Chit Atkins

 

David Gilmore (I'm not into shredding)

Steve Hackett (he has some incredible solos)

Adrian Belew (he's played with a wide range of people)

 

There’s a guy named Jim Stafford I guess you would call him a country guy he’s getting a little older now but that son of a gun is real good guitar player

 

Many years ago I wandered into a discussion about the "Top 5 guitar players of all time". I said, In no particular order, Chet Atkins, Jango Rhinehart, Leo Kotke, Mark Knopfler, and George Benson.

Except for Knopfler, they had no idea who these guys were.

I said, If you want me to rate guitar players you've heard of, that's a different list.

 

I should have included Benson in my reply. He's been referred to as the best Jazz guitarist more than any other (pretty much). He had some great albums on CTI before he came out with the Breezin' album (1976) which was also killer.

 

The Three Kings
(there may be more, but these are mine)

Albert King


Freddie King


BB King

 

Continuing with George Benson. An amazing virtuoso talent. He was hot as fuck on the jazz scene before he broke through to the pop charts with 'Breezin', on which he also sang 'This Masquerade' - and the jazz/pop world went "WOW! This guy can sing!" But this was his 15th album, and he sang on his first album.

Fast fingers - and scatting with his solos, this guitar monster sort of rewrote jazz guitar for the times.

My favorite - AND one of my favorite songs starts to a movie was when the audition 'cattle call' scene very early in 'All That Jazz' was to his version of 'On Broadway'. All kudos to the original, but George took ownership of that tune, and this is one of the best marriages of song to image in cinema. Doesn't really show off his lead playing, but this is about the scene.

George starts at about 1:30

 

Wow what A hellava question. Hmm, Rik Emmett (triump) Randy Rhoades, Jimi Hendrix, Prince of Course( seen him 5 times in concert with different band mates), Chet Atkins Roy Clark, Alvin Lee, and Steve Steven's to get started.. Oh and I'm diggin Frampton also..

 

Stevie Ray Vaughan was something special! Wasn’t even at his peak in terms of guitar skills. Jason Becker, EVH, Steve Via, Hendrix, the list goes on and on. But currently the top 2 for me are Derek Trucks and Marcus King. Absolutely masterful and magical guitar players.

 

Django Reinhardt (with missing fingers!), Glen Campbell, Billy Strings, Charo (yes, THAT Charo!), St. Vincent (Annie Clark), Maury Muehleisen, Roy Clark, and, the Master, Andrés Segovia.

My all-time favorite, though, is the late Betty C., who taught me to play.

 

I know the thread is called guitar kings, but there's too few queens getting mentions, so I offer for consideration...

Bonnie raitt
Susan tedeschi
Nancy Wilson
Samantha fish
And the Lovell sisters from Larkin Poe (if you'll allow the inclusion of a little lap steel)

 

Adam Jones.

 

Come on you guys and gals...

you're all missing one of the greatest....

Steve Lukerther Toto

 

Speaking of Guitar Goddesses, I've never seen a transition as striking as Jennifer Batten - we were both in the second graduating class at The Guitar Institute - now the Musician's Institute -.
I remember a few occasions sitting in practice rooms playing standard jazz songs with her.

The last time I saw her she had been a quiet, mousy little thing with glasses and corduroy pants. The next time I saw her, years later, she was Michael Jackson's lead guitarist. I remember thinking "There's no way that's the same woman..."

 

My Top 5 in no particular order...

Kenny Wayne Sheppard
Jimi Hendrix
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Garry Moore
B.B. King

 

Thought of a couple more for the list.

Ozzy has an occult ability to partner with killer guitarists. Randy's been noted a few times already but I haven't seen Tony Iommi mentioned yet. Their work with Sabbath created an entire genre. He also found Zakk Wylde who's just a friggin monster of pentatonic riffs and Jake E. Lee who put together lots of supernaturally appealing work.

Reb Beach from Winger, very early Blues Saraceno (I think he was just 16? maybe 17? when 'Never Look Back' and 'Plaid' were released), Duane Allman's tasty slide passages (and Dickie Betts with his melodic and intriguing play, too!)

Fun thread, y'all.

 

There’s a lot of guitarist listed here that I never heard of. I guess I’m gonna have to broaden my horizons. Thanks for sharing your favorites with us, and it’s nice seeing that everyone is having fun with this

 

For Spanish guitar, I have always loved Armik. Everybody was crazy about The Gypsy Kings (ho-hum) - a bunch of strummers. This guy is the shit, babes.