Captain Beefheart aka Don Van Vliet aka Don Vliet

One of the greatest musical minds of the 20th century -- via Rolling Stone. An eclectic and catholic spirit ruled his soul; he saw no barriers and broke them all. Beyond that, his work is endlessly fascinating, and even a bit danceable. He combined and transfigured genres into new dimensions, earning the respect of Frank Zappa, for one. The three albums of his I own -- "Trout Mask Replica," "Safe As Milk" and "Ice Cream for Crow" were essential to the development of my sensibilities. After his retirement from music, he developed his other artistic abilities and became a world-class painter.

Here are more comprehensive overviews of his life from the New York Times and the L.A. Times. If you don't know his work, find out about it -- it will change your life. Thanks, Captain!