John McLaughlin is hands down one of the key influencers in the fusion genre. By combining genres like Indian music with jazz and classical, McLaughlin has made the instrument as multi-faceted as can be. In fact, according to Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin was the best guitarist alive.
The musician was once invited to record with Miles Davis early in his career. But it was in his own Mahavishnu Orchestra that his serious riffs gave him that true legendary status.
John Frusciante
The legendary Red Hot Chili Peppers may be the brainchild of Antony Keidis, but their musical foundations are very much built upon the "funk-pumped energy" of John Frusciante. The wildly talented guitarist pushed the band to new heights, getting them up to fill up stadiums. Their style has transcended the genres as they have delved into the realms of funk, punk, psychedelic, and even hip-hop.
The band has been the recipient of numerous awards, including several Grammys, and has sold over 80 million records worldwide. Their remarkable song collection contains hits like "Otherside," "Californication," “Can't Stop,” and much, much more.
Richard Thompson
British folk-rock master of the band Fairport Convention is known for his speedy picking skill. Basing his style on English traditional music while also veering into dynamic electric guitar solos, Richard Thompson has been dubbed a "versatile virtuoso guitarist."
His incredible skill has earned one of the most prestigious guitar awards. On 10 June 2010, Thompson was awarded the Mojo Les Paul Award for "Guitar Legend."
T-Bone Walker
B.B. King heard T-Bone Walker and said that he thought "Jesus Himself had returned to Earth playing electric guitar." The blues guitarist was one of the originators of the jump-blues electric sound. The multi-talented musician was ranked number 37 on the list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" in the 2018 Rolling Stone Magazine.
His bluesy vibrato can be mostly heard in the tracks "Call It Stormy Monday," "T-Bone Shuffle," and "Mean Old World."
Leslie West
Born Leslie Weinstein, with his cover of Otis Redding's "Respect," was the moment that he was truly recognized as a guitar legend. By 1969 West was in the band Mountain, churning out songs like the 1970 hit "Mississippi Queen."
Playing blues with an R&B flair, the guitar legend played with unhinged mentioned and played with amp distortion in a way that might make Hendrix jealous.