100 Greatest Christian Rock Guitarists of all times !
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| Published on november, 27th, 2014 | by Anthony Martinez |
We managed make a list of the top 100 guitarists Christian rock of all time, the work was performed through the survey, and through reviews by members of classic bands, online radios, and editors from Christian magazines. As well as the intelligent comments from some of our fans on Facebook.
The truth is that many will not agree with the inclusion or omission of some of the guitarists who appear here, but to be honest, it was an arduous task that took some time to finish, especially, because we allow our fans, could add to any guitarist who he believed he had to take the survey. But That was something funny and also helped us a lot. You know what is this? Why someone added to "Robert Sweet" in the poll? The funny thing is that he received many votes.
The truth is that many will not agree with the inclusion or omission of some of the guitarists who appear here, but to be honest, it was an arduous task that took some time to finish, especially, because we allow our fans, could add to any guitarist who he believed he had to take the survey. But That was something funny and also helped us a lot. You know what is this? Why someone added to "Robert Sweet" in the poll? The funny thing is that he received many votes.
Someone here thinks John Schlitt is a great guitarist? Maybe it is, but can not know this, if almost never we have seen play the guitar to John.
It's difficult to say who is better than whom, there are some factors that intervene to determine how good it is a guitarist, for example, your trajectory, the influence on other musicians, their versatility, their guitar solos in the studio and live, the amount of work in study (in order to hear better). Is not the same, "The Best" that you Favorite, your favorite perhaps not is the best, or perhaps the better not is your favorite.
We had the help of some members of bands like Dale Thompson (Bride), Michael Feighan(Whitecross), Andy Robins(Holy Soldier), Scot Wenzel(Whitecross), Rex Scott(X-Sinner), David Pearson(Blissed), Christine Steel(Arsenal), Marq Andrew Speck(Sweet Crystal), Bill Glover(Petra, GHF). Well as the views and opinions of friends radios, magazines and websites like George Rock(Zona J Radio), Daniel Vega (Whitemetal show), Mario (Armagedon radio), Cynthia Archer (CCMClassic.com), Dave Maurer(www.ChristianmusicArchive.com), Doug Van Pelt(HM Magazine), Carl Johanes Johnson (The Bible Metal), Guilherme Moura(TemploMetal.com), William Schaaff (classic christian rock radio), Regina Jorgenson (This means rock, revelation reformation), White Throne Magazine, Just as the views of the three administrators of this page: Shine Glam, Shawn Lorion, and myself, Anthony Martinez.. I hope this list will enjoy it.
It's difficult to say who is better than whom, there are some factors that intervene to determine how good it is a guitarist, for example, your trajectory, the influence on other musicians, their versatility, their guitar solos in the studio and live, the amount of work in study (in order to hear better). Is not the same, "The Best" that you Favorite, your favorite perhaps not is the best, or perhaps the better not is your favorite.
We had the help of some members of bands like Dale Thompson (Bride), Michael Feighan(Whitecross), Andy Robins(Holy Soldier), Scot Wenzel(Whitecross), Rex Scott(X-Sinner), David Pearson(Blissed), Christine Steel(Arsenal), Marq Andrew Speck(Sweet Crystal), Bill Glover(Petra, GHF). Well as the views and opinions of friends radios, magazines and websites like George Rock(Zona J Radio), Daniel Vega (Whitemetal show), Mario (Armagedon radio), Cynthia Archer (CCMClassic.com), Dave Maurer(www.ChristianmusicArchive.com), Doug Van Pelt(HM Magazine), Carl Johanes Johnson (The Bible Metal), Guilherme Moura(TemploMetal.com), William Schaaff (classic christian rock radio), Regina Jorgenson (This means rock, revelation reformation), White Throne Magazine, Just as the views of the three administrators of this page: Shine Glam, Shawn Lorion, and myself, Anthony Martinez.. I hope this list will enjoy it.
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100 | Tony Rossi
99 | Eric Turner
ERIC TURNER (E.T.): In addition to three EASTGATE solo albums, Eric Turner has released a new Eric Turner band album "Seven". The Eric Turner Band is performing concerts throughout Southern California and is reaching more and more people for the Lord. Some of Eric Turner's other accomplishments are receiving The Angel Award for his role as "Jesus in The Gospel of John" Christian Musical Movie and performing guitar for the off Broadway production of Heavens Rocks! The Eric Turner first rock band, The Fabulous Tropics, won First place at the International Battle of the Bands in Chicago, Illinois. This led to Eric’s first big record contract with Columbia Records. Recording at the Columbia Studios in New York City, Eric’s signature guitar work appeared on the Tropics first single, “Time” featured on Dick Clark’s American Band Stand. Upon arriving in California, after co-writing and recording an album for Atlantic Records in the rock group Fortress, Eric began to record the first of fourteen music albums with Darrell Mansfield and Denny Correll.
98 | Will Mcfarlane
Will McFarlane spent six years playing guitar with Bonnie Raitt, from 1974 to 1980. Born on a Navy base in California, McFarlane started voice lessons at age 6, adding piano a year later. Seeing the Beatles play the Ed Sullivan Show when he was 12 inspired McFarlane to take up guitar. He developed a taste for R&B in high school, focusing on Motown material while developing as a rhythm guitarist. McFarlane attended college in Denver, but soon dropped out and had been playing gigs in bars and clubs across the country when Raitt found him in a club in Cambridge, Mass. McFarlane learned how to listen as well as play while in Raitt's band. His musical education was a versatile one, encompassing straight blues, country blues, folk, country, rock 'n' roll, as well as singer-songwriter material. Raitt was sharing stages with living blues legends, and McFarlane soaked up as much as he could from them before and after the gigs. McFarlane left Raitt to move to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, playing on records for Bobby Blue Bland, Little Milton, Etta James and Johnnie Taylor as part of the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. He parted company amicably from Raitt in 1980, because he and his wife, Janet, wanted a change of lifestyle and didn't want to raise two kids in L.A. Soon after relocating to Muscle Shoals, he had a spiritual awakening. His younger brother was murdered while McFarlane was still with Raitt, and he says he reeled for three years afterwards. He became a Christian, but continued to make his living playing secular music at Muscle Shoals Sound, as well as traveling in ministry. During this time his floundering marriage was restored, and he and Janet, now married 35 years, also travel together. McFarlane has continued to work in secular and gospel music, both traditional and contemporary styles. He has moved back to Muscle Shoals, and plays there, as well as in Nashville, and other places around the country and world, doing sessions and live performances. He was just recently inducted into the Musician's Hall of Fame in Nashville as a friend of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (The Swampers).
97 | Bill Blatter
97 | Bill Blatter
96 | Kirk Henderson
95 | Greg Flesch
Greg Flesch (born 1960) is a guitarist and musician, best known for his work with the rock bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies (credited as Gene Pool). Flesch joined D.A. in 1984, just in time for the Vox Humana tour. Besides his work with D.A., Flesch was also heavily involved in the 1991 Various Artists album, At the Foot of the Cross Volume One, produced by Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong. Flesch also produced Terry Scott Taylor's second solo album, A Briefing for the Ascent. When not making music, Flesch, who holds BS and MS degrees in Computer Science, is employed as a Senior Information Systems and Computer Science specialist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.
94 | Wayne Johnson
Bowie Maryland based guitarist Wayne Johnson likes to keep things interesting especially with his guitar playing. Starting out in a 5x5 storage shed working on his first cd he lead his band Under Command in a 14 year 6 cd release run. Gathering momentum he was featured in Guitar Player magazines Top 10 hottest new guitar player poll in 2008. Under Commands cd Back in the Thick was voted in the top 100 for best new releases of 2009. 2012 saw the release of his highly acclaimed solo cd North of Nowhere after Under Commands season ended. Through it all he was involved in numerous one off cd compilations and guest spot recordings which have lead to both Grammy and Dove nominations. 2014 he was honored to be listed in the Top 100 Christian Rock Guitarist of all time by website Classic Christian Rock. "Its nice to be appreciated and loved with all the nice things people have said about my guitar playing. Its good to know my passion for the instrument has encouraged and entertained and touched such a wide audience. Im humbled by it". Recently Wayne has found himself in new territory writing and arranging the score gor a new movie project slated for a 2016 release as well as leading a new hard rock metal band called CrunchHouse
93 | Larry Howard
Larry Howard's life has been spent learning, playing, and recording music. He began his recording in 1967, a full 35 years ago. but his lifetime of music began long before he entered his first recording studio. "In my early years I played a lot of big band swing music," Howard says recounting his early years. "When I was 14 I had the opportunity to play with Count Basie at the University Of Miami music school for six weeks. I love that style of music. "In 1980 I became a Christian," Howard states matter-of-factly. "I came off the road for four years and worked a job. I devoted my time to being in church and being under sound preaching and studying the Bible. People kept telling me I needed to record an album but I kept telling them what I needed was get my family and my life together." In 1984 Howard had the chance to meet Christian Music pioneers Bob MacKenzie and Ray Nenow who owned Refuge Records. "Bob heard a song I had written called 'I Gave Jesus My Blues'. Bob said, "Anyone who can use the words Jesus and blues in the same sentence is going to do a record for me." "In 1984 I started recording again," Howard continues, "I did two records with Refuge Records, 'Shout' and 'Sanctified Blues.' Radio stations are still playing a song off 'Sanctified Blues' called "Cool Rain". That came out in 1986. "From 1987 until 1995 Howard released six albums. The first, "Into The Light" ended up being a European only release. Then Howard signed to Forefront and released the studio album 'Redeemed' followed by a live album, 'Larry Howard's Cornerstone Blues Jam.' Howard finished up his time with Forefront with the release of 'Bright Side of the Blues.'He also recorded several more releases including "American Roots" featuring Charlie Daniels, Jimmy Nalls,and The Charlie Daniels Band, and "Into The Night" a live trio recording with Glen Kasier and Darrell Mansfield. All of the work, the ups and downs, the good times and the bad times have paid off in numerous ways, not the least of which is a recent honor bestowed on Howard. "The Georgia Music Hall of Fame is in Macon,GA," Howard explains. "One thing that I am proud of is that they featured not only Grinderswitch in the museum, which is an honor to me, but also my solo projects. There, featured in the gospel section, are 'Redeemed' and 'Sanctified Blues'. We had a private reception there and they have already added the 'American Roots' exhibit. They also did a 90-minute interview with me that is in the archives there which deals with my past musical career and my present musical career and the contrast between them. That means a lot to me."
92 | Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and rhythmic/early rock accompaniment. She became gospel music's first crossover artist and its first great recording star, referred to later as "the original soul sister" She was an early influence on figures such as Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. Her 1945 hit "Strange Things Happening Every Day", recorded in late 1944, featured Tharpe's vocals and electric guitar, with Sammy Price (piano), bass and drums. It was the first gospel record to cross over, hitting no. 2 on the Billboard "race records" chart, the term then used for what later became the R&B chart, in April 1945. The recording has been cited as an important precursor of rock and roll. Tharpe has been called the Godmother of Rock n' Roll. With the encouragement of her mother, Tharpe began singing and playing the guitar as 'Little Rosetta Nubin' from the age of four and was cited as a musical prodigy. In the mid-1920s, Tharpe and her mother settled in Chicago, Illinois, where the duo continued to perform religious concerts at the COGIC church on 40th Street while occasionally traveling to perform at church conventions throughout the country. As a result, Tharpe developed considerable fame as a musical prodigy, standing out in an era when prominent black female guitarists remained very rare. Her song "Strange Things Happening Every Day", recorded in 1944 with Sammy Price, Decca's house boogie woogie pianist, showcased her virtuosity as a guitarist and her witty lyrics and delivery. This 1944 record has been credited by some as being the "First rock and roll record". Musically, Tharpe's unique guitar style blended melody-driven urban blues with traditional folk arrangements and incorporated a pulsating swing sound that is one of the first clear precursors of rock and roll. Tharpe began recording with electric guitar in the 1940s, with "That's All", which is cited to have been an influence on Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley.
91 | Sean O'donnell
Sean Odonell is the brother of Steven Patrick (Ex-Holy soldier), is a great guitarist who has participated in several musical projects with his brother Steven. Victory was his first musical project and released a cassette with 4 songs and solo guitar in 1987, Sean also was guitarist in the Solo album of Steven Patrick "Red Regn" and also played guitar in the band "Bang La Desh" together his brother Steven Patrick. This is a spectacular guitar solo you have to listen.
