Add me to this growing minority.
Maybe Santana take the decade vacated by Mark Knopfler?
(Ever heard Knopfler on Dylan’s Slow Train? )
50’s Les Paul
Eric Clapton 60’s
I’ve seen John Fogerty in person. He’s my pick for the 70’s.
80’s Randy Rhoads no one else comes close. Dude was classically trained and the best metal guitarist ever. IMHO R.I.P.
Boarding a plane - can’t type long. On the basis of influence, Johnny Ramone is up there for the 70’s. Richard Thompson is a cross-decade monster.
He’s not my favorite player, but B.B. King needs to be discussed here, especially given the criteria the OP mentioned.
The dTb is off the road for this year, and who knows what happens after that. But Derek is still playing with the Allman Brothers, and watching him play with Oteil Burbridge (bass) is worth the price of admission as far as I’m concerned.
The Trucks Band is on hiatus because [sorry twickster] there is now a Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band. It looks like they are hitting the road in April. The rest of the lineup hasn’t been confirmed but strong rumors have it that it includes Oteil Burbridge on bass, Kofi Burbridge (dTb) on flute and keys, and Mike Mattison (dTb) on vocals. I love the dTb but this could also be an amazing band.
In any case the guy is an incredible original voice. The albums are great but I really recommend the limited release live disc (Live At Georgia Theatre) if you’re looking to hear the guy stretch out.
If anybody can put up a good enough argument for a rhythm guitarist I’ll listen. I just said that to insure that musicians prominently known for their guitar work would be included. And I’m painfully aware of how little I truly know about music, having not listened to that much. I’m not even really qualified to be making a list like this, but I suppose I’m just doing it to amuse myself. I know that Robert Johnson was not particularly popular or influential in his lifetime, but I noticed that my list had a trend toward representing rock-and-roll and its influences. I will consider changing Robert Johnson. Although I am familiar with the Gibson Les Paul, I haven’t heard any music by Les Paul himself (not that I know of). I was always under the impression from people I have talked to that he was an able-bodied guitarist, but not a great one.
I can see what you mean by Chuck Berry being sloppy (in the good way like you say), but curiously what do you mean by Jimmy Page being sloppy? This is the second time I’ve heard Page described in this way, and he is my favorite living guitarist (mostly because of his forming of Led Zeppelin, which I consider the essential rock band for a couple of reasons). Are you referring to some of his live work (which I find less appealing than his studio work), or the studio tracks which were recorded while he was high (forgot which ones)? Just curious.
I was thinking about putting Segovia up.
Some other thoughts on people’s comments: Again, this is an extremely subjective matter, and I noticed that my own choices reflected a basic trend towards rock-and-roll, but I also tried to be careful to choose a guitarist who represented the music scene at the time.
I’ll give a listen to Les Paul’s music later. I’d still be reluctant to replace Chuck Berry (regardless of sloppiness), because of his major influence on the sound of rock-and-roll (it is my understanding that Les Paul was more on the country scene).
Thoughts on “multi-decade” guitarists: it’s people like Carlos Santana ('60s to present), Eric Clapton (also '60s to present, but his best work was in the '60s and '70s), and Richard Thompson (about '70s to present, correct me if I’m wrong) who really make my idea sound convuluted. They’re all iconic, yet I can’t pick a decade to associate them with.
Additional thoughts on the '60s and '70s: if there are two selections I probably won’t change, they’re Hendrix and Page. They both represent their respective decades perfectly to me, and they have undeniable influences.
Additional thoughts on the '80s: I considered using Johnny Ramone for the ‘80s (where the Ramones’ best work came from). I wouldn’t call him the best (but let’s not get into that again), yet he probably had more influence on music than Eddie Van Halen. In fact, the Ramones are responsible for killing the age of the guitar solo in many ways. Maybe I’m being biased because I consider Eddie Van Halen a supremely skilled guitarist, but so be it. Anyways Randy Rhoads and Mark Knopfler are both excellent. I’m seriously considering changing my choice for the '80s to one of them.
Additional thoughts on the '90s: I thought about using Kurt Cobain (Nirvana is my favorite band of the '90s), but only vaguely: he’s a good singer-songwriter, but his solos weren’t particularly amazing. However, he is a good representation of the decade, he is iconic, and his influence on the music scene at the time is definitely there. Zakk Wylde and Tom Morello have skill, but I’m not a huge fan of their stuff. Slash was also doing some good work at this time.
