Continuing my occasional musical themed diaries, Wednesday is for Tom Waits.

He's gritty, he's weird and he is among the most creative musicians ever. Love him or hate him, he is a force of nature.

Tom Waits goes way back and has been extremely influential in the deep, dark recesses of music. And sometimes even on more popular songs.

Tom Waits originally wrote and sang Jersey Girl long before Springsteen made it popular:

And an amazing moment: Tom Waits and The Boss doing Jersey Girl together:

(hey my wife was born in Jersey, though raised in NYC...and hey, I never called my step-daughter a brat, though we did drop her off with her mom and went out...)

Now even Johnny Cash sang songs written by Waits:

Tom Waits on Letterman 1983: (includes Frank's Wild Years and On the Nickel)

Tom Waits on Letterman 2012: