Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

1. Jimi Hendrix

Widely regarded as the greatest and most influential guitarist in rock history, Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington, to African-American parents Lucille (Jeter) and James Allen Hendrix. His mother named him John Allen Hendrix and raised him alone while his father, Al ...

2. Eric Clapton

Soundtrack | Lethal Weapon 3

Eric Clapton was born in Ripley, Surrey, England, on March 30, 1945. His real father was a Canadian pilot but he didn't find that out until he was 53. When he was 2 his mother felt she was unable to look after him, so Eric then went to live with his grandparents. When he was 14 he took up the ...

3. Jimmy Page

Soundtrack | The Song Remains the Same

Jimmy Page was born on January 9, 1944 in Heston, Middlesex, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for The Song Remains the Same (1976), Godzilla (1998) and The Adam Project (2022). He was previously married to Jimena Gomez-Paratcha, Patricia Ecker and Charlotte Martin.

4. Keith Richards

Soundtrack | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Keith Richards is an internationally recognized iconic figure in contemporary culture and popular music as a singer, guitar player, songwriter, film actor, and public figure. He was voted 10th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine, and was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of ...

5. Jeff Beck

Soundtrack | Pirate Radio

Jeff Beck was born in Surrey in 1944. He grew up in a suburban street in Carshalton. When he was about 10, he wanted to play the guitar. His mum, however, wanted him to play the piano because she didn't approve of the guitar. When he was in his late teens, he joined "The Tridents" on lead guitar. ...

6. B.B. King

Actor | Blues Brothers 2000

Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 - May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shimmering vibrato and staccato picking that influenced many ...

7. Chuck Berry

Soundtrack | Men in Black

Charles Edward Anderson Berry was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the "Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive with songs such as "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll ...

8. Edward Van Halen

Soundtrack | Twister

Edward Van Halen was a musician who along with his brother Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth, formed the band Van Halen in the early '70s, with Eddie on guitar, Alex on drums, Michael on bass and David on vocals. The band had different members over the years, but the core (...

9. Duane Allman

Self | Untitled Allman Brothers/Nick Cassavetes Project

Duane Allman was born in Nashville, Tennessee in November 1946. On Christmas Day in 1960, Duane was given a motorcycle as a gift while his younger brother, Gregg Allman, got a guitar. A few months later, Duane wrecked his motorcycle in an accident, but traded in the spare parts for a guitar of his ...

10. Pete Townshend

Music_department | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Born in Chiswick, London just ten days after the German surrender in 1945, Townshend grows up in a typical middle-class home. His parents, Cliff and Betty Townshend, are both musicians, and as a child he accompanies them on dance band tours. Townshend starts playing guitar at 12. He goes to art ...

11. George Harrison

Actor | A Hard Day's Night

A master musician, a film producer and actor, best known as the lead guitarist and occasionally lead vocalist of The Beatles, George Harrison was born February 25, 1943, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. He was also the youngest of four children, born to Harold Harrison and Louise Harrison.

Like ...

12. Stevie Ray Vaughan

Soundtrack | Unbreakable

Stevie Ray Vaughan was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Dallas, Texas. He was the main guitarist and frontman for the musical trio "Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble" from 1978 to his death in 1990. Vaughan and his band-mates specialized in blues rock, and Vaughan was a key ...

13. Albert King

Soundtrack | Star Trek Into Darkness

Albert King was born on April 25, 1923 in Indianola, Mississippi, USA. He was an actor, known for Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), The Switch (2010) and 27 Dresses (2008). He died on December 21, 1992 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

14. David Gilmour

Soundtrack | Pink Floyd: The Wall

David Jon Gilmour was born on 6th March, 1946, in Grantchester Meadows, Cambridge. As the lead guitarist of Pink Floyd, he is by many considered one of the most influential guitarists on the rock stage. Right up to "The Dark Side of The Moon", Dave wrote his own songs, but from then up to "The ...

15. Freddie King

Soundtrack | Legend

Freddie King was born on September 3, 1934 in Gilmer, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Legend (2015), The D Train (2015) and Jimi Hendrix: The Guitar Hero (2010). He was married to Jessie Burnett. He died on December 28, 1976 in Dallas, Texas, USA.

16. Derek Trucks

Soundtrack | The Rite

Derek Trucks was born on June 8, 1979 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for The Rite (2011), The Irishman (2019) and Hillbilly Elegy (2020). He has been married to Susan Tedeschi since December 2001. They have two children.

17. Neil Young

Composer | Dead Man

Neil Young is one of the most respected and prolific rock/folk guitarists of the late 20th century. Raised in Canada, he first became well-known as a guitarist and occasional vocalist for the band Buffalo Springfield. After the band's breakup, Young became a solo performer. However, he also has ...

18. Les Paul

Soundtrack | Speed Racer

Les Paul was born on June 9, 1915 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA. He was an actor and director, known for Speed Racer (2008), Casino (1995) and Carol (2015). He was married to Mary Ford and Virginia Webb. He died on August 12, 2009 in White Plains, New York, USA.

19. James Burton

Soundtrack | Ford v Ferrari

Born in Minden, Louisiana, on August 21, 1939, James Burton began playing guitar at the age of thirteen, and turned professional the following year. His first recorded track was the Dale Hawkins hit, "Susie Q", in 1957. His dynamic rockabilly style of playing brought him to the attention of ...

20. Carlos Santana

Soundtrack | La Bamba

Carlos Santana is a Mexican guitarist, composer, singer and band-leader who helped to shape the concept of "world music" by his experiments with blending many styles of music from a multitude of ethnic sources.

He was born Carlos Augusto Alves Santana on July 20, 1947, in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco,...

21. Chet Atkins

Soundtrack | Michael

Chet Atkins was an A&R (artist and repertoire) executive for RCA Victor Records from 1958 until 1974, producing recordings for such artists as Elvis Presley, Bobby Bare, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Skeeter Davis, Waylon Jennings, Duane Eddy, The Browns, Charley Pride, Hank Snow and The Everly Brothers...

22. Frank Zappa

Soundtrack | Baby Snakes

Of all the qualities that typified Frank Zappa, perhaps the most striking is that he was a paradox. A workaholic perfectionist rock star who eschewed the hippie culture of the 1960s, deploring its conformism, spurious ideals and drug use, Zappa was not only a brilliant rock guitarist but an ...

23. Buddy Guy

Soundtrack | In the Electric Mist

Buddy Guy was born on July 30, 1936 in Lettsworth, Louisiana, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for In the Electric Mist (2009), Idiocracy (2006) and Nothing to Lose (1997).

24. Angus Young

Soundtrack | School of Rock

Angus Young was born on March 31, 1955 in Glasgow, Scotland. At school, Angus was an unenthusiastic student. His only real academic interest was art which allowed him some freedom of expression. He gave up school at 15 and went to work for a soft porn magazine called Ribald as a printer. But his ...

25. Tony Iommi

Soundtrack | Iron Man

Tony Iommi was born on February 19, 1948 in Birmingham, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Iron Man (2008), Suicide Squad (2016) and Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000). He has been married to Maria Sjöholm since 1999.

26. Brian May

Soundtrack | Flash Gordon

Brian May is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential, innovative, technically gifted and recognisable guitarists in the history of rock. He is also a prolific songwriter, responsible for writing or co-writing many international hits with Queen. He was educated at Hampton Grammar School ...

27. Bo Diddley

Actor | Blues Brothers 2000

Ever heard "I Want Candy" or "Not Fade Away" or "Willie & The Hand Jive", Shirley & Company's "Shame, Shame, Shame" or U2's "Desire" or George Michael's "Faith"? If you have, then you've heard the "Bo Diddley beat", the most famous beat in the world! One of the founding fathers of rock 'n' roll, Bo ...

28. Johnny Ramone

Soundtrack | Spider-Man: Homecoming

Johnny Ramone was born John William Cummings in Queens, New York. He went to be the guitar player for the Ramones, alongside Jeffrey Hyman and Douglas Colvin (later Joey Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone). They also hired Thomas Erdelyi (later Tommy Ramone) as drummer. Tommy disbanded in 1978 and asked ...

29. Scotty Moore

Soundtrack | The Departed

Scotty Moore was born on December 27, 1931 in Gadsden, Tennessee, USA. He was an actor, known for The Departed (2006), Drugstore Cowboy (1989) and Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962). He died on June 28, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

30. Elmore James

Soundtrack | The Blues Brothers

Mississippi-born Elmore Leonard was a blues musician known as "The King of the Slide Guitar". He played on various radio shows throughout the South and built up a following. In 1951, he recorded his first record, "Dust My Broom", for the small Trumpet Records label out of Jackson, MS. It became a "...

31. Ry Cooder

Soundtrack | Primary Colors

Born in Santa Monica, Ca., Ry Cooder, at the age of four had an accident which left him blind in one eye. He became a bit secluded and began playing the guitar. His biggest influences include Blind Willie Johnson, Arthur "Blind" Blake, Joseph Spence and Curtis Mayfield. Cooder has played on several...

32. Billy Gibbons

Soundtrack | Battleship

Billy Gibbons was born on December 16, 1949 in Houston, Texas, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Battleship (2012), Armageddon (1998) and The Perfect Storm (2000). He has been married to Gilligan Gibbons since December 14, 2005.

33. Prince

Soundtrack | Under the Cherry Moon

Prince Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Mattie Shaw, a jazz singer and social worker, and John L. Nelson, a lyricist and pianist. His father's stage name was "Prince Rogers". His parents were both from African-American families from Louisiana. They separated during his youth, ...

34. Curtis Mayfield

Soundtrack | Armageddon

Rhythm and blues performer/songwriter credited with defining 1960's Chicago sound in hits like "It's All Right" and "Gypsy Woman." His style influenced other artists from pop to hip hop. Has been a quadriplegic ever since he was struck by lighting rig during outdoor concert in New York, 1990. ...

35. John Lee Hooker

Soundtrack | The Blues Brothers

John Lee Hooker was born on August 22, 1917 in Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for The Blues Brothers (1980), The Colony (2013) and Kiss the Girls (1997). He was married to Maude Mathis, Alma Hopes and Sarah Jones. He died on June 21, 2001 in Los Altos, California,...

36. Randy Rhoads

Soundtrack | Ghost Rider

Randy Rhoads was born on December 6, 1956 in Santa Monica, California, USA. He was a writer, known for Ghost Rider (2007), Megamind (2010) and Tag (2018). He died on March 19, 1982 in Leesburg, Florida, USA.

37. Mick Taylor

Soundtrack | The Man Who Fell to Earth

Mick Taylor was born on January 17, 1948 in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, UK. He is a producer and actor, known for The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), Freight (2010) and The Last of the Finest (1990).

38. The Edge

Soundtrack | Gangs of New York

One of the most instantly recognizable and influential guitarists in rock history, The Edge was born David Howell Evans, in Barking, Essex, in 1961. When he was two years old the family moved to Dublin. During his childhood he learned how to play the guitar and the piano. In 1978, the Edge became ...

39. Steve Cropper

Soundtrack | Blues Brothers 2000

If not the most influential guitarist in the Memphis soul music scene, Steve Cropper is definitely near the top. He was a member of Booker T. & the M.G.s', wrote songs for and performed with Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin and Sam & Dave (he's the Steve referred to when they say "Play it, Steve!" in ...

40. Tom Morello

Soundtrack | Real Steel

Tom Morello was born on May 30, 1964 in New York city. He has become an influential guitarist due to his work with Rage Against The Machine in the 1990s. Tom got his Social Studies degree from Harvard and went to L.A to start a band. He briefly played guitarist for a band named Lock Up with fellow ...

41. Mick Ronson

Soundtrack | Fright Night

Michael "Mick" Ronson was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer. He achieved critical and commercial success while working with David Bowie as the lead guitarist and band leader for Bowie's backing band, the Spiders From Mars. Ronson was also a session ...

42. Mike Bloomfield

Soundtrack | Sneakers

Mike Bloomfield was born on July 28, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a composer, known for Sneakers (1992), Easy Rider (1969) and Rocketman (2019). He died on February 15, 1981 in San Francisco, California, USA.

43. Hubert Sumlin

Music_department | Blues Alive: Recorded Live at the Capitol Theatre

Hubert Sumlin was born on November 16, 1931 in Greenwood, Mississippi, USA. He is known for Blues Alive: Recorded Live at the Capitol Theatre (1983), Lightning in a Bottle (2004) and The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll (2009). He was married to Willie B 'Rea' Reed Sumlin. He died on December 4, 2011 ...

44. Mark Knopfler

Soundtrack | Local Hero

Mark Knopfler recorded his first single at age 16, but it was never released, He started the band Dire Straits in 1977, they were signed to Vertigo Records in 1978 and recorded the album "Dire Straits", which featured their first major hit single, "Sultans of Swing". Their follow-up albums include ...

45. Link Wray

Soundtrack | Independence Day

Rock'n'roll musician Link Wray reigns supreme as one of the best, most important, influential, and innovative guitarists to emerge from the 1950's. Wray was the creator of the power-chord and was one of the first musicians to experiment with both distortion and the burning fuzz-tone guitar sound in...

46. Jerry Garcia

Soundtrack | The Box

One of the most prolific and iconic guitarists of the second half of the 20th Century, Jerome John Garcia was born in San Francisco, California, USA on August 1st 1942. Garcia, whose mother was a registered nurse and whose father, Jose, was a small time jazz musician, had a troubled childhood. At ...

47. Stephen Stills

Soundtrack | Prometheus

Stephen Stills was born on January 3, 1945, in Dallas, Texas. He dropped out of college to play music professionally. He formed Buffalo Springfield ("For What It's Worth") with Neil Young and later became part of Crosby Stills & Nash. After they broke up, Stills joined Manassas, then helped to form ...

48. Jonny Greenwood

Soundtrack | The Master

Jonny Greenwood was born on November 5, 1971 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for The Master (2012), There Will Be Blood (2007) and Phantom Thread (2017). He has been married to Sharona Katan since 1995. They have three children.

49. Muddy Waters

Soundtrack | The Long Kiss Goodnight

Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield) was one of the major forces in contemporary blues. He was instrumental in bringing the sound of the Mississippi Delta to Chicago in the 1940s, where his recordings for the Chess label exerted an enormous influence on both blues and rock musicians from the ...

50. Ritchie Blackmore

Soundtrack | Point Break

Ritchie Blackmore was born on April 14, 1945 in Weston Super Mare, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for Point Break (1991), Twister (1996) and Almost Famous (2000). He has been married to Candice Night since October 2008. They have one child. He was previously married to Amy Rothman, ...

51. Johnny Marr

Music_department | Inception

Johnny Marr made his name as lead guitarist with the cult British rock band, The Smiths, regarded by some as one of the most influential bands of the 1980s. Along with Morrissey, Marr created some of the most memorable and acclaimed songs of that decade, with Morrissey's witty, satirical lyrics and ...

52. Clarence White

Soundtrack | Two-Lane Blacktop

Clarence White was born on June 7, 1944 in Lewiston, Maine, USA. He was an actor, known for Two-Lane Blacktop (1971), Cal's Corral (1959) and The Farmer's Other Daughter (1965). He died on July 15, 1973 in Palmdale, California, USA.

53. Otis Rush

Soundtrack | To Live and Die in L.A.

Otis Rush was born on April 29, 1934 in Philadelphia, Mississippi, USA. He was a composer, known for To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and Hearts in Atlantis (2001). He was married to Masaki and ???. He died on September 29, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

54. Joe Walsh

Soundtrack | The Warriors

Joe Walsh was born on November 20, 1947 in Wichita, Kansas, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for The Warriors (1979), Spy Game (2001) and Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). He has been married to Marjorie Bach since December 13, 2008. He was previously married to Denise Driscoll, Juanita ...

55. John Lennon

Actor | A Hard Day's Night

John Winston (later Ono) Lennon was born on October 9, 1940, in Liverpool, England, to Julia Lennon (née Stanley) and Alfred Lennon, a merchant seaman. He was raised by his mother's older sister Mimi Smith. In the mid-1950s, he formed his first band, The Quarrymen (after Quarry Bank High School, ...

56. Albert Collins

Soundtrack | Adventures in Babysitting

Albert Collins was born on October 1, 1932 in Leona, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Adventures in Babysitting (1987), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and Casino (1995). He was married to Gwendolyn Collins. He died on November 24, 1993 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

57. Rory Gallagher

Soundtrack | Last Night in Soho

Blues guitarist Rory Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, Ireland, in 1959 (his brother Donal Gallagher is also a blues musician). He began his career in the 1960s in Ireland, playing in a variety of show bands. In 1965 he formed his own band, Taste, a blues-based rock trio. They had some success ...

