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My Biggest Influences Brian May - Probably my biggest rock guitar influence of all time. Queen Rocks! Even the greatest guitarists in the world look to Brian May as their biggest influence. Thank you Brian for everything! Steve Lukather - One of my biggest influences. Toto is full of great musicians. I can’t say enough about his playing, tone and gear. Scott Henderson - This guy is a monster player! Also see his videos on the Xotic website. Also, see this very funny website HERE about Scott Henderson and a photo contents.... Robben Ford - Perhaps one of my all time favorite players. His playing, his tone, his personality, just a nice guy. He has been incredibly influential to me. Also check out the Blue Line. They are all smokin’ players! Allan Holdsworth - An incredible player. Very different from anyone else you will hear. Pat Metheny - I believe Pat brought jazz to a whole new level. He will go down in history. A Few of my new Favorite Players (new discoveries for me) Allen Hinds - This guy is incredible. Fantastic tone, great playing. He’s also a GIT instructor. Allen is one of my new favorite guitars. Also, check out his videos on the Xotic pedal website. Very cool. Andy Timmons - Here is an up and coming player with fresh ideas and attitude. Watch out for this guy. Brian Kahanek - An up and coming blues guitarist and vocalist. He has great tone and hot licks. Brian plays some beautiful instruments and also endorses the new VHT Deliverance amp. Check out his site! Scott Lerner- Here is a player I should have discovered years ago. I ran across Scott searching for information on my Fuchs amp. Scott’s a dedicated Fuchs amplifier user and an unbelievable guitarist. Check out his site for pics and clips of his gear and playing. Derek Trucks - Simply one of the best up and coming blues slide guitar players of today! John Mayer - Very talented singer, song writer and quite a solid blues guitar player. Don’t under-estimate his guitar playing talent! Rusty Anderson - I know that you have heard this guy. Rusty has played in Paul McCartney’s band for the last few years. He is a very talented guitar player and song writer. Check him out! Joe Bonamassa - A very talented Blues guitarist who plays a fantastic slide guitar. Really, you don’t want to miss this player! Kinda “Gary Moore-ish” on some level. Brad Paisley - What can I say....he can sing, he can write, he’s got gold records and grammys and he plays a great guitar! I hate this guy! Doyle Bramhall - A very very unique player. Recently on tour with Eric Clapton and Roger Waters. Jake Shimabukuro - Known as the Eddie Van Halen of the Ukulele, Jake is a phenomenal player from Hawaii. Check out his version of “While My Guitar Gently Sleeps”! Really, he is awesome! Johnny A - This guy has a great story. He spent years trying to make it in rock bands or anywhere he could find a spot. He finally changed his guitar, sound and image and began this very innovative instrumental career. I’m very inspired by Johnny A. Also, check out his videos of Johnny playing on the Xotic pedal website. Matt Schofield - Watch out for Matt! Here is a Brit with all the sole of SRV but with some added chops! Ross Bolton - Ross is a great session guitarist who plays regularly with Al Jarreau and other “smooth jazz” Artists. I love his rhythm thing going. Also, check out his new view clips on the Xotic website. Josh Smith - Just a great player! Some of my Favorite Female Players, Singers and Songwriters Nancy Wilson - Nancy (form Heart) was very influential when I was just learning the guitar. She can play beautiful acoustic and a mean electric guitar. I love her style and tones. She is also a wonderful song writer and film scorer. Check out her film scores with her husband film director Cameron Crowe. Bonnie Raitt - Who doesn’t love Bonnie? Great songs, wonderful voice, and she plays a mean slide guitar. Susan Tedeschi - I love this girl. She can sing great blues and play a mean Telecaster! All Blues. Shelby Lynn - Another one of my favorite female voices. She is very, very talented! Debbie Davies - Here is an LA girl who played with Albert Collins for quite a few years before she broke out on her own. She’s fantastic! Sheryl Crow - I just love this girl....Good songs, great singing, She is music to my ears. Oh yes....she’s somewhat attractive too! Mary Chapin Carpenter - This girl has to be one of my favorite signers and song writers. I love her lyrics, I love her songs and I can just listen to her all night. She’s got a great band too. Sue Foley - Another cool female Blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. Great Tele guitar sound! KT Tunstall - I love this