Additional thoughts on the '00s: Ever since the '80s there’s been a growing trend toward discarding guitar solos, and because I don’t listen to much modern music, I don’t know who to choose. John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers has done some pretty good stuff. Chris Shiflett has been making solid music for the Foo Fighters too.
Additional thoughts on the '10s: What is there to say here? Nothing. I just hope that new musicians will find a way to keep things fresh.
This was quite a mouthful. Please pass on your opinions about guitarists in this thread. You don’t have to limit yourself to naming just one guitarist per decade, but do keep the subject in mind.
Oh, dear. I suspect some might disagree. Les Paul & Mary Ford. Check about a minute in.
Well there you have me: that was some impressive playing.
I think that a decade is too long a spell for rock and roll. Five years, max. I mean, look at the difference between 1961…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLn2SKkhlu4 (#1, Fats Domino)
And Hey Jude (1968)
You can’t just tuck that all under Hendrix.
And stuffing the 70s under Page? It just misses so much of the whole scene.
(And for the neglected generational players, I’d add Buddy Guy and Jeff Beck.)
Yeah, I know, you can’t choose one man to sum up a whole decade, but I’m doing this to amuse myself. The five year format is a pretty good idea (will allow room for Clapton), but I’ll stick to the decade format, because it shows broader changes (although you’re right; often these changes are too broad). For example if I used the five year format, the years 1966 - 1980 would look like this:
1966 - 1970 - Jimi Hendrix
About the span of Hendrix’s career. He died in 1970, so I think this would be an appropriate choice given this format.
1971 - 1975 - Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton peaked around the early '70s with Derek and the Dominos and Cream, and some of his solo work is good as well. I think this shows some change from Hendrix (Clapton wasn’t quite as crazy, and couldn’t play with his teeth… or could he?), and he definitely represents the tamer post-Vietnam scene compared to the psychedelic rock of the late '60s (which peaked at Woodstock).
1976 - 1980 - Jimmy Page
Closer to Clapton than Hendrix. This represents how the five year format would be able to show more gradual change, while the decade format would be far broader. Although when you think about it, Hendrix and Page showed more innovation and craziness than Clapton who despite being phenomenal was more tame and well-dressed (Hendrix was innovative by using electrical feedback, and crazy because he could play with his teeth; Page was innovative through creative distortion and track methods, and crazy (guitar-wise) because he could play with a violin bow).
Both are interesting formats, and if I find the time I may do both, but I’ll stick with the decade for now. Fair enough?
For the '50s, Chuck Berry’s licks were T-Bone Walker’s licks - by his own admission. You could argue that Chuck Berry popularized them and then the entire rock-n-roll world copied them. But Berry got a lot of his playing style straight from T-Bone.
So, which would be the guitarist of the '50s - the artistic that developed the style or the one that popularized it?
I’ve heard and read several guitar greats (B.B. King, Robert Lockwood, et al) say they were influenced by Lonnie Johnson. He did some of his recording in the 1920s, so I would nominate him for the guitarist of the '20s.
Thanks for informing me about that. I’m thinking of putting T-Bone Walker in for the '40s section. I’ll have to consider that about Berry as well.
And I’m definitely going to check out Lonnie Johnson’s work. I hope the audio quality is at least decent, but if the playing is good, it won’t matter if the audio is bad.
As far as my list goes, I’ve pondered for awhile, and I’m seriously considering putting in Slash for ‘90s. Great guitarist (definitely better than Cobain in terms of solo-playing.), and put up with the insanity of Guns N’ Roses’ frontman Axl Rose, for a more than respectable period of time. Guns N’ Roses isn’t a bad band, but I’m always reluctant to follow a band which a) has a bitchy frontman; b) is named after one member (okay there are a thousand exceptions to this for me: Santana, Van Halen, the Jimi Hendrix Experience); and c) only has one of its founding members currently playing (the reformed Yardbirds aren’t really much better in this respect; they have two of their original members). After awhile a band needs to know when to call it quits: I’m not saying these people should stop playing music, but they should at least form under a different name. That’s why I like Led Zeppelin so much: they only played under the name the New Yardbirds because they had to fulfil contractual obligations; the four members all seemed equally important; they stuck together; they operated without a dictatorial leader; they weren’t named after anybody; they went from being a small-time blues-rock band to being a hard-rock machine; and they showed true respect for each other by disbanding after Bonham died.