90 | Jason Truby
Jason Truby began his career in 1989 with Living Sacrifice as lead guitarist. He was also a member of P.O.D., but has also performed with Phil Keaggy, David Beegle, Ashley Cleveland and her husband Kenny Greenberg, and was a guest performer with Phil Keaggy's band Glass Harp at the First Annual Denver Guitar Festival. His main influences in music include John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, U2, Pink Floyd, Phil Keaggy, Wes Montgomery, Andrés Segovia, Bach, Pat Metheny, The Beatles, Dave Brubeck, Stanley Jordan, Coldplay, and Radiohead. He also wrote the song "Truly Amazing" with P.O.D. for the The Passion of the Christ: Songs album, which would go on to win a GMA Dove Award. Truby completed his debut rock album, Entropy in 2010. In 2011, he released an acoustic Christmas album entitled The Greatest Love. Jason produced a compilation album in 2012 for a non-profit adoption and foster care organization called Project Zero. This album entitled "Grafted" featured Jason Truby, Stu G from Delirious?, Sonny Sandoval from P.O.D., Cheri Keaggy, Phil Keaggy, Steve Dean, Tiffany Thornton, Geoff Moore, Willet, The Roys (2010 bluegrass band of the year), Caitlin Evanson, Sean Michel. In 2012, Jason released an acoustic driven vocal album called Our Time Here a fingerstyle album with songs featuring artist Phil Keaggy. Jason's latest instrumental album is called Passages, released in 2013 and featuring Phil Keaggy. It is an acoustic expression inspired by scripture. This album, along with Jason's entire acoustic catalog, has been added to Guitar Genius Radio. Jason is currently performing acoustic sets across the country as well as producing and doing session work. Truby typically plays Gibson Les Paul Standands and SGs live and in the studio. However, in String Theory Truby recorded 24 instrumental tracks, using a total of 19 different acoustic guitars. His acoustic guitars include McKay, Vines, Taylor, Charis, and Guild.
89 | David Huff
88 | Doug Thieme
Doug Thieme began as guitarist Vengeance Rising in 1987, he separated from VR in 1990 to form Die Happy together with Larry Farkas, Mancaruso Glenn, and Roger Dale Martin. Later, Larry Farkas and Doug Thieme Formed "Once Dead" with Vengeance member Glenn Mancaruso and the addition of Ultimatum vocalist Scott Waters.
87 | Jimmy Abegg
Jimmy Abegg, also known as Jimmy A, (December 29, 1954, Alliance, Nebraska) In the 1980s, he formed the pop-rock band Vector with Steve Griffith. In the 1990s, he played as a solo musician, then joined Rich Mullins' A Ragamuffin Band. He has created a variety of album artwork. He completed a series for Vanderbilt Children's Hospital
86 | Eric VanZant
Eric Vanzant is the lead guitarist of a recent Christian rock band called "7eventhTimeDown" his first album was released in 2011. But despite the young age of this band, they are heavily influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin, The Who AC DC, The Doors, and even Johnny Cash.
85 | John Linn
Jon Linn passed away in October of 2000. He was a popular session and live concert guitarist, most noted for his searing guitar leads live and on albums by Contemporary Christian artists, including Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Mark Heard, Chuck Girard, etc. Norman had first seen Jon while he was playing with seminal country rock band Mason Profit and they became friends. Larry then asked Jon, and the other members of the band to help provide backup for his next album, "In Another Land". Jon would go on to be an intricate part of many albums by Larry and his stable of artists. Critics would describe his playing as "highly creative" and "genius" as well as "a wall of rock sludge." In a public notice on Jon's death, Larry Norman stated, "Jon was crossing the street and was hit by a car." Jon Linn left a wife and seven children.
84 | Mike Lee
Mason was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1975, however was brought up from age 8 in Decatur, Illinois where he attended Warrensburg-Latham schools. Mason joined Jars of Clay as a founding member in 1993 with singer Dan Haseltine and pianist Charlie Lowell while studying at Greenville College in his home state of Illinois. As a submission piece to get into college, Mason wrote an instrumental guitar piece entitled "Frail" which was later recorded and used as the namesake for the group's first demo Frail. The song later had lyrics added by Jars of Clay's lead singer Dan Haseltine for the group's second album Much Afraid. Mason uses a range of different guitars for performing with Jars of Clay, both electric and acoustic.
82 | Brian Wooten
Brian Wooten (born July 26, 1954) He has played in contemporary Christian rock bands, including Whiteheart in the 1990s. Also in the 90s, he played and co-wrote songs on Petra albums including God Fixation and Double Take. Since 2008, Brian has been playing guitar for country music artist Trace Adkins.
81 | Glenn Rogers
Glenn Roger is the guitartist for CA thrash band Heretic.Thrashing the world since the mid 80's, guitarist Glenn Rogers has written and recorded on some of the underground's thrash metal classics. In 1988 the band Vengeance Rising recorded four of Glenn's songs for the legendary Human Sacrifice CD. Later that same year he began work on the debut self titled CD from Deliverance. Both CD's were released on Intence Records. After leaving Deliverance Glenn joined the band Steel Vengeance. He would record and release two LP/CD's with them. In 1989 they would release on Black Dragon Records the album "Never Letting Go" and in 1991 "Live Among the Dead". From 1991 to 2003 Glenn was recording and playing in various projects. It wasn't until he met up with singer Katon W. De Pena that he would join legendary thrash/crossover band Hirax. The next 8 years would prove very productive with recording and touring for four LP/CD's with Hirax and one LP/CD with Once Dead. In 2010 Glenn would leave Hirax and join up with another Metal Blade Records group, Heretic. The band released a new album in 2012 titled "A Time of Crisis" and in 2013 saw the release of From the Vault...Tortured and Broken" on Metal Blade.
80 | Rick Martinez
Rick Hunter is a guitarist from the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a self taught musician that later attended college to study classical guitar and music. Influenced by guitar greats Randy Rhoads, George Lynch, Michael Schenker, and Yngwie Malmsteen, he began playing the Bay Area scene in 1984. In 1985, he helped form the Christian Metal band Soldier that released two cassettes: Louder Than Hell and Babylon. Although the band was never signed, Babylon sold over 4000 units. Rick also appeared on compilations: California Metal II, Classic Metal, and White Metal Invasion and after a five year run and playing live shows all around California Soldier disbanded. In 2001, all of Soldier’s material was released on CD. From 1990-92 Rick formed Regime, a euro-commercial metal project that released an eight song cassette titled Straight Thru Your Heart. One review called the release one of the best singer lead guitarist duos ever released in its genre. Regime played live shows and in the midst of the 2nd recordings Regime disbanded. In 2005, all Regimes material was released on CD including a new instrumental and two outtakes from the next release. In 2003, Rick collaborated with a few musician friends to form Walk The Sky which released a hard rock full length CD in 2005. Walk The Sky is currently together and writing and planning to record its second release. Rick’s other guest recordings include the metal band Discern, the commercial band Faith Healer, and Bonstone.
79 | Greg Hough
Greg Hough is a Christian musician and, with Bob Hartman, one of the founding members in 1972 of the band, Petra. During the 1970s, he and Hartman were the band's main songwriters and lead singers. Hough left the band in 1979. He continued to play Christian music with the bands Ransom and Ju'so. He also worked with the alternative-country trio Andrews, Hough, and Dan. In 2003, Hough returned to rock music when he joined the former Petra founding member and drummer, Bill Glover in a project called GHD. After releasing one album, another former Petra founding member, John DeGroff, joined the project and the band changed its name to GHF (God Has Forgiven). In 2004, Hough and DeGroff rejoined Hartman on stage in a reunion of the original Petra line-up held in Angola, Indiana. Outside music, Hough has been a practitioner of chiropractic in Fort Wayne, Indiana, since May 1989.
78 | Mark Farner
Mark Fredrick Farner (born September 29, 1948) best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad, and later as a contemporary Christian musician. Farner began his career in music by playing in Terry Knight and The Pack (1965–1966), The Bossmen (1966), The Pack (aka The Fabulous Pack) (1967–1968), before forming Grand Funk Railroad with Don Brewer (drums) and Mel Schacher (bass guitar) in 1968. Craig Frost (keyboards) joined the band in 1973. Farner was the guitarist and lead singer for Grand Funk Railroad as well as the songwriter for most of their material. His best-known composition is the 1970 epic "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)". He also wrote the 1975 hit "Bad Time", the last of the band's four singles to make the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. After Grand Funk initially disbanded in 1976, Farner released his first self-titled solo album in 1977, and his second, No Frills, in 1978 (both Atlantic Records). In 1981, Farner and Don Brewer launched a new Grand Funk line-up with bassist Dennis Bellinger and recorded two albums, Grand Funk Lives and What's Funk?. Farner went solo again with 1988's Just Another Injustice on Frontline Records. His third Frontline release was 1991's Some Kind of Wonderful, which featured a revamped version of the Grand Funk classic of the same name. Farner enjoyed success with the John Beland composition "Isn't it Amazing", which earned him a Dove Award nomination and reached No. 2 on the Contemporary Christian music charts.
77 | Bruce Fitzhugh
76 | Eric Mendez
This is what eric told us about its history as a guitarist: I always saw people play the guitar with chords you know.. G boring.. D boring .. strumming.. Cumbaya .. then one day I saw a guy play the melody to happy birthday on the high E string. Then down the road another guy play the main riff to My Sharona.. So I had to learn that . I lived in a poor slum in Manila so I had to go to my cousins house and stole all their acoustic guitars. Man that felt good having 5 crappy broken guitars around. I ended up smashing them after watching Elvis do it. My dad bought me an applause acoustic that had bass strings on them. Those strings would last a year then so would the frets . So maybe that was God telling me to play bass. After playing acoustic for 3 years Mom bought me my first electric . I played 4 to 8 to 10 hours a day. I joined The heavy metal band aid better known as Tourniquet . then I quit. The end. (You definitely have a great sense of humor :-) )
75 | Björn Stigsson
Bjorn Stigsson, born April 27, 1951, is a Swedish guitarist and one of the pioneers of Swedish Christian metal, best known for the groups Leviticus and XT. He founded and runs the BTS Studio.
74 | Derri Daugherty
Derri Daugherty (born October 13, 1958) is an record producer, songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for band The Choir. Daugherty is also one of the founding members of the Roots music supergroup Lost Dogs with Terry Scott Taylor, Michael Roe and Gene Eugene. Daugherty began his musical career as an engineer and roadie for the band Daniel Amos. Their bassist, Tim Chandler, introduced Daugherty to Steve Hindalong and the two soon began to write songs together and eventually formed The Choir. Daugherty now owns and operates Neverland, a recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Daugherty's engineering credits include albums for Randy Stonehill, The Swoon, Lifesavers Underground, Michael Knott, The Prayer Chain, Riki Michele, The Waiting (band), Sarah Masen, Pierce Pettis, Common Children, Jeff Johnson, Caedmon's Call, Buddy Miller, Julie Miller, The Throes, and others. In recent years, Daugherty has become an accomplished producer, with albums by Twila Paris and Sheila Walsh to his credit. Perhaps his most well known production work is with Hindalong on the City On A Hill series.