girl! Great sound, great singer, cool guitar thing going on. She is going to be very very big! Other Great Guitarists, Musicians and Legends Rick Holmstrom - Rick is just plain cool. He plays cool music and cool guitars. Check him out and see his collection of Harmony Stratotones too! Daryl Stuermer - This guys is simply an amazing guitarist with incredible versatility. He has played and toured with the likes of Genesis and other great bands. Mike Landau - One of the top session guitarist in LA. Incredible player and performer. Mike and Steve Lukather grew up together in LA. Check out his playing, gear, tone and recordings. You WILL be impressed! Neal Geraldo - When Pat Benatar was at her peak, Neal (now her husband) was right behind her with great songs, great licks and a very cool guitar sound. I think Neal is under rated for his contribution to the pop music scene. Check out his site to see what he has done over the past 30 years! Jeff Beck - You all know this guy. Eric Clapton - He gets better and better in my mind. Craig Chaquico - This guy is cool. Starship Rocker to Smooth Jazz guitarist, nice transition! Dan Huff - Remember Giant! This guy is very talented. He’s now a successful record producer in Nashville. A great guitarist and a great musician! Ronnie Montrose - Remember Ronnie? Hard life but an exceptional rock guitarist! Frank Gambale - One of my teachers at GIT. Frank is a monster player who can hold is own with Chick Corea....Wow! He now teaches at the LA Music Academy in Pasadena, CA. Danny Gilbert - Another one of my instructors at GIT. An amazing guitarist in his own right. Wayne Krantz - I saw this guy in New York. Wild! He’s way outside the box for me but very fun to see. He plays with Steely Dan and other great bands. Don Mock - Yet another GIT instructor that I studied under. Don is one of the most under-rated players of our time. Papa Chubby - Papa Chubby is totally under rated. He is a superb blues guitarist and a great song writer. Check him out! Coco Montoya - An awesome blues guitarist, singer and song writer. Scotty Anderson - I wish I could play like this. This guy is very, very talented! - Jazz & Country style pickin’! Brett Garsed - Relatively unknown guitarist from Australia that I think everyone should get to know. He is great. Steve Travato - If you like country chicken-pickin’, check out Steve Travato. Steve was another one of my influences and instructors at GIT. John Scofield - A jazz guitar great! George Benson - A classic stylist in his own right! Larry Carlton - Simply one of the most influential guitarist of all time. Lee Ritenour - What a career this guy has had! Lee is an unbelievable guitarist! Pat Martino - One of my favorite jazz guitarist of all time. Wes Montgomery - A classic! Joe Pass - How can you forget Joe? What a classic! Robert Conti - No relation to me. A fantastic LA player who’s been around the block a few times. Paul Jackson Jr. - One of my favorites, this guy’s got rhythm! Check him out on the Xotic website too! Steve Kahn - If you haven’t heard of Steve Kahn, you are missing out. He is well known in the jazz world. Check out his site. He has all sorts of interesting things to explore. John Pizzarelli - One of the best up and coming jazz guitarist and vocalist today. I saw him at NAMM 2006 and he was very cool. Trevor Rabin - OK OK, Trevor can write, sing and play amazing guitar. I love his style. Today he is writing for film and making all sorts of beautiful music. He is truly an accomplished musician! Walter Becker - Guitarist from Steely Dan. A wonderful innovator on the guitar. My favorite sound that he generates are tones from his Fender Telecaster and a small amp. Simple and beautiful! Rick Nielsen - I think Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick is a true innovator and is very underrated. He is a fine musician and a decent player. I love his innovations with guitars. Check out his latest 5-neck guitar made by Hamer. Rumor has it, he has a guitar collection of over 250! Nutty! Peter Frampton - The very talented Mr. Frampton continues to produce great music with great guitar playing. See his new instrumental album. Also, he works hard at his tone and has even come out with his own line of Framtone pedals. Check them out here as well as at the Robert Keeley Electronics site or at Rudy’s music in NY. Keb Mo - Keb Mo is a soulful player, singer and song writer. If you love the Dobro, you’ll love Keb Mo. Vince Gill - VInce Gill is known for his beautiful high-tenor voice and wonderful song writing. Did you also know he is quite a guitar player? If you can ever see him live, you will be very very impressed. Brent Mason - Wow! What a session player this guy is. He will blow your