Still no idea who to choose for the '00s (2000s, not 1900s). I like Frusciante and Shiflett, but I’m not sure they really represent the decade or feel iconic to me (I’d probably place Frusciante a little higher than Shiflett).
Just for interest’s sake, here are some of the artists/recordings from “Progressions - 100 Years of Jazz Guitar”, coupled with some results from “The Jazz Guitar” by Maurice Summerfield.
1900 - 1910 Vess Ossman recorded St. Louis Tickle with the Ossman-Dudley Trio (Ossman on banjo, Dudley on Mandolin, George Dudley or Roy Butin on harp guitar) Jan. 24, 1906.
1910 - 1920
1920 - 1930 Sam Moore, Chain Gang Blues July 29, 1921
Johnny St. Cyr and Lonnie Johnson with Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five, Savoy Blues December 13, 1927, both also mentioned in ‘The Jazz Guitar - Its Evolution’
Sol Hoopii The Only, Only One (For Me) October 12, 1927
Eddie Lang Add A Little Wiggle March 29, 1928, also cited in ‘The Jazz Guitar - Its Evolution’
Eddie Bush Clowin’ The Frets April 6, 1928
Snoozer Quinn is mentioned in ‘The Jazz Guitar - Its Evolution’ as follows - “The only other guitarist of note of the late twenties was Snoozer Quinn. He had a fine reputation amongst jazzmon in the New York area but due to illnes and other reasens never achieved lasting fame.”
1930 - 1940
Benny “King” Nawahi withe The Georgia Jumpers California Blues April 7, 1931
Roy Smeck wth Martha Raye How’m I Doin/Dinah August 25, 1932
Eddie Condon with Billy Banks & His Rhythmakers Who’s Sorry Now? May 23, 1932
Carl Kress & Dick McDonough Danzon January 31, 1934, both also mentioned in ‘The Jazz Guitar - Its Evolution’
Otto ‘Coco’ Heimel with Candy & Coco China Boy September 19, 1934
Sam Koki Minnehaha August 29, 1934
Django Reinhardt Honeysuckle Rose January 31, 1938
Casey Bill Weldon Guitar Swing August 5, 1937
Oscar Alemán Whispering December 5, 1938
Allan Reuss Pickin’ for Patsy May 5. 1939
In ‘The Jazz Guitar’, Brock Mumford is pictured with Buddy Bolden circa 1894. Like Bolden himself, there are no known recordings. I throw that in for no particular reason. I’ll see if I can link to the picture later…
So, my picks -
for 1900 - 1910, I’m sticking to Tàrrega,
1910 - 1920 I’m going to say Augustín Barrios Mangoré, who was still active well until 1944
1920 - 1930 Things start to get really interesting. Eddie Lang or Lonnie Johnson - I wouldn’t really fight you one way or another on those two. I have to investigate Snoozer Quinn - I want him on the list if only for the name, but if I’ve heard anything of his, I can’t recall it.
1930 - 1940 Django Reinhardt.
1940 - 1950 Charlie Christian. I love T-Bone Walker, too, but I think Charlie was wider in his influence at the time. I was actually surprised to look up and find out that T-Bone’s recordings were that early - I have always associated him with the early 1950s.
May I also just say that looking into this wonderful music for part of the day has been making me mourn for Jeff Healey, whose radio show ‘My Kind of Jazz’, first on CBC and then on Jazz FM was a regular part of my Monday nights for years. He had the most astonishing, encyclopaedic knowledge of the period I’ve been discussing, as well as an incredibly extensive collection of the original 78s. I’ve spent much time today looking up what he just had in his head. RIP, Jeff - you are sorely missed.
MwNNrules - trust me on this: I love geeking out about the guitar. But this seems like there’s a big divide - you are trying to assert your list but keep coming back to the fact that you haven’t heard many of the players we’re mentioning. And as someone who has invested 30+ years as a player and active listener to the guitar, I have to say it would take years to wrap your brain around some of the players mentioned - in part due to sheer volume, but digging into Vaya Con Dios by Les Paul (technically brilliant schmaltz if there ever was) or Wes Montgomery’s sublime jazz also require some investment to get into the style and adapt your listening to the new rules. And to understand how guitar “works” in that genre of music - metal shredding has a lot in common with classical, yet the overlap is not so significant that you can automatically bounce from one to the other.
