I've got a question for you. Who is the greatest living guitarist of the 20th Century? I've got an answer for you. Of course, I've considered shredmeisters like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai but it's not either of them. I also have not forgotten past masters like Robin Trower, Dicky Betts or Johnny Winter, but it isn't any one of them either. Naturally, I considered those old Yardbirds, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton, but it isn't one of those dinosaurs either. It also isn't Richard Thompson, Roy Clark, Tony Iommi, Chet Atkins, Ritchie Blackmore, Kim Thayil, Carlos Santana or one of the three British folk icons, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, and Martin Carthy. Sorry, I'm equally sad to report it isn't George Benson, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Andy Summers, Peter Green, Henry Kaiser, Dimebag Darrell, Warren Haynes, Nils Lofgren, Kirk Hammett, Lee Renaldo, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Dick Dale, Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, The Edge. Steve Howe, Eddie Van Halen, Buddy Guy, Alan Holdsworth, Link Wray, Steve Lukather, Billy Gibbons, Mike Hampton, Ry Cooder, Ted Nugent, J Mascis, Ronnie Montrose, Derek Trucks, Bill Frisell, Mike Stern, John Scofield, Randy Bachman, Stephen Grossman, B. B. King, Albert Lee, Alvin Lee, Angus Young, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Shenker, Ulrich Roth, Jorma Kaukonen, Keith Richards, Leo Kottke, John Fahey, Vernon Reid, David Gilmour, Scotty Moore, Pat Martino, Pete Townsend, James "Blood" Ulmer, Phillipe Catherine, Jim O'Rourke, John Ambercrombie or Al Di Meola. If you think you do know who it is, email us your answer and if you know the correct answer you'll receive a free CD by this great guitarist. Remember, the musician is still alive and well and playing as well as ever. A clue for you-this person has a couple of sons who are also musicians. One more thing, I am very sorry that there were not any women on my list, I tried to think of a few ladies that should have been on this list but couldn't come up with any worth the honorable mention. I know that is bad, and welcome any feedback in this area. Tomorrow I'll tell you who (I think) is the greatest living guitarist of this century and why.
by Mitch Myers
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