58. Peter Green

Soundtrack | Frequency

Peter Green was born on October 29, 1946 in London, England, UK. He was a music artist, known for Frequency (2000), 6 Underground (2019) and Jerry Maguire (1996). He was married to Jane Samuels. He died on July 25, 2020 in Canvey Island, Essex, England. UK.

59. Robbie Robertson

Music_department | Killers of the Flower Moon

Robbie Robertson was born on July 5, 1943 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was a music artist and actor, known for Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and Ladder 49 (2004). He was married to Janet Zuccarini and Dominique Robertson. He died on August 9, 2023 in Los ...

60. Ron Asheton

Soundtrack | Smokin' Aces

Ron Asheton was born on July 17, 1948 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He was an actor, known for Smokin' Aces (2006), Predestination (2014) and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). He died on January 6, 2009 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

61. Dickey Betts

Soundtrack | Big Fish

Dickey Betts, born in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1943, was the oldest member of the Allman Brothers Band when they formed in 1969. He shared lead guitar duties with band founder and leader Duane Allman, also playing alongside bassist Berry Oakley, drummers Jaimoe and Butch Trucks, and Allman's ...

62. Robert Fripp

Soundtrack | Children of Men

Robert Fripp was born on May 16, 1946 in Dorset, England, UK. He is a music artist and actor, known for Children of Men (2006), The Big Boss (1971) and Power Rangers (2017). He has been married to Toyah Willcox since May 16, 1986.

63. Johnny Winter

Soundtrack | The Accused

Johnny Winter was born on February 23, 1944 in Beaumont, Texas, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for The Accused (1988), Sliver (1993) and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978). He was married to Susan Warford. He died on July 16, 2014 in Zurich, Switzerland.

64. Duane Eddy

Soundtrack | Natural Born Killers

Duane Eddy was born on April 26, 1938 in Corning, New York, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Natural Born Killers (1994), Forrest Gump (1994) and Broken Arrow (1996). He was married to Diane Mary 'Deed' Abbate, Maureen A Power, Jessi Colter and Carol Fowler. He died on May 1, 2024 in ...

65. Slash

Soundtrack | Barbie

Saul Hudson, mainly known as Slash, was born on July 23, 1965, and was raised in Stoke-on-Trent. Both his parents worked in the entertainment business, his mother being a clothing designer (she did some of David Bowie's costumes) and his father being an art director for a record company. When Slash...

66. Leslie West

Soundtrack | Vanishing Point

Leslie West was born on October 22, 1945 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Vanishing Point (1971), Spenser Confidential (2020) and The Expendables (2010). He was married to Jenni Maurer. He died on December 23, 2020 in Palm Coast, Florida, USA.

67. T-Bone Walker

Soundtrack | The Firm

T-Bone Walker was born on May 28, 1910 in Linden, Texas, USA. He is known for The Firm (1993), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and The Rainmaker (1997). He was married to Vida. He died on March 16, 1975 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

68. John McLaughlin

Soundtrack | Where the Truth Lies

John McLaughlin was born on January 4, 1942 in Yorkshire, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Where the Truth Lies (2005), Biker Boyz (2003) and Cartes sur table (1977). He is married to Ina.

69. Richard Thompson

Soundtrack | Looper

Talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist co-founded the British folk-rock group Fairport Convention in 1967. He left the group in 1971 to perform and record solo and then with his wife, Linda Thompson, with whom he made the legendary albums I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974) and Shoot...

70. Jack White

Soundtrack | Quantum of Solace

Jack played guitar and sang in the band The White Stripes. They released six albums: their self-titled debut -- "The White Stripes", "De Stijl", "White Blood Cells", "Elephant", "Get Behind Me Satan", and "Icky Thump", before breaking up in 2011.

White also sings and plays guitar in the band The ...

71. Robert Johnson

Soundtrack | The Skeleton Key

Robert Johnson was born on May 8, 1911 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, USA. He was a writer, known for The Skeleton Key (2005), Chocolat (2000) and Holes (2003). He was married to Calleta "Callie" Craft and Virginia Travis. He died on August 13, 1938 in Greenwood, Mississippi, USA.

