Some Great Guitarists -- I've learned from listening to these guys. You can find alot of info on the internet by plugging their name into a "Google" Search... or just click on the name -- I've linked 'em to a site to get you started.
Merle
Travis A true renaissance man... thumb picker extraordinaire, story teller, cartoonist, singer and songwriter
Chet Atkins As close to a perfect picker as I have ever heard... every note is a work of art.
Chet's guitar is on a good portion of everything I listened to as a young
person.
James
Burton James is the paradigm against which I compare all other pickers... he's got it all -- tone, soul, concept, technique.
I heard him first with Ricky Nelson and he's blown me away with each and every
project he's taken on.
Scotty Moore His playing was the reason I first put a guitar in my hands in
1956. Thanks Scotty.
Django Reinhardt
I was fortunate to discover Django at an early age, though my appreciation of
his playing has only increased over the years.
Freddy King I learned all Freddy King's instrumentals. The first time I
heard "Hideaway", I was riding with my brother Tom. He stopped by the
side of the road and I literally fell out of the car with disbelief at the
incredible tune we'd just heard.
Joe Pass - I picked up the Pacific Jazz "For Django" LP in about
1966... wow.
Howard Roberts - still one of my favorite players. He's got great tone and
attack.
Wes Montgomery - It's a battle between Wes and Django for the greatest ever
jazzer... could never choose.
Ralph Mooney - When I was a kid, I didn't know there was such a thing as a
"pedal steel". I'd hear Ralph playing with Wynn Stewart or Warren
Smith... I thought it was just a really wild guitar, so I'd try to play those
string bends.
Nokie Edwards & The Ventures - About half my repertoire in my first band.
Thank gawd for The Ventures... I learned to play melody!
Don Rich
Roy Nichols
Eldon Shamblin
Junior Barnard
Jimmy Bryant
Speedy West
Duane Eddy
Hank Garland
Grady Martin
Bob Wills - lots of good stories and links on this page.
Frank Plas w/ The Fabulous Silvertones
Also, see the Music Room links..
I have some fave's which have little or nothing to do with Music...
If my essay, "What is Faith to an Agnostic" plays in tune with your internal music, you might enjoy the wit and wisdom at this internet site: The Apathetic Agnostic