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May 11, 2011 at 05:36 AM
Warren Buffett does it. So do Halle Berry (left) and Gwyneth Paltrow. What do these people all have in common, besides being famous? Musical talent, and being America's favorite “unexpected musicians.”
Buffett (left), Berry and Paltrow topped the list of America’s favorite “unexpected musicians,” according to a national survey published May 5 by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). In his spare time, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett plays the ukulele.
Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry plays the flute, and actress Gwyneth Paltrow (left) sings and plays the guitar—no surprise for those who have seen her in her latest film, Country Strong.
The favorite unexpected musicians list had more than 150 public figures, including former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan (left), mentioned as part of National Wanna Play Music Week, from May 2 through 8. NAMM commissioned a nationally-representative telephone survey of 1,010 adults to learn which unexpected musicians Americans most favor. In addition to having conducted the nation’s monetary policy, Greenspan plays the clarinet and the saxophone.
Berry was hailed as America's favorite “unexpected musician,” which NAMM terms a personality not primarily known for playing a musical instrument. She received a vote of 29% among survey respondents. Buffett and his ukulele-playing ability tied with Academy Award-winning actress Paltrow and her cello and guitar skills for second place, at 16%. Women, at 64%, were significantly more excited to learn about the musical talents of Berry, Paltrow and Rob Pattinson (above), who plays guitar and piano. 
Men, on the other hand, were more impressed by the musical prowess of Buffett and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left), who plays guitar, at a vote of 28%. Another unexpected athlete musician is legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne—a 
Other key survey findings showed that Millenials chose Conan O'Brien (left), at 19%, over Pattinson, at 15%, both guitar players. Older Baby Boomers, 27%, were most excited to discover Paltrow's musical talents, while older Americans from the Silent Generation, 23%, were most interested to learn that Buffett played the ukulele. 
Other unexpected-musician favorites from the world of finance and politics were James Wolfensohn, a flute player as well as former president of the World Bank, and pianist and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice (left). 