What guitar player influenced you most?

Bobby Johnson · Post by **Bobby Johnson** » 5 Oct 2006 6:59 pm

I guess i could say my one person that rocked my world was my dad he had a Chet Atkins style of playing. Then i remember Don Rich with Buck Owens. And that put country deep in my bones. Saw them at leats 6 times. Don Rich was from Tumwater, Washington. My dad knew him well. Guess thats why I'm hooked on Telecaster guitars and Esquires. Then i listen to Dicky Betts. wow. Spent my whole life wondering where them fingers were going to next. And many of the rest metioned as well. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, I ain't never gona be that good so i took up Bass. (Luughing) But the first time i saw Tom Brumley play a seet guitar i was hooked beyond repair. Wow and i like to pulled ever hair out my head trying to figuar it out. Did some and am not done yet. And the hair is thin now. And i always where a hat now.

Bobby

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 5 Oct 2006 8:54 pm

"I know all of these famous people are influences but did any of these people really reach out to you and influence you?"

Yes. You don't have to know someone personally or have private lessons from them for them to be an influence. Most local players weren't influences...they were just other local players scrambing for gigs.

George Plemons · Post by **George Plemons** » 7 Oct 2006 11:48 pm

Its also okay to know someone and be influenced by them..which I think happened at some of those gigs they were scrambling for. I think most of us are still scrambling.

Mark Krutke · Post by **Mark Krutke** » 8 Oct 2006 12:04 am

Leon Rhodes and Howard Aldin

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Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 8 Oct 2006 10:16 am

In the beginning (when I was about 15):
Al Di Meola
John McLaughin
Larry Coryll
Pat Metheny

Then in college:
Bill Nelson
Robert Fripp
Adrian Belew
David Torn

Now:
Nels Cline
Marc Ribot
Bill Horist
Bill Frisell
John Scofield
Freddie Green
Eldon Shamblin

Of course, my greatest influence on guitar has always been myself

Jerry Meek · Post by **Jerry Meek** » 8 Oct 2006 11:08 am

Some of giutar greats
Chet-Don Rich-Billy Sanford-Reggie Young-Pete Wade-Steve Gibson Vince Gill Ray Flackeand Brent Mason to mane a few.
Steel
Ralph Mooney- Lloyd Green-Hal Rugg- Walter Hanes-big E and Doug Jernigan brought a whole new demintion to the pedal steel oh of course Tommy White and Paul Franklin- J.D. Manes Reese Anderson.Randy Beavers and many others I've enjoyed seeing and hearing Play

Dennis Coelho · Post by **Dennis Coelho** » 8 Oct 2006 2:28 pm

For finger style, my strongest influences were Davey Graham, who in the late 50's invented Celtic finger style (though that doesn't really define him), and Bert Jansch who followed him, Rev. Gary Davis, Dave Van Ronk. Also, Sam McGee, the best of the pre-electric guitarists on the Opry (imho). And Jesse Fuller (he wrote "San Francisco Bay Blues") whom I knew out in Oakland, Ca. in the early 60's.

Flat pickers: Clarence White, Doc Watson, Dan Crary, and many terrific but nameless gospel bluegrass pickers over the years.

Electrics: Chuck Berry, James Buton, Don Rich, Hank Garland, Django, Wes Montgomery

David Thornhill · Post by **David Thornhill** » 8 Oct 2006 5:40 pm

Chet when I was 14 yrs.old. Johnny Smith when I was mid Twentys. Leon Rhodes when I was 30.
Grady Martin in my middle 30's. Pat Martino is my favorite jazz player. Dave Thornhill

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 9 Oct 2006 11:16 am

My dad..
Burlie "Ken" Stallings from Seattle. He has a unique style developed from being self taught. He doesn't know theory or even the names of his chords. He plays melody lines while playing the backing chords. He is an amazing player who chose a quiet family life over being a professional musician. His current guitar of choice is a Strat...

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Steve Stallings
The Songs

Jerry Stout · Post by **Jerry Stout** » 13 Oct 2006 12:38 am

I am surprised after looking thru 5 pages not to see Leon McCullough's name.He was probably my greatest influence.I guess I'm getting to old.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 13 Oct 2006 6:31 am

I suppose I didn't expect to see anyone else here mention my boyhood idol, Denny Wright - he was Britain's outstanding jazz guitarist in the 1950s.

But he had the gig with Lonnie Donegan - so he was on hit after hit after hit from 1956 to 1958.

I defy anyone who's my age (63) and who grew up in the UK wanting to play the guitar to ignore the incredible Mr Wright - surely I'm not the only one?

RR
PS: James Burton's solo on 'Hello Marylou' got under MY skin, too - how about that tone!!!!!!!?

Jan Jonsson · Post by **Jan Jonsson** » 13 Oct 2006 7:44 am

6-string guitar: Ritchie Blackmore, Peter Green, Albert Collins, Danny Gatton and Allan Holdsworth.

lapsteel/dobro: Junior Brown and Jerry Douglas.

pedal steel: Lloyd Green, Ricky Davis, Big Jim Murphy, Buddy Emmons and Vance Terry.

