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I never cared much for Whitman until very recently.  I don't know if I care for him greatly still.  Though Ginsberg was a fan.  Townes may have been.  Steve seems to be.

Maybe I'm coming around. 

 Any thoughts on Whitman or other poets you like/dislike especially?
 

"I sing the body electric..."  I can see why musicians like Whitman.  The theme of singing and music is in a lot of his work.  I like Whitman because his poetry reflects the American spirit.  I am not an expert on him but I have enjoyed what I have read.

there is a shopping mall in melville long island named after walt whitman i havent read any of his writings but i will make a point od doing so soon any recomendations

I think Whitman started a trend in literature of reversing the dichotomy between the privileged and lower classes, or at least respecting the lower classes (the prostitutes, the drunks, the beggars) enough to represent them in his writing instead of ignoring them for more genteel subjects. Ginsberg followed suit in"Howl"- the crazy and the disenfranchised and the counter-culture are the revered "best minds." Dylan did something similar in his songwriting, probably due mostly to Ginsberg and Guthrie, singing through the voice of the poor and the ignored (Hattie Carole, Blowin in the Wind, Tombstone Blues, etc). That's why I think so many modern folkish songwriters write songs like Steve's "Simple Man etc" or Patty Griffin's "Chief," which focus on the same kind of underrepresented and generally disrespected characters Whitman tried to represent in his writing.

 That is all.
 

Graciela,

I think you nailed it.  He did inspire a lot of modern writers for just the reasons you stated.  He was also given a lot of grief for his ambiguous personal life.  He was a pioneer in many ways.