Have you heard his duet with Ricky Skaggs singing the Merle Travis classic "Dark as a Dungeon" with the Chieftains? Incredible.
Underated Guitarists
- Thread starter sternej
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Could Vince Gill be considered underrated? I am not a country guy at all, but he is an amazing guitarist.
Roy Clark was another great country guitarist. Maybe not underrated, but wasn’t known predominantly as a guitarist (singer, banjo, etc.).
Agreed on Les Paul, he was incredible. Not underrated though as he was known as a monster player. I regret not seeing him in NYC just before he died. He played in a little club every week and I was “too busy” during a vacation to NY maybe 15 years ago to go see him.
If we're going country I'll throw out Don Rich, the lead guitarist for Buck Owen's Buckaroos.
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Two of my all time favorites are Richard Thompson and R.L. Burnside
I've not looked at the Rolling Stone list but I'd wager that Thompson is on it. Burnside is probably not.
I consider myself fortunate to have seen both of them perform live.
I've not looked at the Rolling Stone list but I'd wager that Thompson is on it. Burnside is probably not.
I consider myself fortunate to have seen both of them perform live.
I was trying to think of John Campbell. Texas/Louisiana and then NYC, I guess. More late 80s and 90s than 70s, it looks like. Died at 41 from a heart attack in his sleep. I never saw him live. Said to be awesome live. I know someone who did see him on the same bill as Sonny Landref and another famous slide player, who said Campbell blew them off the stage, and they are big Landref fans. This video probably does not do him justice, but gives you an idea.
For that matter, I would say that Little George Sueref is one of the most underrated, or at least appreciated, blues guys, period. Guitar, harp, vocal. Best known for the latter two, but I really like the way he plays guitar.
You are correct. I think Thompson is 38.
And I'll go ahead and throw out husband and wife duo Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent aka Shovels & Rope. Two very talented underrated musicians. If you haven't seen them do yourself a favor and do, they tour relentlessly.
Oh, absolutely. He was one of the originals.
Good picks. I would not have said that Skunk Baxter was underrated. But they did leave him off the list. RS seems to know nothing at all!
Ok I'll throw out one more that I've seen live that's been very impressive and is likely under rated, under everyone's radar. Eugene Edwards, plays lead in Dwight Yoakam's band
I have not! But thanks for the tip. I'll look it up. Thank you. (I'm a huge Skaggs fan as well).
DEFINITELY Martin Barre. I have one of his solo albums. He was such a driving force behind Jethro Tull and was overshadowed by Ian Anderson but a great electric and acoustic guitarist. I follow him on YouTube.
Winwood: When Eric Clapton did the Blind Faith album with Winwood (which in my opinion features some of his best guitar solos), he later commented, "I really had to bring my A game. Stevie pushed me." That speaks volumes.
Glen Campbell: Unquestionably. He was part of the Wrecking Crew that did session work for dozens of artists back in the day. A virtuoso.
All of the ones you mentioned are excellent, although a couple of them I confess I've not heard of.
Skunk might be more famous for his electronics and his muppet influence.
Beautiful! Saved to my YouTube account so I can watch it on my big TV later. Much obliged!
That is funny. He is now a defense contractor, they say. He was with some good groups and did a lot of session work. I would think he would be hard to miss, but I guess I was wrong.
I liked everything you said. I am sure some of the folks I mentioned no one here has heard of, althoughfor the most part I tried not to go completely obscure. Little George and J Campbell are obscure though, except apparently not in the NYC and London blues scenes.
Jimmy Thackery, once of the Nighthawks, would be highly underrated too. No doubt he has the skills. I have not loved what he picks to put on records, but he sure has chops.
Good pick. I did not know of him, but Dwight Yoakam does a great job. Don Rich, too. I like the Bakersfield sound.
There are likely local people everywhere that are fantastic, especially places that have a great music scene. Can you imagine how many great players there are in Nashville? Mark Banning, recently sadly deceased, was well-known in the Bay area. This is good, and he could play Jeff Beck pretty much as well as Jeff Beck. Nicest guy ever, too.
- Robben Ford
- Vernon Reid
- Brian May (reason why I started playing)
- Richie Sambora
- Mark Knopfler
Billy Strings. Relatively new, but just an amazing player with a dead-perfect sense of what bluegrass should be.
Glen Campbell. Somehow he got mostly known for his voice, but he played superbly.
I was glad to see Clarence White on the list. He's not often remembered.
Glen Campbell. Somehow he got mostly known for his voice, but he played superbly.
I was glad to see Clarence White on the list. He's not often remembered.
Great choices, every one of 'em.
I do not think Billy Strings is underrated by anyone who has seen him!
If Clarence White had livec he would have been as famous as any player.
Guitar Player magazine picked Brian May as the number 1 player ever recently.
If Clarence White had livec he would have been as famous as any player.
Guitar Player magazine picked Brian May as the number 1 player ever recently.
I realize the scope of the thread is to focus on guitarists who are either left off the list, or who are otherwise far less known than they ought to be; however, in my estimation putting a talent like Jerry Garcia at #34 is a prime example of underrating a musician whose gifts far exceeded most of those who proceed him by ranking on the RS list.
My opinion.
Bill
My opinion.
Bill
And there we enter a truly endless rabbit hole, Spy Car! But I would not let that discourage us! We can start with Andy Summer of the Police. at 250. A highly influential player!