73 | Steve Osborne
Steve played Guitar with Bride from 86′ to 88′ [Show No Mercy and Live to Die] and then again in 06′ to 09′ [Skin for Skin]. Steve wrote on his own FB profile in the About Me section: "Healthcare professional. I love being a critical care nurse and I work with some brilliant people- hope some of that will rub off! Cancer survivor of 10 years. Musician- a real one- while certain contemporaries were working on their hair and practicing rockstar poses in the mirror with hundreds of people swinging from their jock, I was actually mastering an instrument. I had to work three times as hard as these clowns did. I don't use rock and roll gimmicks or hide my face behind a bunch of hair because I don't need that shit to own a crowd :-) Dazzle them with brilliance or baffle them with bullshit, but at least be honest about it and know which role you're playing". Steven Edward Osborne, 45, passed away November 16, 2011 in New Albany. Dale Thompson reported the passing of Steve Osborne – According to Dale, Steve took his own life because he was going through a period of depression. his wife [Sharon Osborne] posted the following message: “Our family lost a nephew to us, cousin to our children today. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. Steve Osborne, you will be missed very much. You were such a gifted musician and wonderful nurse. RIP Steve. I’m so sad.” Dale Thompson wrote a comment in 2011 about Steve: By now many of you have heard about the death of Bride’s off and on long time guitarist and friend Steve Osborne. Steve’s death was a suicide. Before anyone begins to judge my friend I want to say for certainty Steve is with the Lord and his pain on this earth is behind him. Steve was one of the few people that I considered “dear true Christians.” No one will ever know why Steve left this world in this horrible fashion but depression and mental pain is real. I am sure he would say to anyone experiencing this sort of illness to trust God, seek professional help and have faith. 1Cr 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Randy Rhoads will have to step aside as God’s guitar players for Steve Osborne has entered that next plain of life.
72 | Jerry Mcpherson
71 | Lynn Nichols
In 1977, Nichols was a member of the Phil Keaggy Band, with Phil Madeira , Terry Andersen and Dan Cunningham. The band released one album together, entitled Emerging . Nichols would also go on to produce three landmark rock and roll records for Keaggy, Sunday's Child in 1988, Find Me In These Fields in 1990 and Crimson and Blue in 1993. Each record featured an all star cast of musicians, including the likes of Mark Heard , Steve Taylor , Derri Daugherty , Jimmy Abegg , Ashley Cleveland , Randy Stonehill , John Mark Painter of Fleming and John , Charlie Peacock , Sam Bush , Russ Taff and fellow Keaggy Band member, Phil Madeira. In 1991, Nichols joined Steve Taylor , Mike Mead , Wade Jaynes and Dave Perkins to form the band Chagall Guevara . Nichols has also worked on other albums by Phil Keaggy, as well as albums by The Band Perry, Mutemath, Mat Kearney, Sam Philips, Luna Halo, The Elms, Rebecca St. James, Stacey Orrico, Zoegirl, Newsboys, TobyMac, Switchfoot, Phil and John, Amy Grant, Russ Taff, Mandisa, and many others, providing A&R, production, writing or instrumental work. Nichols and producer Tedd T formed Lyntt, an artist development and branding company, in 2009. Lyntt was a collective of highly skilled and creative people who develop all aspects of an artist's career, including songwriting, record production, imaging, design, social networking, and live performance coaching.
70 | John Michael Talbot
Talbot was born into a Methodist family with a musical background in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and started learning to play the guitar at an early age. At age 15 he dropped out of school and was performing as a guitarist for Mason Proffit, a country folk-rock band formed with his older brother Terry. Talbot embarked on a spiritual journey that led him through Native American religion and Buddhism to Christianity. At this point he and his brother, Terry, joined the Jesus Movement, recording the album Reborn which was re-released by Sparrow Records (originally released as The Talbot Brothers on the Warner Brothers label). Two solo albums followed for Talbot: John Michael Talbot (1976) and The New Earth (1977). Both of these were produced by Billy Ray Hearn. Talbot is the host of an inspirational television program, All Things Are Possible, on The Church Channel which is owned and operated by the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Brothers Terry Talbot and John Michael Talbot played together in several local bands around Indianapolis, Indiana and later in Chicago. After their group Sounds Unlimited disbanded, in 1969 they formed Mason Proffit with a focus on the emerging blend of folk , country and rock that would come to be called country rock . Older brother Terry's "Two Hangmen" from their first album Wanted... Mason Proffit, became a regional hit and helped their second album, Movin' Toward Happiness, chart on the Billboard 200 . In 1972, the band signed to Warner Bros. Records and continued touring, performing up to 300 concerts each year. Some of Mason Proffit's opening acts during that time included The Doobie Brothers , Steely Dan , John Denver , and Mac Davis . Their live shows were high energy. And once, while jamming with The Scruggs Review, John Hartford and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band , Earl Scruggs called John Talbot "the best banjo player I've ever heard." Mason Proffit disbanded when brothers John and Terry Talbot left the band and began performing as a duo. Warners then released The Talbot Bros. , the first of three duo albums with the remaining two released on Sparrow Records. Sparrow eventually re-issued the first Talbot Bros. album, minus the track "Moline Truckin." After the break-up, the Talbot brothers began to record contemporary Christian music on Sparrow Records , earning themselves a Grammy Award nomination and several Dove Award nominations. The Talbot brothers opened for The Eagles on a national tour.
69 | Randy Thomas
Randy Thomas (born November 15, 1954, Denison, Texas, United States) is best known for being a member of the Sweet Comfort Band and Allies and co-writing "Butterfly Kisses". Thomas performed with Sam Scott and Bob Carlisle in Psalm 150, then joined the Sweet Comfort Band in 1975. Sweet Comfort was the band's debut recording for Maranatha! Music in 1976. Switching to Light Records, Sweet Comfort Band produced five more records, the last titled Perfect Timing. A best-of compilation, Prime Time, followed. In 1984 Thomas formed the band Allies with Scott and Carlisle. They spent nine years between 1984-1993 doing concerts and recording six albums. The band's debut was self-titled. The most successful Allies recording was Long way from Paradise with two No. 1 singles: "Devil Is a Liar" and "Take Me Back." During this period, Thomas and Carlisle became a well-known songwriting team. The first country song they penned was the 1989 Dolly Parton No. 1 song "Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That?" PolyGram Music,now Universal Music, signed Thomas as a staff writer in 1995. He wrote material for artists such as Bob Carlisle, Cliff Richard, Raybon Brothers, and Jeff Carson as well as for Dolly Parton, Hank Williams Jr., Highway 101, Colin Raye, Ty England, Lila McCann, and Engelbert Humperdinck. Former Allies drummer Brian Fullen introduced Thomas to Robert John "Mutt" Lange and his wife, Shania Twain. Lange and Twain hired Thomas as a guitarist / vocalist for live international performances to debut the Mercury Records release The Woman In Me. Thomas performed some of the Woman In Me performances throughout 1995 and 1996 which also featured former RCA recording artist/guitarist/songwriter Dan Schafer. Thomas also played with Canadian artist Paul Brandt, and later SHeDAISY. He shared the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Country Song with Bob Carlisle for writing the song "Butterfly Kisses". "Butterfly Kisses" sold over three million units and was awarded a Platinum Single Award. Thomas was producer, co-writer and co-artist on Identical Strangers (Damascus Road Records) with Andy Denton in 1996. Identical Strangers was a critically acclaimed CD yielding two top-5 singles. Thomas retired in 1997, coming out of retirement in 2007. His various awards include: Grammy, Dove, ASCAP, NSAI, and Nashville Music awards. Thomas and his wife, Lori currently reside in Fort Myers, FL. They have three children, all of whom Randy has co-written songs for: Crystal ("Butterfly Kisses"), Randall ("A Father's Love"), and Sarah ("I Wish I Could").
68 | Rob Tahan
Rob Tahan is the guitarist and one of the founders of Ashed Remain, a band formed in 2001 to combine the sound of grungre and alternative rock.
67 | Noah Henson
Noah Henson I (born on April 18, 1981) is the lead guitarist for the Christian rock band Pillar. Henson joined after Travis Jenkins left in 2001 and has been recorded in all of Pillar's major albums except their first, Above. Originally from Cary, North Carolina, Henson now lives in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma with his wife, Lindsey Henson, and two children, Hannah and Noah II. He was ready to shoot the music video for For The Love of The Game and he got the call that his wife, Lindsey Henson had gone in labor. He states that he is musically influenced by Mark Tremonti and is a huge fan of Alter Bridge, one of the two bands who Tremonti plays guitar for (the other being Creed).
66 | Ray Parris
Ray Parris is the lead guitarist and founder of Barren Cross. He has not been in any other project outside BC. That's all I have to say for him.
65 | Pk Mitchel
During his senior year of highschool P.K. formed a band with fellow guitarist and best friend Don Webster (Neon Cross), they called their first band incarnation “Quality Trash” a pseudo rock/punk outfit doing covers and original material, with the advent of both PK and his friend Don becoming born again Christians in 1981, quality trash eventually morphed in 1982 into what is now the Neon Cross band. P.K. wrote, recorded, and performed with Neon Cross through much of the 1980′s, releasing their debut 4 song EP “Frontline Life” in 1984, and later their Self titled debut album “Neon Cross” for Regency Records in 1987. P.K. eventually left Neon Cross in 1988 to persue other musical ventures, he played with several various groups during this time, including a thrash band called “Impaler”. In late 1988 he sat down and began writing 15 songs that were reworkings of old traditional church hymns and began to work towards getting them released. he signed with Patriot records (and eventually Rugged records) in 1991 and began recording what would become the “All Hail The Power” album, during this time he also wrote and recorded several new reworkings of hymns and added them into the session, though there were many delays over the next few years, All Hail The Power was eventually released in 1994 and a music video was promptly shot for the song “Amazing Grace”. P.K. played the superfest festival in calif with singer Robyn Kyle Basauri (of Joshua/Red Sea), drummer Glen Mancaruso (of Vengeance/Die Happy) and bassist Jim Laverde (of Barren Cross) in 1994 before heading back into the studio to record more material, at this time he began producing albums and videos for other artists on the label as well, including Bride, Barren Cross, Neon Cross, Red Sea, Nailed, and others. P.K. would write and release a new song “Do You Believe” for the compilation album “Premium Cuts” in late 1994, he also recorded one more record for Rugged Records “Write It on Your Heart” in 1995 before leaving the label in 1996.Over the Years P.K. has had articles and reviews published in various music magazines about his music thoughout the world, but in 2003 P.K. began getting published in an entirely new field the world over. Aviation and gaming magazines around the world had picked up on a commercially released World War One flight simulation project he did called “Full Canvas Jacket”, for the Sierra/Dynamix game “Red Baron 3D”. Full Canvas Jacket was given dozens of postive reviews around the world and eventually was voted runner up for “2004 Flight Simulation of the Year” in Computer Gaming World Magazine’s 2004 awards (Losing out to only Microsofts “Flight Sim 2004″). His release is still regarded as the premier WW1 aviation enhancement within WW1 flight simulation circles to this day. As for P.K. Mitchell today, he is still out there writing, recording and playing music, and creating music that God Himself gave him his passion to do.
64 | Jamie Cramer
63 | Dave Payton
David Payton has spent over 25 years traveling the world as guitarist and vocalist with several nationally touring bands, including Eternity, Cruse Family, Free Fare, David Teems & the Calling, Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart & as a solo artist on the Refuge label. Today, he is still working full time as a successful solo "singer, guitarist, one-man band". www.DavidPayton.com.
62 | Korey Cooper
Korey Cooper (born Korene Marie Pingitore; July 21, 1972) is the keyboardist, guitarist, and backing vocalist for the band Skillet. Her husband, John Cooper, is the lead singer and bassist of the band, as well as one of the founding members. She has made contributions as a backing vocalist in addition to guitars and keyboards.
61 | Bill Menchen
Bill Menchen, Born on July 20, 1960, has a great career in the Christian metal. In 1982 he was in his first band called Astroid, of 1984-1988 he was guitarist and vocalist from the band Redeemer. In 1989 he'd be involved in his first known band "Final Axe". In 1991 would be the vocalist of Rev Seven. Later, in 1995 "Titanic" would be one of the most recognized bands in which Bill has participated. "His Witness" would also be another of the numerous musical projects bill. Since 2006 he is the vocalist and guitarist of "The Seventh Power" with Robert Sweet and Rod Reasner. It is certainly a great track record in numerous music projects. You have to listen to the music of Bill Menchen.
