The most influential black guitar players in history left us an immense legacy. Their art was either rooted in the blues or was the blues itself.
That’s because a good portion of popular western music comes from the blues. And blues music was developed by African Americans in the deep south of the United States with roots in African tradition. Along with the blues, the other main genres of the american continent are also heavily rooted in Africa. The four guitar players below took the spirit of the blues and ran with it. As a result, they created music that was trascendental and that transformed culture as we know it. Here are 4 of the most influential black guitar players in history.
Jimi Hendrix
No guitarist has influenced electric guitar playing like Jimi Hendrix. He was a visionary with uncanny charisma, innovative ideas and a ferocious style of play. His use of feedback, distortion, wah, and social protest through music were unprecedented. Jimi Hendrix was an extremely expressive performer. And he was superior in technique to most of the blues players at that time. To say he was a unique guitarist is an understatement. Albums like Are You Experienced and Electric Ladyland are required listening for any modern musician.
Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery has influenced scores of guitarists. He is arguably the most important jazz guitarist in history. Montgomery developed a unique playing style that is now taught at music universities the world over. The use of his thumb instead of a pick, and his use of octaves became a standard technique. He is one of the most studied and transcribed guitarists to this day. Wes Montgomery also delved into pop music and easy listening. As a result, he set a career path that many would try to emulate, some successfully like the great George Benson. He was a master of rhythm and beautiful improvised melodies as well. Albums like Smokin’ at The Half Note and The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery are classics.
B.B. King
Riley B. King, better known as B.B. King, was one of the most successful and influential blues guitar players ever. He introduced a minimalistic and gorgeous style of soloing with the use of string bending and his signature vibrato. B.B King is recognized by some as the most important electric guitarist ever. He was the living embodiment of the blues. Born in a cotton plantation, having a hard childhood and picking cotton in the fields as a teenager. His way of playing was highly expressive. King could move even the persons sitting in the last rows of the arenas he played through his careful note choice. Records like Singin’ The Blues and Lucille are some of the best known blues works of all time.
Muddy Waters
The father of the modern Chicago blues. Muddy Waters was one of the most influential guitarists ever. He introduced a whole slew of new guitarists to the blues. Eric Clapton cites Muddy Waters as his main influence. Muddy Waters toured relentlessly taking his blues sound everywhere around the world. Records like Muddy Waters Sings Big Bill, and After the Rain are some of the most beloved blues records ever made.
All of these guitar players had very unique styles and developed their own distinctive voices. They were able to reach countless souls with their music, and their sound and influence will stay present for a long time. They have cemented their place in history. You can recognize their playing immediately. And that is something extremely hard to do. The records they released have stood the test of time and musicians from every genre will keep on learning from them for years to come.
