Just heard Patti Smith on Radio 2 talking about a song on her new album which is about Amy Winehouse (That Girl), and it reminded me how much I love that - especially when you can form a chain of songs about other artists. (no idea why, I'm just weird that way).

My favourite is Killing Me Softly which was about Don McLean and Don McLean's American Pie which is about the death of Buddy Holly.

But now we also have KT Tunstall's Suddenly I See which is about Patti Smith, and Patti Smith's That Girl about Amy Winehouse.

Any others out there?

Single instances I know about are Clare Maguire's Last Dance about Michael Jackson and Neil Sedaka's The Immigrant about John Lennon.

Rufus Wainwright wrote the song Memphis Skyline about Jeff Buckley. A beautiful song.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond was written by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd about Syd Barrett. Again, a stunning song.

Farway Voice by Katie Melua is about Eva Cassidy
I'll be missing you by P.diddy is about Notorious BIG
Britney by Busted is about Britney spears
Blow Away (for bill) by Kate Bush, although originally written about a close friend who died, it is also a tribute to artists who had died around that period of time which were Minnie Riperton, Keith Moon, Sandy Denny, Sid Vicious and Buddy Holly.

She's Madonna by Robbie Williams/Pet Shop Boys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FEtP4wAQAs

Song for Bob Dylan by David Bowie

When Smokey Sings - ABC (about Smokey Robinson)

There's been two recent songs about Mick Jagger, though not inspired by his musicianship.

"Moves Like Jagger" and a namecheck from Kei$ha in "Tick Tock".

I'm not sure if either if those songs are inspired by Mick Jagger. But I get what you mean.

Deacon Blue's 'Real Gone Kid' is about Maria McKee of Lone Justice.

& Deacon Blue's 'Fergus Sings the Blues' may or may not be a tribute to Van the Man.

& MGMT have a tribute to 'Brian Eno' (genius!)

When She Was Mine by Lawson is about Mollie King from The Saturdays.

Yes, that was badly worded. I meant to put 'about' in inverted commas. The songs (rather oddly, imo) make reference to Jagger, namely his impressiveness in the dancing and looks department.

Not sure if this counts, but Sweet Home Alabama namechecks Neil Young and was written by Lynyrd Skynrd as a response to two of his songs which dealt with racism in the South - Southern Man, and Alabama.

We're the Pet Shop Boys by My Robot Friend (later covered by Robbie Williams and Pet Shop Boys.

Oh I love Deacon Blue but I didn't know those, fascinating stuff!

Thought of a couple of others. The Nightshift by The Commodores, is about Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye. And Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder is about Duke Ellington, and his peers.

I should have included my favourite, Heinz, 'Just Like Eddie' which is a tribute to Eddie Cochrane.

And I'm glad to hear someone else loves Deacon Blue, great band.

I think they are much more popular here in Scotland than elsewhere. And of course Ricky Ross is a local boy. Have seen them live about 10 years ago and they were awesome.

jackie wilson says by van morrison as covered by dexys midnight runners

You Little Thief Feargal Sharkey's first single of 1986 and follow-up to previous hit A Good Heart. The single was written by member of Tom Petty's band Benmont Tench about his relationship with Maria McKee who had wrote Sharkey's previous hit single A Good Heart

Apparently there is another song by Bandwagon called 'Maria McKee'. I have no idea how one woman could inspire so many songs?

Patti Boyd was the subject of George Harrison's Something and Eric Clapton's Layla.

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was written by Ewan MacColl for (and about) Peggy Seeger,

And, back in the day, identifying every reference in Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side was a favourite parlour game. Indeed, it became a very entertaining short TV documentary as well.

'Geno' by Dexys Midnight Runners was a tribute to Geno Washington. i think that Kevin Rowland believe that he was deceased.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geno_Washington

Eric Johnson's SRV is obviously a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YsQKwvLMTY

Fairly sure that the Beatles' "Here comes the sun king" was inspired by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac fame, following the lying-on-a-beach-sound of Albatross.

Oh, and I like Deacon Blue too. Didn't know the Maria Mackee thing.