remembers an encounter with American Idol's Crystal Bowersox. Crystal, the Season 9 Top 5 front-runner, has named Melissa Etheridge as one of her musical influences along with other 'huge' name artists such as Janis Joplin
and Bonnie Raitt
. "Lesser known artists, with whom Crystal has regularly jammed with in Toledo and Chicago, and/or whom she got to know and played with during her worldwide travels" include Sista Otis
, Ray LaMontagne
, Bobby May, Brian Walker and Ron "Razz" Rasberry. "These artists have all played a role in contributing to Crystal's life experience and her unique artistic style."