60 | Robert Randolph
“Robert Randolph is an American Original,” says Don Was, President of Randolph’s new label, Blue Note Records. “He has mastered what is, arguably, the most complex instrument in the world and developed a unique voice that is equal parts street-corner church and Bonnaroo. This album finally captures the energy and excitement of his legendary live performances.” Though his distinctive mix of rock, funk, and rhythm & blues continued to earn a rapturous response from a fervent, international audience, he felt that he had lost some of the enthusiasm and intensity that had driven him to make music in the first place. Robert Randolph & The Family Band first gained national attention with the release of the album Live at the Wetlands in 2002. The band followed with three studio recordings over the next eight years—Unclassified, Colorblind, and We Walk This Road—which, together with tireless touring and unforgettable performances at such festivals as Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, won them an expanding and passionate fan base. Randolph’s unprecedented prowess on his instrument garnered him a spot on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” list, and also attracted the attention of such giants as Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana, who have collaborated with him on stage and in the studio. Most recently, Randolph has attempted to amplify the tradition from which he came by executive producing the Robert Randolph Presents the Slide Brothers album, a recording which features some of the older “sacred steel” players from the House of God church who inspired him to pick up an instrument. “This is part of my whole story, which a lot of people don’t understand,” he says. “In our church organization, playing lap steel in church has been going on since the 1920s. These guys were my mentors, my Muddy Waters and B.B. Kings. Thinking that I started this style is like saying Stevie Ray Vaughan was the first guy to play the blues. I wanted to do this record so that everybody could understand the story and start connecting the dots.”
59 | Tommy Johanson
Tommy Johansson (Born October 27, 1987 in Sweden), better known as "Tommy ReinXeed" is known for being the guitarist and vocalist of "ReinXeed" and is also guitarist in "Golden Resurrection" in which also does vocals. He has participated in other bands like "Royal Hester" and "Megin".
58 | Stu G
57 | Brian Welch
Brian Phillip Welch (born June 19, 1970), better known as Head, is an musician best known as one of the guitarists and co-founder of the nu metal band Korn and his solo project Love and Death. Along with fellow Korn guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer, Welch helped develop Korn's distinctive sound, a mix of sirenlike shards of dissonant guitar that mimicked a turntablist's various effects and rumbling down-tuned riffing, that defined the nu metal aesthetic beginning in the mid-'90s. After becoming a born again Christian, Welch left the band in 2005 to focus on life as a father and to pursue his own solo career. He released his debut Christian album Save Me from Myself, in 2008. He reunited with Korn on-stage at the Carolina Rebellion on May 5, 2012 for the first time in seven years, and on May 2, 2013, officially announced rejoining the band. Welch and Munky were ranked at No. 26 of Guitar World's 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time.
56 | Neal Morse
In the mid ‘90s he formed the quirky Spock’s Beard, whose debut recording, The Light, was an unexpected success. Over the next 7 years, Spock’s Beard released 6 critically acclaimed studio recordings. In 2000, he formed the prog supergroup Transatlantic with drumming legend Mike Portnoy (formerly with Dream Theater), Marillion’s Pete Trewavas and The Flower Kings’ Roine Stolt. Morse shocked his followers with word that he was stepping away from music…with no indication of where he was heading. In his steady journey toward commercial and critical acclaim, Morse was still searching for inner peace. After months of resistance, Morse could no longer ignore the calling he felt to lay down his music, at least temporarily, to pursue whatever God had for him. Standing by his convictions, Neal Morse urged Spock’s Beard to move forward without him. After a short time away from Spock's Beard he sensed God moving him to write music again. Only this time the music was to be an inspired soundtrack of his faith journey—a double disc musical retelling of his Testimony. The unique and ambitious record spans numerous styles of music—from contemplative and brooding to adventurous and celebratory—featuring orchestral movements, gospel strains and signature progressive rock contributions from Portnoy on drums and Kerry Livgren (ex-Kansas) on guitar. Morse returned to the studio with Mike Portnoy and touring bass player Randy George to record 2004’s One, a conceptual album that explored the biblical themes of separation and reunion with God. Featuring fiery fretwork by Phil Keaggy, One was a vast and rewarding work that harkened to the heights of Transatlantic.
55 | Jimmy Brown II
Since 1989 he has been lead vocalist and guitarist in Deliverance. In 1992 he participated as guitarist Vengeance Rising. And in 1993 he participated in Betrayal. In 2012 also participated as bassist in a band called "Biogenesis".
54 | Michael Cutting
Michael Cutting is a multi-faceted guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, producer and mix engineer. He initiated his musical career at age 11 in California, USA. Predominantly a self taught guitarist, Michael formed his first original music project “Rage” at age 14. By the age 18 he and his band shared the stage with International Recording Artists Uriah Heep, Axxe, Eric Martin Band (Mr. Big Fame, members of Tesla), Gary Myrick, The Headpins, War, Doctor John, John Mayall (John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers) and Y&T, to name a few. In 1983 he went to Music School to formally study Classical Guitar and Theory. In addition to guitar, Michael has plays and has recorded various stringed instruments such as mandolin, bass, lap steel. Michael has the style of guitar playing is blues based rock and is characterized as fluid and soulful. His foundational influences come from blues legends Albert King, Howlin' Wolf, BB King, among others. Building on this, he sites modern blues masters such as Stevie Ray Vaughn and Gary Moore. He is also heavily influenced by Jimmy Page, David Gilmour and rock greats such as Eddie Van Halen, Dave Meneketti and Michael Schenker. Although influenced by these great masters, Michael still maintains his own style, fresh and unique. In 1986 Michael joined the Los Angeles based rock band Holy Soldier as lead guitarist. The band released four critically acclaimed multi award winning albums over the course of 10 years- receiving multiple Dove Awards and many other prestigious recognitions. Michael toured & performed around the world with Holy Soldier for over a decade. By the time Holy Soldier recorded their most recent release Encore in 1997, Michael had risen to the role of not only artist but also producer, sharing co-producing credits with famed producer and platinum mixing engineer David Zaffiro (Holy Soldier and Little Big Town).
53 | Larry Farkas
Larry Farkas was in the beginnings of deliverance from 1985 to 1987. He also joined a Vengeance Rising in 1988, and left the band in 1990. In 1989 he played guitar for the album "Master's Command" of sacred warrior. He joined Die Happy in 1992, in 1993 he joined the band sircle of Silence. His last band was "Once Dead", since 2005.
52 | Rick Restrom
51 | Sean Clancy
Sean is perhaps the best Christian guitarist in New Zealand, is now known to have more than 10 million views on his videos on youtube. It is also known that Rex Carroll asked for a guitar lesson to Sean. Sean Says: I grew up in Foxton, a little town in New Zealand. After a few years of piano lesson, I started putting the music pieces on a fender telecaster that was lying around. After a year of doing that I started learning Dire Strait songs note for note. Then I discovered Yngwie Malmsteen. It was all downhill from there. I started learning everything from every guitarist I ever liked, filling exercise books with transcriptions and concepts. My first band was NZ's first Christian Glam Rock band "All or Nothing", and I went on to various other bands after that. I started recording albums and doing sessions for other artists. I toured the world with No Longer Music and did a string of evangelistic concerts around Eastern Europe with my band,which was a cross between Hendrix and Chopin. I studied Jazz at the New Zealand School of music and designed some software to help with that called "Guitar SightReader Toolbox". Right now I live in Tauranga, NZ and am working with 2 bands
50 | Jake Jones
"In high school, I found myself skipping out on normal teen stuff to sit on the end of my bed learning Creed songs and trying to fill up on as many SRV licks as I could! Guitar became my escape from the frustration and pure insanity that adolescence can bring. It was then that I took notice of the sheer beauty and raw tone that make PRS guitars second to none in looks, sound, and feel. It's hard to find words to say other than they're simply the best. Period." Born and raised deep in the heart of Texas, Jake cut his musical teeth on the soulful rhythms and heart wrenching blues riffs that have shaped the music scene of the Lone Star state for many years. Hailing from a suburb of Austin, it only makes sense that SRV would find the top spot in his list of guitar influences alongside Mark Tremonti, Eric Clapton, and Santana just to name a few. While Jake first picked up a guitar at age 6, it wasn’t until age 13 that he found himself truly diving in and finding his footing as a guitarist.
49 | Brad Noah
Brad Noah is well known as the original guitarist of Disciple (and while he no longer tours with the band, thankfully he is still an active writing and recording member ). Back In The Day is his first solo release, and— as expected— it shows his talent well. Indeed, Brad’s guitarwork has always been superb, and it’s great to hear a full instrumental album of it. Brad Noah has seen tons of success in the music industry as one of the founding members of the rock band, Disciple. For 17 years, Brad toured with the band as the lead guitarist and one of the main songwriters. His hard work was rewarded in 2008 with a Dove Award for Best Rock Album of the Year (Scars Remain), and he has had numerous other nominations and recognitions over the years. With the band Disciple, Brad wrote and recorded more than seven albums, has had dozens of radio hits and had a successful touring career. Companies endorsing Brad’s talent over the years include: Gibson, Splawn, GHS Strings, Dunlop, Kelton Swade and more. Brad has also played and written music with Troy Luccketta (Tesla), Luis Espaillat (Jimmy Wayne, Bo Bice, Hot Action Cop), Traa Daniels (P.O.D.), Kevin Lawson (Butch Walker, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Matt Baird (Spoken), Lester Estelle (Pillar), Brentwood Benson Publishing and many more. As one of the most soulful and talented guitarists around, Brad sites his influences as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Prince, Zakk Wylde and Eddie Van Halen.
48 | Val Allen Wood
47 | Jon Schneck
Jonathan Schneck is a guitarist for the band Relient K. He joined the band in January 2005, shortly after the release of their fourth full-length album, Mmhmm. He was also a touring guitarist for Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline.
46 | Justin Cox
Justin Cox has been playing guitar for the last 19 years. He began taking piano lessons in elementary school, moving on to the guitar soon after. He is a founding member and lead guitarist of the band Fireflight, who has had multiple number one Christian Rock singles.
45 | Micah Ortega
44 | Ben Kasica
Benjamin Judah Kasica (born April 15, 1984) guitarist best known as a former lead guitarist for the Christian rockband Skillet. Since leaving the band he has engaged in producing and engineering recordings and graphic design. He began playing guitar at age eleven. He joined Skillet in 2001 at the age of sixteen, and recorded the albums Alien Youth, Collide, Comatose (which went Gold on November 18, 2009) and Awake (which went Platinum) with them. Kasica is known for his many tricks while playing the guitar live on stage. These range from his solos to playing his guitar behind the back of his head. John Cooper said in the YouTube interview that he enjoyed having Kasica in the band "for his integrity; someone who wants to be honest about things."Kasica announced he was leaving Skillet to pursue other interests on February 14, 2011.
43 | Tom Milnes
42 | Randy Stonehill
Randall Evan "Randy" Stonehill (born March 12, 1952) is an American singer-songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the pioneers of contemporary Christian music. Stonehill's first album, Born Twice was released in 1971, with financial help from Pat Boone. The album—one side a live performance, the other side recorded in a studio—was recorded for a mere $US 800, and according to Stonehill, "sounds like every penny of it!" In 1976, Stonehill released the Larry Norman-produced Welcome to Paradise, with Andy Johns doing the engineering. This became a landmark album for the songwriter and was voted "3rd most important contemporary Christian album" in a mid-1980s poll of Christian music critics. In the late 1970s, Stonehill would join forces with rock band Daniel Amos for the Amos 'n' Randy Tour. Daniel Amos would go on to be Stonehill's band for his next two releases, and Stonehill would later provide backing vocals on a number of Daniel Amos' projects. 1984's Celebrate This Heartbeat teamed Stonehill with longtime friend Phil Keaggy for the song Who Will Save The Children? The two later formed The Keaggy/Stonehill Band in 1989 with Daniel Amos bassist Tim Chandler and Swirling Eddie's David Raven on drums. Keaggy and Stonehill would also team up with singer Margaret Becker, drummer Joe English (former member of Paul McCartney and Wings) and others, in 1988 for the Compassion All Star Band's album One by One.
41 | Bruce Swift
Bruce Swift is the guitarist and vocalist of Sacred Warrior since 1985.
40 | Aaron Guerra
When Aaron originally showed interest in the vocalist position for Tourniquet he mentioned that he played guitar. One year later in 1994 he auditioned for the guitarist spot and joined the band just before heading out on the road in support of the soon to be released Vanishing Lessons. Aaron was born in Reno, Nevada & grew up in the small town of Stagecoach. Music was always a part of Aaron's family (his father's band often rehearsed right in their living room!). Aaron's father taught him how to play guitar at the age of 8 after he first dabbled a little on the drums. In fact, when he moved to LA after joining Tourniquet he was playing in Final Notice, a band he formed with his father. Some of the early influences that really inspired his interest in playing ranged from Zeppelin/The Who/Hendrix/ZZ Top to more modern players such as Angus Young, Dave Mustaine, and Marty Friedman. Aaron is a very precise rhythm player and his strong sense of melody for leads can be heard on Tourniquet's albums. Over two decades of guitar playing later, his love for music and performing is always evident. Aaron has written the music to six Tourniquet songs — three appear on Crawl to China and three on Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm.
