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Every generation has had one or two -- superstars that is. Even during the decades of the great early composers, I'm sure there have been favorites.
Teens and even younger kids have been swooning over various singers and musicians for as long as I can remember. Frank Sinatra and the rat pack had a steady following that kept old "Blue Eyes," Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. , among others, rolling in clover.
Elvis Presley and Chubby Checkers had young people swinging their hips and twisting the night away much to the chagrin of some older folks. The British Invasion of the Beatles, the Who, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Queen are among those top-of-the-hit chart makers who sold records for decades and continue to do so.
Country singer Garth Brooks broke so many records in the recording industry that we've stopped counting. Hip hop and rap stars such as Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Eminen redefined music into a whole new genre that keeps on growing today.
Sadly some of our favorite singers had tragic ends, including Buddy Holly, John Denver, Patsy Cline, John Lennon and Otis Redding, to name just a few. Too many others of my lifetime whose actions brought about their own demise included Janice Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain.
But no one in the music industry could prepare us for the phenomenon that has occurred over this past year with the success of singer Taylor Swift. This 34-year-old self-made billionaire has taken the world by storm with success unmatched by any other performer in the business.
While her world tour could be called the megalodon of all music concerts, her fans have no problem shelling out hundreds if not thousands of dollars to view the event. Her fans, known as "Swifties," range in age from pre-teen to senior citizens.
These fans clamor for the glamor Swift gives them on stage with numerous glittery and fabulous costumes.
Her "merch" sells out faster than hot dogs on the opening day of baseball season.
Swift's talents are not limited to singing. Much of her success can be attributed to her songwriting that has mothers and daughters belting out her songs together on the drive to school.
I may not be a full-fledged Swiftie, but I'm not an anti-hero either. Whatever your opinion is of Taylor Swift, you have to hand it to her. She is in her own right, the Powerball of the music industry these days.
Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.