72. John Frusciante

Soundtrack | Stealth

John Anthony Frusciante was born on March 5, 1970, in New York. He became interested in rock music at an early age. After his parents divorced, John and his mother moved to California when he was seven. When he was nine, his stepfather offered him his first acoustic guitar.

John taught himself how ...

73. Kurt Cobain

Soundtrack | The Batman

Kurt Cobain was born on February 20 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. Kurt and his family lived in Hoquiam for the first few months of his life then later moved back to Aberdeen, where he had a happy childhood until his parents divorced. The divorce left Kurt's outlook on the world forever scarred. He...

74. Dick Dale

Soundtrack | Escape from L.A.

Hailed as the "King of Surf Guitar, " Dick Dale virtually galvanized the surf rock sound in the 1950s. An avid surfer and accomplished musician, Dale and his band, 'Dick Dale and the Del-Tones', appeared in several of the ever-popular "Beach Party" teen flicks starring Annette Funicello and Frankie...

75. Joni Mitchell

Soundtrack | Two Weeks Notice

Joni Mitchell is one of the most highly regarded and influential songwriters of the 20th century. Her melodious tunes support her poetic and often very personal lyrics to make her one of the most authentic artists of her time. As a performer she is widely hailed for her unique style of playing ...

76. Robby Krieger

Soundtrack | Army of the Dead

Robby Krieger was born on January 8, 1946 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Army of the Dead (2021), Forrest Gump (1994) and Road House (1989). He has been married to Lynn Ann Veres since December 26, 1970. They have one child.

77. Willie Nelson

Soundtrack | The Dukes of Hazzard

This versatile, eclectic, rather wanderlust country crossover star known for his classic ballads ("Always On My Mind"), autobiographical road songs ("On the Road Again") and catchy rhythms ("Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys") started out life as Willie Hugh Nelson on April 30, ...

78. John Fahey

Soundtrack | Logan Lucky

John Fahey was born on February 28, 1939 in Takoma Park, Maryland, USA. He was a composer, known for Logan Lucky (2017), The Horse Whisperer (1998) and Zabriskie Point (1970). He died on February 22, 2001 in Salem, Oregon, USA.

79. Mike Campbell

Soundtrack | Those Who Wish Me Dead

Mike Campbell was born on February 1, 1950 in Panama City, Florida, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021), Larry Crowne (2011) and Book Club (2018).

80. Buddy Holly

Soundtrack | Big Fish

Charles Hardin Holley, known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer and songwriter who was a central and pioneering figure of mid-1950s rock and roll. He was born in Lubbock, Texas, to a musical family during the Great Depression, and learned to play guitar and sing alongside his siblings. His ...

81. Lou Reed

Soundtrack | V for Vendetta

He formed the group The Velvet Underground with Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale, second guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Maureen Tucker in New York in 1965. The group soon became a part of Andy Warhol's Factory scene, which housed a great number of the most freaked and experimental ...

82. Nels Cline

Soundtrack | Boyhood

Nels Cline is known for Boyhood (2014), Trouble Bound (1993) and Highwaymen (2004).

83. Eddie Hazel

Soundtrack | Lords of Dogtown

Eddie Hazel was born April 10, 1950 in Brooklyn, New York. He died December 23, 1992 in Plainfield, New Jersey. When he was eight years old, his older brother, Sonny, gave him a guitar for Christmas. Self-taught, by age twelve, he was winning guitar contests in Plainfield. Most of the guitarists ...

84. Joe Perry

Soundtrack | Armageddon

As co-founding member, principal co-songwriter, electrifying lead guitarist and co-producer of Aerosmith--America's Greatest Rock & Roll Band--Joe has achieved permanent iconic stature in the pantheon of rock. He has helped to drive his band, over the course of three decades, to sales of more than ...

85. Andy Summers

Soundtrack | Copycat

Andy Summers was born on December 31, 1942 in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Copycat (1995), The Medallion (2003) and Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986). He is married to Kate Summers. They have three children. He was previously married to Robin ...

86. J. Mascis

Soundtrack | Reality Bites

J. Mascis was born on December 10, 1965 in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Reality Bites (1994), Yes Man (2008) and The Double (2013). He is married to Luisa Mascis. They have one child.

87. James Hetfield

Soundtrack | Metallica Through the Never

His parents were divorced, and at a young age, he lost his mother to cancer. He grew up hunting, playing guitar, and was an ordinary quiet kid. Lars Ulrich put out an ad in 1981 in a newspaper asking somebody to jam out and listen to rock music with him and he replied. Lars Ulrich and James hooked ...