mind. He’s so amazing in the country style but can also shred in rock, blues and jazz! Really. Also, check out his signature model guitar by Gibson/Valley Arts. A very very sweet guitar! Steve Morse - What more can I say about this incredible guitarist. His playing scares me. Also, review his signature guitar at Music Man. This is a very versatile guitar. Albert Lee - Another great guitarist who has played with so many musicians over the years. A true innovator of the instrument. If you love a Strat and Fender Amps, he’s you man. Also see his signature model guitar at Music Man. Harold Bradley - Possibly the most recorded studio guitarist in history! His playing can be heard on everything from Elvis Presley records to moving soundtracks to Patsy Cline. Tommy Tedesco - Tommy Tedesco recorded with the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand. His credits include the themes to television's Bonanza and Batman to name a few. Tommy was also know to sight read just about anything on paper. He is one of the most recorded guitarist in history. Warren Haynes - Probably one of the busiest guitarist of today. He play with several high profile bands including the Allman Brothers Band and his own band Government Mule. He uses great guitars and amps to achieve a wide variety of tones. Phil Keaggy - Known as a “Christian Artist”, Phil Keaggy is one of the most respected musicians in the industry. A great singer, a great song writer but also a very fine guitarist in his own right. MIke Stern - A fantastic jazz player with a great sound and tons of music. Frank Zappa - It is impossible to not credit Frank Zappa for his contribution to the music world. I truly unique musician who has influenced thousands of other musicians. Dive into his music and you’ll see what I’m talking about. A good introduction is to go see is son Dweezil Zappa currently on tour with Steve Vai playing Frank’s greatest hits. Will Ray - Simply a great player with great tones. Will plays with the Hellcasters. Will is also a big G&L Guitar endorser. Jerry Donahue - Another great player form the Hellcasters who plays a mean guitar and has wonderful tones. John Jorgenson - John is the 3rd amazing guitar player form the Hellcasters who can create some wild tones. Just a great player all the way around. Billy F. Gibbons - A true original. Love his tone...love his cars! Stevie Ray Vaughan - You all know him. Do I need to say more? Jeff Healey - If you ever get a chance to see Jeff play guitar (on his lap mind you), you will be amazed. He also has a night club in Toronto called Healey’s. Paul Gilbert - Paul and I were in the same class together at GIT. Super nice guy and just a fantastic player. I’m glad to see him so successful. Tommy Emmanuel - This guy is scary talented! He can do more on an acoustic guitar then most can do on an electric guitar. Just incredible! Gary Moore - A fantastic blues shredder! I love the way he plays! Barry Goudreau - Former guitarist from Boston and RTZ. I love his sound and melodic tyle. Other Great Musicians and Groups I just love Lyle Lovett - Love his songs and his band. Paul McCartney - Paul is a hero to me. His music will love forever. John Lennon - Another song-writing hero of mine. Can you image what he would have created if he was still alive? The world missed out on John Lennon. George Harrison - I’ve never been a big George Harrison fan but I certainly respect him and his music. The DVD “Concert for George” is awesome. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole - One of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard! His version of Somewhere over the Rainbow is the best I have ever heard. You MUST have a listen! Martina McBride - One of my favorite female country singers. Keith Urban - I know Keith is going through a little rough time but I love his music, singing and rock and roll edge. I hope to see more of him in the future. Paul Simon - A classic songwriter who will go down in history. Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings - If I die and come back to earth...I want to play in this band! Liquid Soul - Well, I want to be in this band too. These guys are cool! Los Lobos - Los Lobos is a very innovative band that experiments with all sorts of sounds, musical styles and ideas. I love the way they use a wide variety of guitar sounds. Both Dave Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas are fine guitars with unique styles and great ideas. Hellcasters There is a fantastic guitar band with great tones and great playing. 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Below are a few of my favorite guitarists, musicians, songwriters and groups that have influenced my playing and continue to inspire me.