John Hiatt

You can always tell when you stumble upon a great storyteller. It's not just the words but also how they convey the passionate punch of every thought and every syllable. John Hiatt is a great storyteller. The man has been lauded by some of the best in the business and has had his songs covered by Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Bob Dylan and Iggy Pop. But success has not come easily. Hiatt has endured a tough three decades in the music business, battling alcoholism, depression and his former record company to become the emancipated artist he is today. With 2000's Crossing Muddy Water, 2001's The Tiki Bar Is Open and last year's Beneath This Gruff Exterior, Hiatt seems to be hitting his stride. But it's best to let him tell that story, too.