88. Carl Perkins

Soundtrack | Battleship

Carl Lee Perkins was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who recorded at the Sun Studio, in Memphis, beginning in 1954. Among his best-known songs are "Blue Suede Shoes", "Honey Don't", "Matchbox" and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby".

According to Charlie Daniels, "Carl Perkins' songs ...

89. Bonnie Raitt

Soundtrack | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Bonnie Raitt was born on November 8, 1949 in Burbank, California, USA. She is an actress and composer, known for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), Nick of Time (1995) and Ladder 49 (2004). She was previously married to Michael O'Keefe.

90. Tom Verlaine

Soundtrack | The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Tom Verlaine was born on December 13, 1949 in Morristown, New Jersey, USA. He was a composer, known for The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015), I'm Not There (2007) and Gold (2016). He died on January 28, 2023 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.

91. Dave Davies

Composer | Village of the Damned

Dave Davies is the brother of Ray Davies, the lead singer and songwriter of The Kinks, of which he was the lead singer up to 1964, when Ray joined. He was also the lead guitarist and backup singer for the Kinks. As children, both brothers were immersed in a world of different musical styles, from ...

92. Dimebag Darrell

Soundtrack | Triple Frontier

Dimebag Darrell was born on August 20, 1966 in Dallas, Texas, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Triple Frontier (2019), The Big Short (2015) and Lethal Weapon (2016). He died on December 8, 2004 in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

93. Paul Simon

Soundtrack | One-Trick Pony

Born on October 13, 1941, in Newark New Jersey, Paul Simon is one of the greatest singer/songwriters ever. In 1957, he and high school pal, Art Garfunkel, wrote and recorded the single, "Hey Schoolgirl", under the name "Tom and Jerry". After some failures, they broke up. Simon still wrote and ...

94. Peter Buck

Soundtrack | Man on the Moon

Peter Buck was born on December 6, 1956 in Oakland, California, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Man on the Moon (1999), Independence Day (1996) and Vanilla Sky (2001). He has been married to Chloe Johnson since June 1, 2013. He was previously married to Stephanie Elizabeth Dorgan and ...

95. Roger McGuinn

Soundtrack | Easy Rider

James Joseph McGuinn III was born in Chicago to Dorothy and James Jr. At 14, he took up guitar and soon attended the Old Town School Of Folk Music. He was discovered at 17 and began touring with The Limelighters shortly after his 18th birthday. He later toured and recorded with The Chad Mitchell ...

96. Bruce Springsteen

Soundtrack | Blinded by the Light

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen was born September 23, 1949 in Long Branch, New Jersey, USA. His father, Douglas Frederick Springsteen, worked as a bus driver, and was of Irish and Dutch ancestry. His mother, Adele Ann (Zerilli), worked as a legal secretary, and was of Italian descent. He has an...

97. Steve Jones

Soundtrack | The A-Team

Stephen Philip Jones, was born on September 3rd, 1955 in West London. His real father, an amateur boxer, named Don Jarvis left Steve and his mother when he was just two years old. Sometime later his Step-father arrived on the scene, for a time, Steve lived in a house with his parents and ...

98. Alex Lifeson

Soundtrack | The Double

Alex Lifeson is best known as the broadly-skilled guitarist for the rock group Rush, which also features drummer Neil Peart and bassist Geddy Lee. Rush is the most successful Canadian music group in history, and is the third most prolific seller of consecutive (American) Gold and Platinum Records ...

99. Thurston Moore

Soundtrack | The Perks of Being a Wallflower

In 1980, Thurston Moore formed the band Sonic Youth as a lead guitarist and singer with Kim Gordon (bass guitars/vocals) and Lee Ranaldo (lead guitars/vocals). In 1981, they released their debut album "Sonic Youth", which attracted lots of attention for using feedback in music. They later released ...

100. Lindsey Buckingham

Soundtrack | Back to the Future

Lindsey Buckingham was born on October 3, 1949 in Palo Alto, California, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for Back to the Future (1985), Twister (1996) and Vacation (1983). He has been married to Kristen Leigh Messner since February 15, 2000. They have three children.