39 | Jody Davis
38 | John Mahan
John Mahan Played with Saint on Warriors of the Son and Times End (1984-1986). Currently working on a progressive metal project. It will be called Eat the Skroll.
37 | Greg Bishop
36 | Mike Roe
Although he has released several solo albums since the mid-1990s, Roe is primarily known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for the rock band The 77s. In addition to releasing albums under the moniker 7&7iS, he has recorded several instrumental albums with bandmate Mark Harmon. Roe is also a founding member of the alt-country music supergroup Lost Dogs.In the 1970s, Roe hosted the radio program Rock Scope, which featured music and interviews with a wide range of artists including Bob Dylan, Daniel Amos, T-Bone Burnett, Mark Heard and others. Production credits include albums by Lisa Phenix, Johnny Reliable, Shadrach, Jason Todd Herring, Matt Nightingale, The Strawmen, Perry and the Poorboys, Steve Scott, First Strike, and Love Coma.
35 | Paul Jackson
" I grew up in a house that was constantly surrounded by music and musicians My Dad Grover Jackson played country music for a living and hosted a local television variety show and was well known in the area for helping launch artists such as The Ventures and Loretta Lynn. My Dad discouraged the thought of my following in his footsteps, telling me that the music business was a long road of hardship and disappointment. Being a pre-teen, I used that as motivation to play his instruments while he was away from the house. It came naturally and I found it easy to pick out notes on the radio and learn songs by ear. By the time my Dad discovered that I was getting serious about being a rockstar, I had progressed too far to discourage. I joined my first band by the time I was 12. I auditioned for the band by playing the solo from “Love Gun” by the band (and my new musical heroes) “Kiss”. I played with the same group of guys from Gig Harbor WA for the next several years, making only a few changes to the lineup but multiple changes to the bands name. The band “Boibs” had the most success in the area and was said to have the best chance at a national recording contract at the time. The band was one of the highest draws in both the club and under age venues. Band members included: Rick Lovrovich (Apple Jam), Greg Gilmore (Mother Lovebone) and Dave Krusen (Pearl Jam). Unfortunately, we were playing so much that we were losing the excitement to play together and eventually I left. Shortly before the Boibs disbanded, we were in need of a sound and lighting crew. It was then that I was introduced to Michael Bloodgood and Les Carlsen. I was warned by my manager that they were Jesus freaks and not to be offended by them. I could tell a difference in the way Michael and Les conducted themselves but was never solicited or pressured to engage in any religious conversations or debates. It was this honest and living by example attitude that interested me in committing to Christ. It is funny to think… out of all the people that Bloodgood help lead to Christ… I was one of them. During a trip to Yakima WA, Les asked me to hang out and jam together. He said that he and Michael were recording a Christian Heavy Metal album under the name “Bloodgood”. In no time we wrote the song “Demon On The Run”. We continued our relationship and collaborated on the next two Bloodgood releases co-writing “Crucify” on “Detonation” and “Seven” off of “Rock in A Hard Place”. In 1989, I was asked by Michael and Les to record and do some writing on the next album “Out of the Darkness”. The experience was so rewarding that I was asked to perform live with them for the next few shows. I continued to solidify my position as a permanent fixture in the band by performing on the live DVD’s “Alive in America” and “Rockin the World”. After some touring in the US and Europe, we released “All Stand Together” in which I was credited with the most co-writing credits to date. The next release “To Germany with Love” was our second live record. This release summed up the energy of the band and combined it with a dedicated German fan base. I am happy to say that we are currently performing shows and also writing for a new release. I have loved performing and contributing with such great men with a true heart for the Lord. The order of Christ, Family and then music has served the band well and will continue to do so. The relationship between band members historically is the cause of a band’s demise. In Bloodgood, it has always been what excites us and keeps us together. "
34 | Dennis Cameron
"You know, I honestly can't remember how old I was when I started playing guitar...I think I was around 6 or 7 years old", muses Dennis when asked when it all began. "I do remember though, that I was gigging at 11 years old". "We played a set of 7 Kiss songs from the 'Kiss Alive' album....to a completely stunned audience. The Principal of the school was a Catholic Nun and had asked the drummer (a classmate) and I to come in with our band and play some songs for the graduating class...she was expecting two guys with harmonicas and acoustic guitars...I think we disrupted the whole school that day". Dennis finished out his teens playing in various bands performing cover songs and touring the local club circuit, then at age 21 he had an epiphany which led him to desire something more original musically. So at 21 he left his band and spent the next couple of years writing songs as well as honing his skills as a guitar player. By the Winter of 1988, Dennis had written an album's worth of material with a local singer/songwriter Andy Lyon. Together they recorded a 5 song demo which he had shopped to record labels in both Canada and in the U.S. under the band name Angelica, "I still have all of the rejection letters from the labels that replied negatively.....some of them are pretty funny. Of the several offers presented, Dennis settled on and signed with Frontline Music Group (FMG) out of Southern California, on their subsidery metal label Intense Records. With his obligations to FMG fulfilled, Dennis decided to take a break from the industry and enrolled in a local college to pursue his growing interest in electronics. "My 4-track had broken one day so I opened it up and was immediately intrigued by all of the electronic components. It wasn't long after that that I enrolled". Just into his first year and while on Christmas break, Dennis got a call from a friend who asked if he'd be interested in a gig as a lead guitarist for Michael Sweet formerly of Stryper. After much deliberation Dennis finally decided to take the offer and took a leave from college, "The whole time I was making Angelica records I waited for an opportunity like this...how could I pass it up?", and with that he left once again for California to start rehearsals for a North American Tour. Having laid down music for a couple of years he started to get the itch to write and record again, "I didn't play guitar much for a couple of years...then I picked up my Jackson one day, the strings were like barbwire they were so corroded, and realized just how much I really missed it".
33 | George Ochoa
George started as guitarist from Recon and Deliverance in 1989. Also in 1992 he played guitar with Vengeance Rising, and in 1995 also formed part of Mortification. Currently he is also part of Worldview.
32 | Barry Blair
31 | Stu Heiss
30 | Gordon Kennedy
Gordon Kennedy is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, musician, and producer based in Nashville, Tennessee. Kennedy’s name became nationally recognized when he won Song of the Year at the 1997 Grammys for Eric Clapton's song, "Change the World", which he co-wrote with Wayne Kirkpatrick and Tommy Sims. In addition to his work with Clapton, Kennedy has had his songs cut by musical greats, including Bonnie Raitt, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Bruce Hornsby, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek, Peter Frampton, George Strait, Martina McBride, Joan Osborne, Wynonna, Jerry Reed and, most recently, bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs. Some of his most notable cuts include his Bonnie Raitt singles, "I Can't Help You Now" and "I Will Not Be Broken", his Garth Brooks single, "You Move Me", which reached No. 2 on the country charts, and his Alison Krauss cut, "Maybe".In 1984, just a couple years out of college, Kennedy joined the contemporary Christian group WhiteHeart when his high school friend, now renowned producer Dann Huff, left the group and recommended him to fill the spot. Kennedy toured for six years with WhiteHeart, during which time the band released one of his favorite collaborations to date, the 1989 album Freedom. He left WhiteHeart in 1990 to get off the road and pursue session work. The years that immediately followed were integral in shaping Kennedy’s life and career. He spent a few years scraping by and establishing himself as a session guitarist, primarily for contemporary Christian artists like Amy Grant, Twila Paris, Susan Ashton, PFR and Steven Curtis Chapman. At the same time, home life drastically changed for him and his wife with the purchase of their first home and the birth of their two children.
29 | Oz Fox
Richard Alfonso Martinez (born June 18, 1961), better known by the stage name Oz Fox, is the lead guitarist of the glam metal band Stryper. He was recruited by the Sweet brothers in 1983 to form what would become Stryper. As a founding member of the band, Fox recorded and toured with Stryper until the band's first break up in 1992. Fox's style can best be described as having been heavily influenced by the style pioneered by Edward Van Halen. It is a little-known fact that Fox would often warm up by playing Van Halen's "I'm The One" note for note before Stryper shows. He joined the trend in LA guitarists to heavily incorporate tapping, sweeping, string skipping and wild tremolo use along with peers such as George Lynch, Warren DeMartini, Jake E. Lee, Mick Mars, and Tony Palacios. Fox recorded half of the guitar solos with Stryper while additionally providing background vocals for the group. He later took up the main vocal duties for a period of four months in 1992 after founding member Michael Sweet decided to leave the band and pursue a solo career. With Fox on lead vocals, the threesome did two short tours in Europe. After Stryper, Fox played in several projects, including his own band, Sindizzy where he played rhythm guitar and sang lead vocals. In 2006, he joined the band Bloodgood and has performed at several Christian rock festivals with them. From 2006 to 2009, Fox gave private music lessons in Pasadena at a small music shop, Groovin On Music.
28 | Brian Bunn
Lead guitarist Brian Bunn (DecembeRadio) and drummer Boone Daughdrill burst onto the national scene with their self-titled Slanted Records’ debut in 2006. Brian Bunn credit Eric Clapton with their interest in taking up guitar. The project was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album and earned the group four Dove Award nominations, including nods in the Best New Artist category and Song of the Year for “Drifter.” That night the band claimed their first Dove Award when DecembeRadio was honored for Rock Album of the Year, an impressive feat for a new band.
27 | Anthony Armstrong
Red is one of the few bands today that are worth listening. The band is a mainstay in the Christian market (charting 13 #1 songs on Christian rock radio), but has also seen significant chart success in the mainstream rock realm with hit songs like “Death of Me,” “Already Over,” and “Breathe Into Me.” "The first time my brother and I realized it was when we were in 9th grade, when we were 14. We were at the Creation music festival in Mt. The first time my brother and I realized it was when we were in 9th grade, when we were 14. We were at the Creation music festival in Mt. Union, Pennsylvania. We went up to the lookout, and we were up there praying and hanging out, doin’ our thing. When we came down from the mountain we had this clarity about things. We were drawn to that festival’s music. Audio Adrenaline and dc Talk were the big ones for us. If you read our thank you’s in the liner notes of our album, I thank all the guys in Audio Adrenaline for the impact they and their music had on my life."
26 | Mark Lee
25 | Drew Shirley
Andrew (Drew) Philip Shirley (born April 3, 1974 in Puerto Rico) is an American rock guitarist, formerly of All Together Separate, and since 2005 of the Grammy-winning alternative rock band Switchfoot. Shirley attended California Baptist University studying a Fine Arts degree with a Music minor. During that time he also started and led various school bands and shows. He had only started playing guitar as a senior in high school. After graduating from college, he also began working with YFC as the Riverside area Campus Life director, working with local high schools. He started touring with Switchfoot soon after their 2003 release The Beautiful Letdown. He became an official member of the band on May 4, 2005. He has recorded five albums with the band: Nothing Is Sound (2005), Oh! Gravity. (2006), Grammy-winning Hello Hurricane (2009), Vice Verses (2011), and Fading West. Between leaving All Together Separate and his transition to Switchfoot, Shirley produced and played guitar on many different band projects. He still produces and plays on various musical projects.
