"My thought was I should try to stick with names that people may recognize like Robert Johnson, Son House, and Hoagy Carmichael, so if somebody cared to research, they would find a wealth of material"

John Mellencamp is suggesting that when composing music, it is necessary to draw motivation from well-known artists. He specifically mentions Robert Johnson, Son House, and Hoagy Carmichael as examples of artists whose work can be utilized as a source of inspiration. He thinks that if somebody is interested in learning more about the music, they can quickly research the artists and find a wealth of product. This quote stresses the value of drawing inspiration from developed artists and the value of researching their work. It likewise suggests that by doing so, one can gain a deeper understanding of the music and its history.