tommy shaw is beyond doubt the greatest songwriter of our generation

The Boss and Petty for sure. I'd add Roger Waters, Jeff Lynne and Mark Knopfler. On the less rock side of things (and I may get flamed for this) Elton John/Taupin and Billy Joel.

I was keeping it narrow to American rockers. You start throwing Brits in and you've got the aforementioned Waters, and Lynne, plus the likes of Bowie, Townshend, Jagger, Clapton, etc... and suddenly I have trouble putting Shaw in the top 20.