24 | Ulf Christianson
Ulf Christianson is the founder, vocalist and guitarist of the band of Sweden "Jerusalem" since 1975. He has also recorded two solo albums and in 2014 released his autobiographical book "Det var värt alltihop"
23 | Troy Thompson
22 | Gary Lenaire
Gary Lenaire (born July 29, 1967) is a guitarist and composer. He is most known for his work with Tourniquet and the band Echo Hollow. He has released 12 records and was nominated for six GMA Dove Awards. He received HM Magazine's "Guitarist of the Year" award from 1994-1996. He has published over 90 songs world wide. He has more recently self-published a book called Infidel Manifesto. In 1985 he co-founded Eugene Oregon's Christian thrash metal band Holy Danger with vocalist Guy Ritter, drummer Darby Budd, guitarists Dan Larson and Dee Harrington. In 1986 he relocated to Los Angeles with Ritter to form the famed Christian metal Tourniquet (band) with drummer Ted Kirkpatrick. The trio signed to Frontline Music Group (Intense Records) in 1989. In 1990 Tourniquet signed with Metal Blade / Caroline Records. After 7 CDs and multiple tours Lenaire departed Tourniquet in August, 1996. According to Lenaire, "By that time the band had gone through numerous member changes. My good friends were no longer in the group. I felt that the band had become somewhat a parody of itself; we were now doing piano ballads and pop tunes. Our first few records were considered by most of our fans as our Show Less
21 | Justin Forshaw
Justin Forshaw is technically the best guitarist to emerge in recent history. Born in Port Angeles, Forshaw lived in Sequim until he was 7 before moving back from Port Orchard at 16. About three years ago, Forshaw took a chance to join We As Human. He e-mailed the band with a link to some of his online videos while they were looking for a new guitarist. Impressed with Forshaw's abilities, We As Human lead singer Justin Cordle contacted Forshaw a few hours later. Impressed with Forshaw's abilities, We As Human lead singer Justin Cordle contacted Forshaw a few hours later. Band members extended Forshaw a spot the group's lineup. "It's definitely a calling," he said. "I'm in to do this a while." Big step, Going from playing guitar as a hobby to playing for a career was a big step, Forshaw said.
20 | Ty tabor
Ty Tabor (born September 17, 1961) is the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the progressive hard rock band, King's X. Tabor has a wide-ranging guitar style, from big guitar riffs to soaring melodic passages. His use of volume swells and ambient passages add an elemental texture to his compositions. His influences include The Beatles, Brian May, Alex Lifeson, Ace Frehley, Phil Keaggy, and the original Alice Cooper band.
19 | Joshua Perahia
The band's exposure in Japan also caught the eye of the Japanese Music press. Burrn! Magazine , the 1 rock magazine in Japan, hailed the band's debut album and in BOLD PRINT declared Joshua "The World's Fastest Guitarist." Metal press around the globe followed suit, complimenting Joshua for his note-for-note perfect guitar virtuosity.
18 | Brian Belew
Brian's pyrotechnic leads pushed the sound of Barnabas over the top. Brian had an amazing ability to use tapping techniques, pioneered by Eddie Van Halen, in incendiary ways never heard before in Christian rock. The stresses of being Barnabas and fighting the critics and industry eventually broke the band up. Their contract with Light Records obligated the band to write and record a final studio album, which became 1986's Little Foxes. A lyrically harsh and distinct album, Foxes also contains some of Brian Belew's best guitar work. Brian is a really awesome guitarist.
17 | Dana Key
Dana Key (December 30, 1953 – June 6, 2010) was an American Christian rock guitarist, singer, and producer who was co-founder of the Christian rock group DeGarmo and Key with keyboardist Eddie DeGarmo, best friends since the first grade. Key was a direct descendant (great-great-great-great-great-great grandson) of Francis Scott Key, the author of The Star-Spangled Banner. Key released two solo albums as well. Key died due to a ruptured blood clot on Sunday, June 6, 2010 at age 56, according to CCM Magazine's website. “Dana was a mentor and role model to me,” recalled Todd Agnew after hearing of Key’s death. “He signed me, recognizing something I didn’t even see. He is the reason most of you know me,” wrote Agnew in his blog. DeGarmo, meanwhile, recognized his longtime friend as much more than just an extremely talented musician. “He could preach the Gospel in a way that compelled thousands to accept Christ and he could play guitar and sing like you were getting a glimpse of his soul,” DeGarmo told CCM magazine. “He was my friend and my brother. The world will miss him. I will miss him dearly." said DeGarmo, who had been friends with Key since they were about 7 and led him to Christ at the age of 15. Key is survived by his wife, Anita, and their three children.
16 | Michael Sweet
Sweet is known as co-founder, writer, lead guitarist, lead vocalist and front man of Stryper. He was also co-lead vocalist and guitarist for Boston from 2007 to 2011. In the early 1980s, Sweet and his brother started a band called Roxx Regime and played in small venues. They were a trio for a period of time with Sweet being the only guitar player in the band. This band would later become Stryper. After nine years as the lead singer/lead guitarist of Stryper, Sweet left the band in 1992 in order to pursue a solo career His self-titled debut album was released in 1994 and sold over 250,000 copies. He followed it with a slightly softer album titled Real in 1995 earning him a Dove Award nomination. Soon after the release of Real, Sweet left Benson Records, with whom he had released those two albums. On August 19, 2007, Sweet was asked by Boston's Tom Scholz to be one of the lead singers and guitarists for Come Together: A tribute to Brad Delp at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, MA. Tom Scholz then asked Sweet to join Boston for the band's summer 2008 tour with Styx as the opening act. Sweet performed lead vocals, background vocals, and guitar work for Boston. Sweet was asked to be a part of what was supposed to be Boston's last performance on 8/19/07. It was a benefit/tribute show and names such as Sammy Hagar, Mickey Thomas and Ann Wilson were among the invited guests. Tom Scholz was moved by what Sweet had written about the late Brad Delp and then heard Sweet sing and play guitar. Scholz was so impressed with Sweet's talents that he invited him to join the band and become a permanent member. Boston began booking a tour for 2008 with Styx as the opening act. Sweet handled lead vocals on roughly half of the set list and played guitar for the entire set and handled solo work as well. In August 2011, it was announced that Sweet had left Boston to focus on his priorities and contributions to Stryper. In 2013 released two studio albums with Stryper, "Second Comming" and "No more Hell to Pay", the latter is considered one of the best metal albums of 2013. In 2014 published his latest solo album "I'm not Your Suicide "Michael wrote on his Twitter account @Michaelhsweet: I'm not a shredder, I just try to play for the song & from the heart. Thank you guys for noticing & for voting ~ MS
15 | David Zaffiro
David Zaffiro began his musical pursuits with friends he met in Seattle, Washington. Assisting the formation of the band Topaz and later The Crystal City Rockers. His professional career began as guitarist for the metal band Bloodgood. Though he officially left the band following their third album, he did play various parts on later albums. He then began producing records independently and for others. Artists that he has worked with include Acquire the Fire, Andy Chrisman, A Worship House, Brett Williams, Broken Silence, Eli, End Time Warriors, Holy Soldier, Julie Miller, Kate Miner, Kim Hill, Little Big Town, The Passion Worship Band, Paul Q-Pek, Point of Grace, Whitecross, Zion. He also has three solo albums.
14 | Glenn Kaiser
Glenn Kaiser has been a musician since the late '60s. In 1971, he joined the group that woud later become Resurrection (Rez) Band. Glenn played hard rock with Rez for more than 25 years before setting out on his own to pursue other musical avenues. In 1999 he formed the blues rock trio Glenn Kaiser Band with Roy Montroy and Ed Bialach, but Glenn's musical creativity sometimes steps out of that mold. Glenn's solo career has centered around the blues but he has ventured off into R&B, American roots, and worship. "I first paid attention to music, I suppose, because of Elvis Presley. My older brother and sister had his albums and 45s. I was around six years old. I got a guitar when I was twelve. The very first band I was involved with did soul music, the R & B stuff: "Knock On Wood" and "Shotgun" by Junior Walker and the Allstars, "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge, all that kind of stuff. It was a rockier approach to those songs; if we could have had a horn section, we woulda done it. We covered early Rolling Stones stuff, and again their whole approach came out of that blues/black music tradition. The album was Jimi Hendrix Experience's Are You Experienced? (their first album). He dropped the needle on the first cut and kept playing it. He finished the side, and all I said was, "Turn it over." That's all I said for the next two hours. It was that astonishing to me, as a singer but especially as a guitarist and songwriter, to hear sonically what Hendrix did with blues and rhythm & blues and soul and rock. Between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, I was in a half-dozen bands, but always, always, the fundamental thing was the blues. What we were doing was heavy metal or hard rock or psychedelic "acid" rock, but everybody did at least one or two blues tunes during their set. That really drew me. Then I discovered a guy named Rory Gallagher. Rory died several years back now; he was a white Irishman who a lot of people compared to Johnny Winter. I'd gotten real into Johnny Winter. Rory had this melodic thing, but he had this real fast, intense guitar style, loved the blues. You almost always had three-piece bands. After a while I started a three piece and began playing around with slide guitar a little bit."
13 | Bob Hartman
Robert "Bob" Hartman (born December 26, 1949) is a guitarist, writer and songwriter. He is the founder of the band Petra. Hartman was involved with the band from its foundation in 1972. Bob Hartman learned to play guitar when he was 13 years old, teaching himself from books and watching other people. He has said that one of his major influences was Joe Walsh, a member of The James Gang at the time. Hartman converted to Christianity when he was 20. When he was 21, he joined a Christian band called Rapture with John DeGroff. During this time, he wrote some of the songs of the first Petra album. He also studied at Bowling Green State University, earning a B.A. in Psychology. When Rapture broke up, DeGroff moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana to attend Christian Training Center (a school based in a church there). Hartman was already jamming with guitarist Greg Hough and they both moved to Indiana to attend the same school. Upon meeting drummer Bill Glover there, they formed Petra. Hartman became the principal (and most of the time, the sole) songwriter of the band, writing the lyrics and music for almost all of their songs. After Petra's retirement, Hartman started working with former Petra singer, John Schlitt, as II Guys from Petra in an album which was released in January 26, 2007 titled Vertical Expressions. In 2010, Hartman and other members of the early line-ups of Petra, reunited under the name Classic Petra. They released an album titled Back to the Rock and have been touring since. Hartman is married to Kim Whisonant. They have one son together called Jeff. He enjoys playing tennis and is a self-taught web programmer. He records and produces music at his in-house studio called House of Bob. He also makes guitars, which can be bought through his website.
12 | Lanny Cordola
Lanny Cordola is an American guitarist, songwriter and producer. He has been a member of bands such as Giuffria, House Of Lords, and Magdallan (also known as Magdalen after Ken Tamplin's departure). Before joining Giuffria, Lanny was the main songwriter for his original bands named Lights, American Heroes and Mondo Cane. Lanny has made several solo albums, as well as being featured as guest musician, songwriter and/or producer on albums with artists like Ken Tamplin and Ransom. Besides the guitar, he also masters other instruments. In 2006, Lanny was a contributor of the Bulgarian rock group D_2 and especially their third album, "6". Lanny has also appeared on the popular American television sitcom Full House, as a member of Jesse Katsopolis's band, Jesse and the Rippers.
11 | Jeff Scheetz
I got my first electric guitar for Christmas when I was about 14. Much to my chagrin, it didn’t automatically play itself, so I stuck it in the closet. Fortunately it was still there a couple of years later and with renewed interest the first song I picked through was “Amazing Grace”, and I have been hooked ever since! I have released 8 CDs, and also recorded 6 complete guitar instructional video courses for TrueFire, and written a guitar instructional book and CD. I love to tour and have done so in the US, Europe and Mexico, and released 2 live Dvds. My playing has been featured in Guitar, Guitar Player, Guitar School, and Guitar World magazines, as well as numerous magazines in Japan and Europe. I am endorsed by Ernie Ball strings (and have appeared on the string package) and I have had the opportunity to perform over 300 clinics worldwide for Yamaha guitars, and appeared as a product specialist at numerous NAMM shows, the LA guitar show and more. Recently I teamed up with Overture Guitars and we designed my signature “JS-Session” guitar line. Dailey amps also released a signature model all tube guitar amp. I have produced and mixed a ton of bands and projects in my studio. Acts like “Crunchy”, (from former Galactic Cowboys bassist Monty Colvin), Lament from Mexico – I’ve recorded commercials for Toyota, Chevrolet, Worlds of Fun and many others, and my music has been used for commercials and shows on such Networks as ABC, Speed, ESPN, The Outdoor Channel and the Fashion Network. My studio was featured in an EQ magazine article as well. I have written columns and articles for many magazines including hm, and Premier Guitar magazine. My band has been played shows with ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, Poison, Cinderella, Joan Jett, .38 Special, ELO, Eric Johnson, Scorpions, Steve Vai, Edgar Winter, Proto-Kaw, Rick Derringer and many more.
