As a multi-instrumentalist, I cannot think of one person to single out. After all, guitarists, vocalists, organists and other instrumentalists influenced my sax playing. So all these plus my own sax playing have influenced my guitar playing (since I played sax many years before I picked up the guitar).

Also, I've played with some of the best guitarists in the world back in the time when I was doing warm up for major acts in concert. I look at people like Rick Derringer, Eric Clapton, and others as contemporaries, not as idols. I've jammed with so-called idols and they have treated me as an equal (most big stars that I've met do not have swelled heads), simply having a good time exchanging musical licks. I am appreciative of other musician's talents, and have a great time jamming with them, love what they do, but not awe struck by them.

But one rock/fusion player recently dropped my jaw. I saw the video of Jeff Beck "Live At Ronnie Scott's". The camera operators and editor(s) must have been guitarists, because there are close up views of Jeff's hands when he is doing extraordinary things. And the extraordinary things he does are indeed superhuman. Things I've never seen any other guitarist do, plus doing three things at once with his right hand.

Whether you like Jeff's music or not, I recommend that all guitarists rent that DVD just to be amazed at Jeff's technical mastery of the guitar. BTW, Eric Clapton is also on the DVD. As we all know, Eric is no slouch on the guitar, but the comparison between Jeff and Eric is remarkable. Jeff's playing is sooooooo much better.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks