Posted on 09/29/2016 6:17:49 PM PDT by Mariner
The 20th century could easily be considered the golden age of guitar in popular music. You can hear it in the inventive blues and jazz guitar work that seemed to reinvent the instrument every decade if not every year or so, and you can especially hear it in the invention of the guitar-centric rock genre that became a cultural behemoth in the second half of the century. Popular music today often eschews the guitar in favor of studio-based arrangements, but the guitar players who made the greatest impact in the 1900s continue to influence popular music today. To celebrate their contributions to music and music history, we’re counting off five of the most influential guitarists of the 20th century, in chronological order.
1. Robert Johnson
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If it were longer I would add Keith Richards, but then I would stop.
Sky Dog, Clapton, and Mark Knopfler
Les Paul.
Arthur Godfrey.
Oops, ukulele.
“Influential”, not favorite or best or greatest etc.
Spiral Stairs
J.J. Cale
Agreed.
maybelle carter played the guitar before it was amped , which because so weak was often avoided by band musisuans who played louder instruments, horns , banjos and fiddles of the era.. maybelle carter was therefore a true pioneer on the guitar , indeed many aspiring players who came later started out on her wild wood flower lick.
Ping
No doubt. Duane's style incorporated American music in its entirety. And many did he play with soul.
Honorable mention to Jesse Ed Davis, who inspired Duane to play slide. Listen to Taj Mahal's first few albums for examples of Davis' prowess.
Carlos Santana
“many” = man.
Eddie Van Halen.
Randy Rhoads.
Yngwie Malmsteen.
Wes Montgomery: Seems like every jazz guitarist steals his octave technique.
Dick Dale: Surf king - generations have copied him.
Yngwie Malmsteen: Tens of thousands of neo-classical shredders owe him their careers.
Andres Segovia: Because he's Segovia.
Eric Clapton: Made blues guitar soloing into a standard 60's/70's rock idiom.
Carlos Santana
John McLaughlin
Jerry Garcia
Guy Van Duser.
I don’t hear too much of those guitarists’ styles in a lot of music these days. I’ve heard more of the style of Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, even Mick Box of Uriah Heep in a lot of music.
I always liked George Benson.
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