10 | The Edge
David Howell Evans (born 8 August 1961), more widely known by his stage name The Edge (or just Edge), is known as the guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist of the rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band as well as one solo record. As a guitarist, The Edge has crafted a minimalistic and textural style of playing. His use of a rhythmic delay effect yields a distinctive ambient, chiming sound that has become a signature of U2's music. On 1987's The Joshua Tree, The Edge often contributes just a few simple lead lines given depth and richness by an ever-present delay. For example, the introduction to "Where the Streets Have No Name" is simply a repeated six-note arpeggio, broadened by a modulated delay effect. The Edge has said that he views musical notes as "expensive", in that he prefers to play as few notes as possible. His first guitar was an old acoustic guitar that his mother bought him at a local flea market for only a few pounds; he was nine at the time. He and his brother Dik Evans both experimented with this instrument. The Edge has stated that many of his guitar parts are based around guitar effects. This is especially true from the Achtung Baby era onwards, although much of the band's 1980s material made heavy use of echos. In 2005, The Edge along with Bob Ezrin and Henry Juszkiewicz co-founded Music Rising, a charity that helped provide replacement instruments for those that were lost in Hurricane Katrina. The instruments were originally only replaced for professional musicians but they soon realised the community churches and schools needed instruments as well. The charity's slogan is "Rebuilding the Gulf Region note by note" and has so far helped over a hundred musicians who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Edge also serves on the board of the Angiogenesis Foundation, a 501 nonprofit organisation dedicated to improving global health by advancing angiogenesis-based medicine, diets, and lifestyle.
9 | Carl Johan Grimmark
Carl Johan Grimmark is a great guitarist born in Gothenburg, Sweden October 14, 1977. He has appeared with several influential Christian metal bands including Narnia, Saviour Machine, and Rob Rock. He recently joined the band Beautiful Sin in 2006. He also has been a special guest guitarist on fellow Narnia bandmate Christian Liljegren's side projects Divinefire and Audiovision. He recently recorded his debut solo album that is set to be titled Grimmark, where he also handles the lead vocals. Grimmark's style of playing, especially on Narnia's earlier work, is often compared to the neo-classical metal stylings of Yngwie Malmsteen, or under a more broad genre, neo-classicism. Grimmark is the main composer in Narnia, and on their album The Great Fall most of the lyrics were written by him. On their other albums the lyrics have been written by their vocalist Christian Liljegren. Grimmark is also given credits as a producer on several of Narnia's albums. Grimmark has become a highly acclaimed guitarist in the Christian hard rock music genre as more people are exposed to his solid technical abilities, which can be exemplified by the fact that he is credited for playing every instrument on Narnia's first album, Awakening, and his unique approach towards incorporating a neo-classical sound into his music.
8 | Ken Tamplin
Tamplin’s musical gifts began to be recognized at a young age, as he joined a succession of rock groups such as Joshua, Shout, and Magdallan. With his rich vocal range, he was also asked to sing with groups such as Foreigner, Jeff Lynn, Geazer Butler, and Peter Frampton. Many also began to recognize his production abilities, which led to his work on numerous feature films and TV programs. Ken began playing guitar at age six and singing at age nine. Despite being raised in a Christian home, he was not openly Christian until some time before he began his musical career. He is also the winner of four Dove awards, including Hard Music Album of the Year at the 24th GMA Dove Awards in 1993, for his album Tamplin. In 2001 Tamplin produced the album Make Me Your Voice, featuring gospel singer Andrae Crouch, to help raise funds for Christian groups working in Sudan. Tamplin is married with two children. He is cousin to former Van Halen frontman, Sammy Hagar. with a rich four-octave range, he’s been called a “singer’s singer,” and his luminous songwriting and production abilities have led to film scores and source music for feature films like “Perfect Storm” and “Inspector Gadget,” as well as numerous television series such as “Melrose Place,” “90210,” “The X-Files,” and “Baywatch.”
7 | Dann Huff
Huff began his career as part of the original Christian rock band White Heart in which he played with his brother David Huff, and later in the melodic Hard Rock band Giant. He has since then been active as a session guitarist and producer in both rock music and country music. In the 1980s Huff has played guitar on albums for Michael Jackson,Scritti Politti, Whitesnake, Roger Hodgson, Steven Curtis Chapman, Doro Pesch, George Benson, Whitney Houston's debut album Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers and more. Since the 1990s Huff has been working as a producer for various bands and artists some of which include Faith Hill, Megadeth, Rebecca St. James andRascal Flatts.
6 | Lincoln Brewster
Brewster has been musically inclined since his early childhood in Homer, Alaska. At the age of one, his mother, Cheryl, noticed how well he could keep rhythm on a drum set his grandfather had given him. At the age of five, his mother introduced him to the mandolin. Quickly mastering the instrument, he began playing for cruise ship tourists alongside his mother in Homer. By the age of 12, Brewster had a band called Lincoln and the Missing Links, which included his mother on bass and vocals. In his late teens, he moved with his family to Modesto, California, where he attended Grace M. Davis High School and joined the high school jazz band (playing guitar and drums) and marching band (playing snare drum). After receiving a call from Steve Perry inviting him to audition as lead guitarist for his solo project For the Love of Strange Medicine, Brewster accepted and began songwriting and rehearsals for the album. Brewster's guitar technique, tone, and equipment choices possessed similar qualities and texturing to Journey's Neal Schon, and was touted as a favorable feature in the resulting album. He was then married to Laura and soon after toured with Perry for six months from 1994 to early 1995. He also spent some time on the road, touring with Michael W. Smith during Smith's 1998 Live the Life tour. Brewster primarily uses two different 57 reissue Fender Stratocasters with DiMarzio pickups, one with Ash body on an Aztec Gold finish, the other on a three-color sunburst finish with an Alder body, both with maple fingerboards and necks. He has other Stratocasters as well as a few Gibson Les Pauls and an SG and other different guitars. According to his Twitter account, a signature model of his Aztec Gold stratocaster is in the works. Brewster also achieves his live tone solely from a Line 6 POD HD500 unit. He occasionally uses a provided amp for stage noise only and goes direct to the PA system with the floor POD.
5 | Chris Impelliteri
Chris Impellitteri (born September 25, 1964) is the lead guitarist and founder of the heavy metal band Impellitteri. In 2008 Guitarworld Magazine officially named Chris Impellitteri as one of the Fastest Guitarists of all time. Included in the ranking were Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, and Yngwie Malmsteen. In (2003), Guitar One Magazine voted Chris Impellitteri the 2nd fastest guitar shredder of all time followed by Yngwie Malmsteen as the 3rd fastest shredder. Chris Impellitteri is one of the most unique, intense, and dynamic guitarists in heavy rock today. His influences range from Al Dimeola to Uli John Roth to Edward Van Halen. Chris has been releasing some of the best progressive, neo-classical guitar work around since the mid-'80's, inspiring countless musicians. Chris Impellitteri is known world-wide as one of the fastest and most versatile guitarists anywhere.
4 | Kerry Livgren
He was drawn to music at a young age, his first musical interests developed with classical and jazz influences. His musical odyssey started with an electric guitar he built using a cheap Stella guitar, a Sears amplifier and a low-quality Astatic microphone. Along with learning guitar, Livgren also focused on learning to write songs due to his desire for more creative expression and originality. Livgren was a member of numerous bands in the late 1960s and early 1970s and quickly developed a reputation for complex compositions and poetic lyrics that explored spiritual themes. His investigations into various religions are reflected in the lyrics of his songs on Kansas' first six albums. He explored themes such as reincarnation, astral travel, apparitions, nihilism and human frailty, among others. In early 1979, Livgren became interested in The Urantia Book, a series of papers that claim to be a revelation authored by supernatural beings. Its influence can be felt in the lyrics of Kansas' 1979 album Monolith. Livgren subsequently rejected Urantia doctrine, and while on tour with the band in support of Monolith, he converted to Christianity. This was a result of a series of debates in the back of the tour bus with Jeff Pollard of Louisiana's Le Roux, the opening act for Kansas during the tour. The discussions between Livgren and Pollard concerned whether the Bible or the Urantia Book was the accurate record of the life of Jesus Christ. Because of the debates, Livgren became convinced that the Bible was the genuine record of Christ and that he had been mistaken in following the teachings of the Urantia Book. After a private hotel room conversion experience, he became an evangelical Christian. In 1980, Livgren released his first solo album, Seeds of Change. The album features several members of Kansas, along with Ambrosia singer David Pack and noted heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio, who sang on the tracks "To Live For The King" and "Mask Of The Great Deceiver." Dio, who was between stints as singer for Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow and Black Sabbath, later proved somewhat controversial among Livgren's evangelical Christian fans, as Black Sabbath and Dio were then perceived as "satanic" by many Christians. Dio said in an interview that he did not consider the album to be a "Christian" album and had performed on it as a favor to Livgren. After Dio left Black Sabbath in 1983, he said in a summer 1983 interview in Hit Parader magazine that he had considered working with Livgren again. Livgren recorded three more albums with Kansas. However, tension was growing among the band members as a result of the increasingly Christian perspective of his lyrics; he was increasingly dissatisfied with the band's musical direction (at least in part due to his newfound faith); and Steinhart left the band. This led to Livgren's exit from Kansas in 1983. in 1983, after his departure from Kansas, Livgren recorded his second self-produced album for CBS, Time Line with Hope, Warren Ham, Michael Gleason and drummer Dennis Holt. By the end of the recording sessions, the session musicians had jelled, and he decided to name the group AD. Due to legal entanglements caused by his contractual obligations with Kansas, Livgren was unable to market AD in the mainstream secular market. After negotiating with the record label, he received a waiver to perform with AD in the Christian rock market. Unfortunately, this would become a hindrance to commercial viability for the band. AD toured extensively between 1983 and 1986, sometimes playing bars and clubs one night and then churches the next. Livgren has stated on several occasions that he experienced some of the highest and lowest points in his career during his time with AD. Livgren mentions in his book Seeds of Change: The Spiritual Quest of Kerry Livgren that his time playing live with AD was his best as a guitarist. In 1989, Livgren released his first all-instrumental album, One of Several Possible Musiks. He played all instruments on the album, which combines orchestral, jazz and rock styles. This effort won Livgren his first Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year. Livgren also currently teaches an adult Sunday School class at Topeka Bible Church and has posted a theological study on his Web site. Livgren's keyboard and guitar playing can be heard on the 2nd Chapter of Acts albums Rejoice (1981), Singer Sower (1983) and Night Light (1985). He also plays on the Robin Crow album Electric Cinema (1992) and contributes a guitar solo to "Long Story," a song on Neal Morse's album Testimony (2003).
3 | Tonny Palacios
Tony Palacios is the guitarist Guardian since 1986. In 1998, Palacios published his first guitar instrumental solo album titled "Epic Tales of Whoa!" Cadence Records. He is currently working as a sound mixer, engineer and producer of various Christian artists.
2 | Rex Carroll
Rex Carroll is a awesome guitarist and known for his work in Whitecross. Rex Carroll is also the leader and guitarist of other bands including Fierce Heart, King James and The Rex Carroll Band. He also filled in and did all the guitar work on Eden's 1994 album Fan The Flame. In Whitecross, he is not only the lead guitarist, but is also the primary songwriter. With Whitecross, he has completed six world tours. Carroll has recorded numerous sound libraries, many of which have been picked up for use by ESPN for their NFL highlights, as well as Season One of the Anna Nicole Smith Show. His playing has been heard on commercials for the Milwaukee Bucks, and he also performed the National Anthem at the Harley-Davidson 100th anniversary celebration. In June 2004, he placed third in the North American Rock Guitar Competition sponsored by Guitar Player magazine and WNED/New York. Carroll holds a Bachelors degree in classical guitar performance from Northern Illinois University.
