A controversial choice, given that the Barcelona-born Serrat is more of a folk singer than a rocker; a Catalan Leonard Cohen, perhaps. But when it comes to Spanish popular music, he is the godfather, and his influence on several generations of musicians and songwriters is hard to overstate. His career started in the sixties and he was lionised as much for his dissident political stance during the Franco years as for his finely crafted songs. Also, kudos to a man who managed to upset Catalans for not singing enough in Catalan and who also angered Spaniards for not singing enough in Spanish. … [Read more...] about Joan Manuel Serrat