Who is the Most Underrated Guitarist?

[BigDoug1053]

Who deserves more props, press, respect, awareness? To make this list, the guitarist must have chops, be a stylistic influence on players, and not have gotten wide recognition or reward from the general public. I will start off with:

Danny Gatton
Alan Holdsworth
Charlie Christian
Johnny Smith
Ernie Isley

 

[Marty Horne]

Chuck Loeb

 

[wixedmords]

Holdsworth is a great one.

Add Leslie West.

Many guitarists list him as an influence, mostly for his thick sound.

 

[VegasGreg]

I'd say Lindsey Buckingham is pretty darn underrated.

I never thought much of him until I was dragged screaming to a Fleetwood Mac concert by an old girlfriend...I had a whole new appreciation of his playing (and the entire band) after that night.

 

[mainsale]

Duke Robillard

 

[lhallam]

Martin Barre - a true workhorse and gets zero credit. I don't think I've ever seen him in any guitar type magazine.

 

[KRosser]

John Stowell
Joe Diorio
Lenny Breau
Harry Leahy
Ted Greene
Reggie Young
Sam Brown
Hubert Sumlin
"Pops" Staples
Michael Gregory Jackson
Blind Willie Johnson
James Burton
Magic Sam
Mick Goodrick
Attila Zoller

+1 on Johnny Smith & Lindsey Buckingham, definitely

About two dozen more guys are going to pop in my head as soon as I send this....

 

[rwe333]

Great suggestions so far...

I'll add, off the top of my head:

Ollie Halsall
Ed Bickert
Steve Topping
Pierre Bensusan
Richard Thompson
Jan Akkerman
Domenic Troiano
Frank Marino
acoustic Bill Connors

...

 

[Clorenzo]

Originally posted by Marty Horne
Chuck Loeb

Huge +1. I saw him live with Metro a couple of years ago and it was one of the best concerts I've been to, the guy blew me away and the same goes for the rest of the band. Besides, from the concert and interviews I've read he seems to be the nice, humble, Lukather type. Check out his impressive credits here http://chuckloeb.com/ (there's some clips too) and if you're into contemporary jazz I think the album Metrocafé by Metro is a must.

 

[KRosser]

..I told you I'd forget some...

Djelimady Tounkara
Fred Frith
Mark Stewart
Tim Brady
Marc Ducret

..in addition to Wayne's list..I can't believe I forgot Ed Bickert and Richard Thompson, two of my all-time fave guitar players, and who I've actually been listening to a lot of lately....

 

[B Vance]

I think Bonnie Raitt is consistently overlooked in terms of her guitar ability. Not only is she an amazing song writer, but she can make you cry with her slide work. I think she has great technique as well.

 

[ES330]

Wherever you rate this guy, even if it was #1, he'd still be underrated


Johnny Winter

 

[Guy from Idaho]

Originally posted by Al Z
Wherever you rate this guy, even if it was #1, he'd still be underrated


Johnny Winter

 

[BigDoug1053]

+1 on Johnny Winter

David Lindley
Steve Tibbetts
David Torn

 

[Taller]

Rick Neilson.
He can play on my team any day!

 

[tommyg]

Originally posted by Guy from Idaho

+1 for Johnny Winter AND Mike Bloomfield....


....add Don Felder and Dickey Betts to the list too.

 

[ivers]

The entire country of Brazil.

 

[DanR]

No offense, but a lot of guys being mentioned I wouldn't consider as being underrated


DanR

 

[thezombie99]

John Sykes (Whitesnake, Blue Murder)
Pete Lesperance (Harem Scarem)

 

[pbradt]

James Pennebaker

Bill Hullett

Bill Kirchen

Rob McNelley