If I was standed on a deserted island
with only one artist to listen to
for the rest on my life ...

I'd choose: Tom Waits.

"If you want money in your pocket
and a top hat on your head
a hot meal on your table
and a blanket on your bed
well today is grey skies
tomorrow is tears
you'll have to wait til yesterday is here"

The Not So Obvious List

(Those you may not know or have forgotten)

Alison Krauss and Union Station
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Andrea Bocelli
Azam Ali
The Boomtown Rats
Breaking Benjamin
Chris Thile
Chumbawumba
The Comas
Crowded House
Elliot Smith
Fleet Foxes
The Fugees
Gillian Welch
The Hives
The Housemartins
Iron & Wine
Jerry Douglas
Joe Jackson
John Coltrane
Johnny Cash
Lauryn Hill
Lindsey Buckingham
Loreen McKennitt
Louis Armstrong
Louis Jordan
Marvin Gaye
Miles Davis
Modest Mouse
Nickel Creek
Nine Fifty
Patti Smith
Railroad Earth
The Ramones
The Roots
Serj Tankian
Sigur Ros
The Smiths
Snot
Steve Roach
Stuart Davis
Sufjan Stevens
Tom Waits
Vas
Vic Chesnutt
Vidna Obmana
Yusef (formerly Cat Stevens)