Clara Schumann. Nuff said.

Remember, in Beethoven's time, most of the classical and Baroque eras, women weren't ALLOWED (by men) to train and make a living as musicians and composers. Remember, in the time of Shakespeare, men played all the women's roles You see any shortage of good actresses, today?

And you can't take my list of contemporary female stars, and diss it, then say you are not discounting Ella, Sarah, Dinah, and all the rest. Those modern female musicians are the logical extension of what came before.

On this of all forums, I would tread warily of labeling female musicians just 'in it for the money, or the attention'. Basically, if you CAN play well, you are only playing an arranger for the money or the attention You have the skill to play in a band, but choose to play with a machine for what? For the art of it? Or is it for the money and the attention (no other musicians to grab your limelight, are there)?

Finally...

"There is no such thing as a “sexist” remark. There are only “remarks” made that are then LABELED by whoever hears it." is absurd. Does that mean I can insult the hell out of you, but what I write ISN'T insulting, until you label it so...? I don't think so An insult is an insult from the moment it is written, and a sexist remark doesn't need someone else to call it that for it to be one...