When The Rolling Stones started out, they were already good at playing blues, a music style from America. But Keith Richards, the band’s guitarist, didn’t just want to play blues. He loved all kinds of American music — country, folk, rock, and experimental music. He studied it, listened to it, and used it to make his own songs.
Richards believed that the best songwriters didn’t just write catchy tunes. They told stories, shared emotions, and created music that felt alive. Artists like Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, and Jackson Browne inspired him. Dylan made people think with his words, Brian Wilson wrote complex music that amazed listeners, and Jackson Browne could tell stories that touched the heart.
When singer-songwriters became popular in the U.S., Richards paid attention. Joni Mitchell, for example, wrote beautiful and smart songs with open chords, while The Grateful Dead explored long, experimental jams. Richards didn’t always look for pretty music — he wanted music that created a world, music with a strong character. That’s why he admired Tom Waits.
Waits started as a songwriter, but over time he became an artist who made music feel like scenes from a story. His albums like Bone Machine and Mule Variations weren’t just songs — they were like little movies you could hear. Richards loved that about Waits. He once said, “Tom’s music is so American. Probably more folk-American than anything, but somehow modern. He’s a weird mixture of stuff; a great bunch of guys!”
Waits’ music is different from most American rock. While Bruce Springsteen often celebrates America with hope and pride, Waits shows its darker side. His songs talk about barflies, street singers, and people living on the edge. Richards liked that honesty. Waits didn’t make everything sound perfect — he added rough edges, danger, and real emotions to his music.
Richards’ own music with The Rolling Stones has that same feeling. The Stones could be fun and light, but they also had an edge that felt exciting and a little dangerous. That edge came from Richards learning from the great American songwriters. He combined blues, folk, country, and experimental music to create songs that were exciting, emotional, and real.
Keith Richards’ love for American music shows that great songwriting is more than just catchy tunes. It’s about storytelling, emotion, and honesty. By learning from artists like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Tom Waits, Richards created music that connects with people on a deeper level. His work reminds us that music is about feeling, exploring, and sometimes, showing the rough and real side of life.