionist, entrepreneur and the producer of organic Oil of Oregano Roger Baird.
American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift considers country singer Faith Hill; singer, songwriter John Mayer; and talk show host and comedienne Ellen DeGeneris as her mentors.
American blues musician, who called American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist John Lee Hooker (1912-2001) and American blues musician Muddy Waters (1913-1983) his mentors, Iverson "Louisiana Red" Minter (1932-2012) gained considerable fame in Europe where he acted as mentor to many European musicians yearning to play the blues. Born in Alabama, his mother died at birth and his father was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan. In 1963 his album The Lowdown Backporch Blues included the song "Red's Dream" where he imagined himself giving advice to U.S. President John F. Kennedy (listen to this song on >YouTube
Canadian pop rock singer and songwriter and member of Canada's Walk of Fame as well as the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame Andy Kim considers legendary songwriter and record producer Jeff Barry his mentor.
Brooklyn, New York-born American award-winning record producer and music executiveClive Davis is a mentor to Brooklyn, New York-born American Rhythm & Blues singer, songwriter and producer Andrea Martin.
American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer Raphael Saadiq is a mentor to Oakland, California-born American singer, songwriter, and rapper Adrian Marcel.
Ohio-born American jazz piano legend Art Tatum (1909-1956) was a mentor to Trinidad-born jazz pianist, who stood up against the U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee during the 1950s in their attempt to label and shame U.S. citiizens Hazel Scott (1920-1981).
Memphis-born Award-winning American singer/songwriter known as the "Queen of Soul", awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a committed activist for civil rights and the struggle for Black equality Aretha Franklin (1942-2018) is a mentor to American pop singer Mariah Carey. Mariah Carey said of her mentor: "The power of your voice in music and in civil rights blew open the door for me and so many others. You were my inspiration, my mentor and my friend."
Maryland-born American fingerstyle guitarist John Fahey (1939-2001) is a mentor to Los Angeles-born American singer, songwriter and BBC Lifetime Achievement Award winner roots guitar player Ry Cooder.
Oklahoma-born American drummer, often characterized as the leading session drummer in America,Jim Keltner is a mentor to drummer, percussionist and keyboardist Joachim Cooder.
Chicago-born singer, musician, and composer, known at the "King of Gospel" music Reverend James Cleveland (1931-1991); and Philadelphia-born American Gospel singing star Clara Ward (1924-1973) were mentors to Memphis-born Award-winning American singer/songwriter known as the "Queen of Soul", awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Aretha Franklin (1942-2018).
Russian-born American violinist and music teacher Josef Gingold (1909-1995) is a mentor to Grammy Award-winning American conductor and violinist Joshua Bell.
Saskatchewan-born Canadian actor, singer, activist, philanthropist, and Officer of the Order of Canada Tom Jackson is a mentor to multidisciplinary theatre actor and artist Sarah Robertson through the Governor General's Peforming Arts Mentorship Program. Mr. Jackson said, "When you encounter Sarah you encounter a vehicle that transports talent, compassion, and a flame of fury. She will command a better world. God only knows what her influence will have on the lives of her audience. I am honoured to provide some fuel to the fire."
Award-winning Canadian composer who has composed scores for more than 80 films, an Officer of the Order of Canada, and one of the creators of Saturday Night Live Howard Shore is a mentor to Saskatchewan-born, award-winning Canadian composer of contemporary music Nicole Lizée through the Governor General's Peforming Arts Mentorship Program.
Victoria, British Columbia-born Canadian electric guitar and blues player Jason Buie (1970-2018) is a mentor to British Canadian singer, songwriter and blues guitarist Brett Smith-Daniels.
Award-winning American jazz composer, bassist, arranger, conductor, producer, and educator John Clayton is a mentor to award-winning American jazz bassist and vocalist Katie Thiroux.
Serving as the principal keyboard for the San Francisco Symphony for 45 years, award-winning American pianist Robin Sutherland was mentored by Russian-American concert violinist, composer, teacher, and conductor Efrem Zimbalist (1889-1985). Mr. Sutherland also served as a mentor for the Chamber Music Workshops initiated by the S.F. Symphony.
American composer, pianist, and bandleader Duke Ellington (1899-1974); and American jazz pianist Thelonious Monk (1917-1982) were mentors to Brooklyn, New York-born award-winning American jazz pianist and composer Randy Weston (1926-2018). Mr. Weston was also mentored by the country of Africa. He said in a 2011 interview with jazz writer Marc Myers, "For me, Africa was about a spirit, like the music. Any people that has been oppressed feels this. When you feel oppressed because of the way you look, that's doubly upsetting. I consider myself an African born in America, but I'm a human being first. When I play music, I see all the colors of the rainbow."