-- Jan

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Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 14 Oct 2006 4:18 pm

Nobody mentioned my buddy Redd Volkaert, who currently is the most interesting and fun guitarist going. I'm also a big fan of Leon Rhodes, who with Buddy Charlton, Jr Pineda, and Jack Green had arguably the hottest C&W road band (Texas Troubadours). I love Reggie Young's slinky work (like on Dobie Gray's Drift Away), Jr. Barnard's distorted leads on the Tiffany Bob Wills work, and Roy Nichols, Don Rich, and Grady Martin, who all had distinctive styles. I'm a huge fan of John McFee and his always interesting work on guitar and steel (he'll be featured on my new album out in January). Andy Reiss with Nashville's best kept secret, the Time Jumpers is great, as is the always interesting jazzer, George Barnes. I also saw Jimi Hendrix the first time he came out to play the Fillmore in 1967, and he was totally mind blowing and beyond anything I'd ever seen.

Tim Jones of Kansas · Post by **Tim Jones of Kansas** » 14 Oct 2006 4:59 pm

I couldn't remember if I had posted on this already, so here goes...

I was influenced the most by an eldery gentleman who played in my uncle, Ted Scott's band, the Western Drifters. His name is Tony Rico. He has since retired from playing because he's well into his 70's and can't do late gigs like he used to.

His guitar is the best thing ever:
It's two Fender 400's bolted together to make a double 8. He uses 2 pedals on the back and none on the front. This guitar is then hand-painted like a blue sky with clouds. Tony Rico was also a self-taught painter. You'll have to look long and hard to find a guitar sweeter sounding than that.

The reason I chose him was that his style never changed. He started out playing the old style and continues to play the old style. That in itself is what I do. I play the old style and thats what I'll continue until my demise.

Thank you, Tony Rico.

~Tim Jones

kbdrost · Post by **kbdrost** » 14 Oct 2006 5:19 pm

As far as six-string players influencing my pedal steel (there are other influences for my six-string playing) I would have to say:

James Burton
Roy Buchanon
Duane Allman
Redd Volkaert
Clarence White
Brad Paisley
Don Rich

Not necessarily in that order.

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Ken Drost
steelcrazy after all these years

Kevin Macneil Brown · Post by **Kevin Macneil Brown** » 14 Oct 2006 5:35 pm

Clarence White and Robert Fripp, inspirational for their amazing imagination, individuality, and expression.

During my formative years as a player, hearing Bill Kirchen's work with Commander Cody pointed the way to much of what I still think is really cool about the guitar.

And when I hear Don Rich, I think: Perfection.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 15 Oct 2006 9:56 pm

I probably already responded to this, but I have to say that the guitar player I'm listening to the most is Derek Trucks. The best slide player who has ever played (IMNSOHO) (in my not so humble opinion).

Perry Keeter · Post by **Perry Keeter** » 15 Oct 2006 10:26 pm

Lester Flatt, James Burton, Eric Clapton, Roy Clark and Glenn Campbell.

Larry Robinson · Post by **Larry Robinson** » 16 Oct 2006 3:11 pm

Anybody ever heard of "Thumbs" Carllile? Herby Wallace told me Thumbs was the best guitar player he ever worked with. Chet said that maybe Thumbs had it right and everybody else had it wrong. All those players mentions, especially Chet, Leon, Glenn, and Les are great influences. Almost all mentioned influenced me in my 50 years of playing.

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 18 Oct 2006 5:29 pm

George Harrison, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, BB King, EC, Duane Allman, Charlie Daniels.

I've played as much bass as guitar, and I want everything I play to sound like Paul McCartney and/or Lee Sklar. Those guys know how to play the SONG.

Ray Leroux · Post by **Ray Leroux** » 18 Oct 2006 6:08 pm

Ricky Scaggs and Ray Flack to name just a few

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 18 Oct 2006 6:39 pm

I was most influenced by a gtr player named Gene Hoover.
We did quite a few gigs and a few tours together in the early '70's. I was in my early 20's and he was in his 40's.
He was the older and wiser guy that really showed me the ropes... how to back up a singer, how and when to lay out, how to hear the numbers, how to listen to what the other players are doing...all that sort of invaluable stuff.
And he was a great picker as well.
I lost touch with him in the late '70's, much to my chagrin.

Gene H. Brown · Post by **Gene H. Brown** » 18 Oct 2006 8:21 pm

I'd have to say there were three steel players in particular that made me practise 7 and 8 hours a day when I was a youngin.
They would be Buddy Emmons, Jimmy Day and Lloyd Green and not particularily in that order. I think all three have great styles and heart when they play.
Guitar players would have to be Wes Montgomery, Wes Montgomery and Wes Montgomery.

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If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 18 Oct 2006 8:58 pm

Gene, pardon me for saying this, but IMHO you have excellent taste.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 20 Oct 2006 4:49 am

What a great listing of the greatest pickers of all time.
As a very young kid, probably only 4-5 years old, I used to rise early with my grandfather and watch a country music TV show hosted by Jimmy Dean. I am not talking about the prine time show from the late 60's. Not sure where it originated, maybe Wheeling or DC.
The lead picker in the band, I am not sure who he was but, he was the guy that made me want to play guitar. For some reason I always thought it was Roy Clark and although every other guitar player I ever heard has influenced me in some way, whoever that player was... THANKS !