Most people that 'think in a totally different way' are very dangerous to human society. Often they are a victim of society because they cannot relegate(is that the right word? I mean 'give a place') society with their lives.
And I don't really mean sick or psychopatic people though they will also be part of this group when I say they are dangerous. They can also be moral and dangerous to human society.
I don't like to call all these people genius. I mean, any atheist could be a genius if you apply this definition. Even any misfit. I myself would probably be one.
Also, I am not so sure that the succes of the people you name come from their different way of viewing the world. I don't really want to discredit John Lennon or the Beatles but their succes is only partly due to their own abilities. And if you talk about those abilities then one could just as easily make a case that John Lennon was an ignorant person of high intelligence. I think Gershwin was someone like that. Surely this person was very bright, but he also knew he knew very little. Thus the story of him requisting lessons with Ravel and Ravel refusing claiming he could probably learn more from the would-be student.
I am no expert on these three persons, I haven't read any of their biographies for example, but surely these people had fresh approaches to music and they had succes. But saying that they had an unique perspective of reality or that they were geniusses seems a bit misplaced.
Genius is often such a superlative term. I mean, it is something you apply to your 'hero's and idols', whatever they have achived.
I prefer it as a term based on intelligent quotient. And yes this means many of the genius people are not worth out 'worship'. So if you do not prefer this, how should I put it, placidly dull definition then your definition will probably end up being one of 'idol wortship'; genius will be too elusive any other way.
Topic: Genius