Edmonton, Alberta-born Canadian labourer, photographer, record collector, and jazz historian Rod Heinz (1941-2012) was a mentor to Vancouver, British Columbia-born Canadian co-founder of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival Ken Pickering (1952-2018).
Oaklahoma-born American university professor and organist, who spent 66 years traveling the world Marilyn Mason (1925-2019) was a mentor to many other organists including applied music professor Thomas Marshall; and University of Oregon professor James Kibble.
Jazz bass player Bob Cranshaw is a mentor to jazz drummer Matt Fishwick.
American jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator David Hazeltine was a mentor to American jazz pianist Cedar Walton (1934-2013).
Miami-born jazz drummer Mickey Roker (1932-2017) is a mentor to drummer David F. Gibson.
Toronto, Canada-born Canadian musical theatre conductor, music director, and founding member of the Charlottetown Festival Company, who conducted the orchestra for Anne of Green Gables - The Musical every summer for 40 years, and was a member of the Order of Canada Fen Watkin (1922-2019) mentored generations of musicians at the Festival including musical director Don Fraser who took over from Mr. Watkin when he retired in 2004.
American jazz drummer, who played for 14 years with the Count Basie Orchestra Papa Jo Jones (1911-1985) was a mentor to American swing, bop, blues and jazz drummer J.C. Heard (1917-1988).
Charlie "Bird" Parker (1920-1955), sax player, and one of the greatest musicians of any age is a mentor to American jazz tenor saxophonist and one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century Sonny Rollins.
Ghanian composer, musicologist and teacher Ephraim Amu (1899-1995) was a mentor to award-winning Ghanian ethnomusicologist, composer, university music educator and the world's leading scholar on African musical traditions and often referred to as a "living legend" J.H. Kwabena Nketia (1921-2019).
Award-winning Manitoba-born Canadian jazz virtuoso guitarist, music educator and member of the Order of CanadaEd Bickert (1932-2019), who played with many different top level jazz groups (such as Canadian jazz tromobinist Rob McConnell (1935-2010) and the Boss Brass, American jazz sax player Paul Desmond (1924-1977), Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) and American jazz vibraphonist Milt Jackson (1923-1999) and once had to tell his club audience to "shut up" while he was playing, was a mentor to a generation of guitarists including Canadian guitarist Reg Schwager, who said of his mentor, "He changed everything for me. Nobody sounded like him before he came around, and nobody has sounded like him since. If I asked him how he played something, he'd say, 'I'm not really sure. But if I do it again, let me know.'"
American session drummer, closely associated with the "Wrecking Crew," and who played with multiple inexperienced pop-rock groups and stars giving them a professional studio sound Hal Blaine (1929-2019) was considered a mentor to many young drummers as well as to accomplished musicians such as the Beach Boys Brian Wilson, who acknowledged how much he learned from Mr. Blaine's approach to music.
Paris-born French/American conductor and violin player Pierre Monteux (1875-1964) was a mentor to Berlin, Germany-born American multiple award-winning composer, conductor, music director and jazz pianist André Previn (1929-2019).
Mulitple award-winning Victoria, BC-born Canadian music producer, pianist and songwriter David Foster considers Ottawa-born Canadian singer, songwriter and actor Paul Anka as one of his mentors.
Montreal-born Canadian music and piano teacher Daisy Sweeney (1920-2017) was a mentor to her brother Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson (1925-2007), whom she taught to play the piano; and Canadian jazz pianist Oliver Jones.
Musician, educator, and singer Pegi Young (1953-2018) was a co-founder and director of the Bridge School, a groundbreaking school for youth with disabilities, where she initiated a program to bring professionals from around the world to act as mentors for a year and return to their countries to begin to impact education at home.
American jazz promoter and producer, who created the Newport Jazz Festival, George Wein is a mentor to American jazz composer, educator and vibraphonist Gary Burton.
Alabama-born, award-winning American jazz trombonist, who recorded with some of the best jazz players in modern history Urbie Green (1926-2018) is a mentor to American jazz trombonist David Steinmeyer.
Zimbabwe-born human rights activist, philanthropist, singer, songwriter and musician, known as "Tuku" who wrote songs that were a mix of Zimbabwean and South African rhythms and became known as "Tuku music" Oliver Mtukudzi (1953-2019) was a mentor for many younger Zimbabwean musicians, including songwriter and producer MacDonald Chidavaenzi.
Multiple Oscar and Emmy award-winning French pianist, Broadway, jazz, pop and film composer/arranger and conductor Michel Legrand (1932-2019) is a mentor to recording artist, jazz vocalist and songwriter Laury Shelley; American composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990); American composer Philip Glass; Argentine tango compose and arranger Astor Piazolla (1921-1992); and record producer Quincy Jones.