I’ll see if I can track down a few threads where I geek out on a few players for reference…
T-Bone Walker (click on the link to the 'zine article in teemings)
A discussion about rhythm guitarists(read it and get back to me ;))
A discussion about guitar tones
Underrated guitarists
Overrated guitarists
Derek Trucks (aka Mr. Twicks)
Jeff Beck’s DVD
Overview of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Duane Allman
Ramblings about Jeff Beck and Peter Green
The Edge
Assessment of guitar value based on guitar hero-ness
Guitar Solos
The Blessed Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Malcolm Young
Pantera, esp Dimebag Darrell
Mark Knopfler
The Who and Led Zeppelin (and Page is sloppy - I dunno, you said it yourself about his concert performances…he is willing to shoulder mistakes in the cause of creativity - he puts groove before precision and I think his music is better for it)
Jeez, I gotta get a life. Hope this helps.
Although classic jazz is not the music I generally listen to (as evidenced by my choices being all rock or rock influences), your post was very interesting and full of good considerations on the age of the jazz guitar. My dad owns some work by Django Reinhardt, and he might have some Charlie Christian. This thread has given me plenty to listen to. I’d love to see your choices for the more modern decades (assuming you keep up with them).
Your post has also left me wondering if this thread might not be better off dividing into genres. Part of me would like to see different genres of guitarists. It would be easier in some ways, but another part of me doesn’t like seeing music divided into so many different categories (I’ve always been of the opinion that trying to describe music limits it). The problem is that there are so many different musical scenes happening at the same time. One might say that jazz became the blues, which became rock (althoug rock absorbed so much more than just the blues, which leads me to wonder if one genre of music can really be said to be anything except music). Anyways, I’ll to stick to what I know, and that’s primarily rock-and-roll.
Thanks. Truly appreciated - I’ll check out these threads when I have the time (which will probably end up being later tonight).
Yeah, I can see what you mean. I can listen to as much music from an era as I like, but I still can’t live that era (that’s probably why I knew close to nothing about Les Paul as a guitarist, as opposed to a guitar innovator). I wouldn’t claim to be a guitar genius either - I can tune one up rather decently, and I know a few chords in A key (which is pathetic), but this is what I’ve learned from my father, himself once an aspiring guitarist, and a book I once rented from the library. I am not particularly of a musical bent - I took three different instruments in elementary school (the first two I wouldn’t pick up again if you payed me - the violin and the clarinet, and the trombone I could have probably become proficient at), although I can usually play some easy piano tunes, such as a version of the leitmotif from The Ride of the Valkyries which sounds right, but due to lack of classical training, all I know is that it sounds good. I do intend to learn an instrument though: after I buy a mandolin I intend on taking lessons any way I can (even if it’s just based on tips from mandolincafe.com), hopefully with a tutor.
Anyways, yeah, you’ve gotta love Page, sloppy or not.
Y’all aren’t real big on country guitarists, are ya? My pick for the 2000s would be Brad Paisley. Keith Urban is decent, but Brad has been a huge influence on country music. And for the 1970’s: Roy Clark. I have a recording of him playing Malaguena, and he is extremely talented.
Of course, my husband also mentioned Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai.
Sorry about that. I don’t listen to much country in general. I have heard of all three of the guitarists your husband mentioned, though.
I’m the first to admit it: my list is all rock-and-roll guitarists (manifesting themselves in one form or another starting with the '50s), and where there isn’t a rock-and-roll guitarist, there’s a guitarist who influenced rock in some way or other.
Here we are - Brock Mumfordis seated with his guitar directly in front of Buddy Bolden, circa 1894. The band is remarkable for a number of reasons - guitar instead of a much more common banjo, and a bass player instead of a tuba or sousaphone. For all that Buddy Bolden was supposed to be heard “fourteen miles away” (!), he seems to have kept quieter company than his contemporaries…
1970s? Would rather listen to the guitar work of Joni Mitchell over anyone else…
It just occurred to me that nobody has mentioned the guys from Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce, and Glen Buxton, I think that they were really, really, good, and totally underappreciated. Their music sticks in my head, guitar-wise, even longer than clapton, excepting Layla; their music is certainly much cleaner than Page; etc…
I would not mind saying that their guitar work better defined ‘best’ guitar work of the 70s.
Oops, except for Beck, but, he wasn’t quite as mainstream as they.
hh