1 | Phil Keaggy
Philip Tyler "Phil" Keaggy (born March 23, 1951) is an acoustic and electric guitarist and singer who has released more than 50 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets. He is a seven-time recipient of the GMA Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year, and was twice nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album. He has frequently been listed as one of the world's top-three "finger-style", as well as "finger-picking", guitarists by Guitar Player Magazine readers' polls. He is missing half of the middle finger on his right hand due to a childhood accident at age four involving a water pump. Initially, it was not the guitar that attracted Keaggy to playing music. Keaggy explains: I asked my dad for a set of drums for my tenth birthday but he came home with a Sears Silvertone guitar...I had wanted a set of drums, but my folks couldn't afford them, so I got the guitar. I didn't know how to tune the guitar;. as it was when it came, that's how I thought it was supposed to be...So for about nine months I learned funny little melodies with my guitar tuned out. Finally, my brother Dave said "Here, let me show you how to tune this thing properly." I said, "Well, O.K., but I gotta learn all over again." I was disappointed...My oldest brother Dave, showed me some chords...But if I were to pinpoint one turning point...when I was in sixth or seventh grade, I met a man named Nick who worked an electronics store in California, where my family lived for awhile. One day, Nick took me to a music store loaded with all these great guitars the British groups were using and he asked me "Which one is your favorite?" I pointed out a 1962 Stratocaster and he bought it for me. He got me my first professional gig at Artesia Hall—just me and my guitar and amp...I paid him back by sweeping driveways and working in the electronics store. I had that guitar for quite a while and put a lot of time and effort into playing it.
In 2008, Keaggy received the Gold Level Award as the "Best Spiritual / Worship Guitarist", as voted by readers of Acoustic Guitar Magazine, as well as appearing in the form of vocals and lead guitar on the Richard Cummins CD, Moments, which was nominated for "Best Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year" by the Canadian GMA's, Covenant award.In 2008, Keaggy received the Gold Level Award as the "Best Spiritual / Worship Guitarist", as voted by readers of Acoustic Guitar Magazine, as well as appearing in the form of vocals and lead guitar on the Richard Cummins CD, Moments, which was nominated for "Best Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year" by the Canadian GMA's, Covenant award. For decades, rumors have circulated which attribute comments regarding Phil Keaggy to a host of guitar icons. The most common rumored statements are attributed to Jimi Hendrix. On March 19, 1970, an advertisement appeared in the Mansfield News Journal for an Iron Butterfly Concert at Ashland College the following evening, with Glass Harp listed as the opening band (erroneously printed as "The Grass Harp"). Underneath "The Grass Harp", a caption read "They Jam with Jimi Hendrix". Glass Harp had not in fact appeared anywhere with Jimi Hendrix (they were at that time still a local band to Northeast Ohio with little or no following nationally). It is unknown whether or not the promoter or Glass Harp's then-management directed that the statement be placed in the advertisement, but it is believed to be the first instance of any rumor regarding Hendrix in relation to Keaggy/Glass Harp In a February 5, 1971 feature on Glass Harp in Cleveland's The Plain Dealer, the paper's rock music critic Jane Scott cited unnamed "record people" who told a story of Hendrix saying (in 1970) "That guy (Phil Keaggy) is the upcoming guitar player in the Midwest". With no sources ever named, and Jane Scott's death in 2011, the accuracy of the article is virtually impossible to verify.
In later years, rumors escalated into stories of Hendrix appearing on various television programs where he mentioned Phil Keaggy. A common variation says that during an episode of The Tonight Show, Johnny Carson asked Hendrix, "Who is the best guitarist in the world?" Hendrix is said to have answered, "Phil Keaggy." This has since been proven to be untrue, as evidenced by the available audio from Hendrix's (only) appearance on The Tonight Show on July 10, 1969 with guest host Flip Wilson. No mention of Keaggy or Glass Harp is made.Another version of the story has Hendrix being asked, "Jimi, how does it feel to be the world's greatest guitar player?" To which Hendrix supposedly replied, "I don't know, you'll have to ask Phil Keaggy!" This account is sometimes attributed to a magazine interview in either Rolling Stone or Guitar Player. Occasionally the story has the setting for the question being a Hendrix appearance on the Dick Cavett Show, which is also untrue, as the clip from the show in question (in 1969) contains no mention of any other guitar players. Other examples have the question being posed to Eric Clapton.
A more recent variant has Eddie Van Halen being asked the question by either David Letterman or Barbara Walters. Keaggy has long insisted that such stories are completely unfounded, noting that "it was impossible that Jimi Hendrix could ever have heard me...We...recorded our first album at Electric Lady Studios two weeks after his unfortunate death, so I just can’t imagine how he could’ve heard me. I think it’s just a rumor that someone’s kept alive, and it must be titillating enough to keep an interest there...So I don’t think it was said…and that’s it for that!" Keaggy's recollection of the time frame during which Glass Harp's first album was recorded differs slightly from Glass Harp's officially-published history (which have the recording sessions ending on September 17, 1970, just hours before Hendrix's early-morning death in London, and not two weeks after). In a July 2010 interview, Glass Harp bassist Daniel Pecchio commented on the ongoing Hendrix rumors saying "It’s a true urban legend. I still have people coming up to me claiming to have a Dick Cavett Show tape where Hendrix says that. We never pushed that rumor, you know, but it didn’t hurt us."
88 comments:
muy bueno aunque Jimmy P. Brown II tendrÃa que haber estado entre los primeros
ReplyDeleteWill Mcfarlane belongs in the top 10!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat about Pete Orta formally with Petra?
ReplyDeleteWhat? no one from Sacred Warrior?
ReplyDeleteAgree with the top 2.
Bruce Swift # 41
DeleteEnjoyed reading this. You definitely got #1 right. I would've ranked Will McFarlane and Larry Howard much higher. And no Bob Bennett? Still, an impressive undertaking. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBrian Wooten should have been much higher, & there were things here like Oz Fox not being in the top 5 or ten, that really show it's a "voted on" thing, (favorites to fans), and not a real music pro or "guitar legend" himself, doing this. Not too bad as far as "who" made it. The order is WAY OFF however.
ReplyDeletefun to read...can't agree they are all ROCK...but who cares!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Will McFarlane should have been in the top ten.
ReplyDeleteSome are not rock and some are not Christian. Strange list
ReplyDeleteHow in God's name is Rick Elias not on this list???
ReplyDeleteAnd since his Salvation two years before his death, Stevie Ray Vaughan should be on here as well...at number 1
ReplyDeleteMany of us agree with you Craig. Stevie Ray Vaughan, the respect he had for his "elders" in the Blues genre, would be in total agreement that the great Phil Keaggy is #1.
DeleteA lot of good guitarist and guitars those pictures. Might have to do a top 200 list to get more musicians recognized.
ReplyDeleteWhere is Ole Børud!? :O
ReplyDeleteMichael Sweet? Really? And ranked higher than TY TABOR????? Puh-leeze!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Ty Tabor is an AMAZING player, writer, producer, vocalist. Should be in the top three, IMO, not just for his playing ability and style, but for his great ear for such amazing TONE.
DeleteShould be Keaggy, then between Livgren and Tabor for 2nd and 3rd.
Where is Paul Bielatowicz? And I think The Edge is really an average player
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for mentioning Paul! :-)
DeleteHow about Jeff Ceba?
ReplyDeleteSeconding someone else's comment, no Scott Dente?!
ReplyDeleteUmmm... Tony MacAlpine???
ReplyDeleteNo 46 - Justin Cox? Well I like him, but the pic shows Glenn, Fireflight's second guitarist (like you too Glenn!).
ReplyDeleteWhat abut Blindside's guitarplayer? Not mentioned but heaps of People from the 80ies....
WHAT ABOUT SETH MORRISON OF SKILLET?????? HE SHOULD BE #1 ON THIS LIST!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIf the Edge is going to be on this list, you should put Stevie Ray Vaughan as #1. He was a Christian before and after sobriety and credited God for his sobriety. Glad to see my other guitar hero made #2. Rex Carroll is truly amazing!
ReplyDeleteJust a minute here... Dave Mustaine.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Dave Mustaine has been more outspoken than the Edge about his faith. Dave would eat most players on this list.
DeleteWhere is Paul Bielatowicz?? Very strange list.. Not even a description about why the artist is technically that specific number on the list...
ReplyDeletePhil at number 1 is great as he is a great guitarist, however he was never known as a ROCK guitarist. And are you kidding me, OZ Fox who is still on tour with Stryper today is not even close to the top ten?
ReplyDeleteWhen I first heard Phil in Glass Harp he was definitely a rock guy. I still hear those roots in his later purely Christian stuff. He is an amazing modal player but he falls back to his minor pentatonic roots on many of his songs. The "rock" genre has many facets and Phil Keaggy without a doubt fits in it.
DeleteMy many thanks to the voters first of all. There are so many great guitarists not just here in Nashville, but all over the world, who are not mentioned that should be up there in the high rankings. Polls and award shows make me nervous at times because truly gifted and hard working artists and guitarists often get overlooked. But I am humbled to even be on this list, and deeply appreciate your acknowledgement of my work over the years.
ReplyDeleteMy fellow guitarists, please keep giving us the blessings of your musical gifts and never give up that gift and ability based upon opinion, popularity or polls.
Thanks and Blessings to you this special season,
Phil Keaggy
What a class act, my friend. Thanks for being such a blessing in my life. And for being such a humble, spirit-filled inspiration to me (and so many) through your music. "Let Everything Else Go."
DeleteThank you for making the choices you made Phil.
DeleteIts not a problem for me not to be on this list, it is he that is in me that makes me great, my talents are a gift from God and to accept any notoriety for the gift would deiminish God work in my life.
ReplyDeleteKeaggy makes sense. It's too bad they left out Jason Martin from Starflyer 59. He is one of my favorite guitarists of all time and seriously, the guitar is memorizing.
ReplyDeletePhil is the correct choice for #1. His clarity, precision, and notes per beat supersede most guitarist. He is a one man guitar band, utilizing alternate tuning, and again, he does all this on an acounstice, much harder to play zippy scales than electric. He is unreal in an concert and blows away many advanced guitarists.
ReplyDeleteEric Turner #99? Get REAL! Eric belongs in the TOP 10! Some of the people in the top 50 couldn't tune Eric's guitars or tote his cases!
ReplyDeleteNice list. Missed Ben Kasica and Seth Morrison from Skillet. REALLY missed on not including Bob Bennett. Very happy to see David Zaffiro as high as he is.
ReplyDeleteMMMhhhmmm... this list is shit.
ReplyDeleteWhere's Jerry Swallow? Anthony Dean Eisenbarger? Like Eric Turner they could rock with anybody Christian or secular and they have!
ReplyDeleteAlso missed Peter York from A Band Called David.
ReplyDeleteNo Bob Bennett? Not all the guitarists were rock so why no Bob? Or Keith Cooper or Doyle Dykes?
ReplyDeleteWhere is Doyle Dykes on this list? He's a Top-5er on my list!
ReplyDeleteWe all have our favorites and Phil is right there at number one. The guitarist I am surprised at being left out is Caleb Quaye. He was described by Eric Clapton (on the David Letterman show) as the greatest living rock guitarist. Thanks for running this list.
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding John Michael Talbot at #70 . Wow, should be in top 3.
ReplyDeleteNot even close yo
DeleteSRV
ReplyDeleteNorman Barratt is a major omission and should definitely be on the list.
ReplyDeletePersonally I'd put Glenn Kaiser higher.
How is Larry Boushey not on this list?! You know the awesome guitarist from Eleventh Hour! He should be somewhere between Lincoln Brewster and Bob Hartman! :) Flow Living Word!
ReplyDeleteJon Foreman?
ReplyDeletePhil is and may always be number one. I have 40+ of his albums and cannot get enough of this talent. But it is too bad that greats like James Hollihan (Russ Taff's lead guitarist) and Wayne Kirkpatrick (who produced, wrote, and played on so many great Christian Albums) are not to be found. Yes, Bob Bennett too. And what of the great Christian Music Pioneer Paul Clark... or... the late,great, Mark Heard? I'm sure that those who are in the know remember him.
ReplyDeleteJason Truby should be much higher on the list. Ryan Leitru from For Today should be on this list. Also Jonny Lang? Andrew D. Prickett from The Prayer Chain? Phil Keaggy and Rex Carroll are right where they should be.
ReplyDeleteI also forgot about Dave Beegle of Fourth Estate, that guy is ridiculous.
DeleteWe know Eric Clapton is also a born again Christian. He was obviously mentioned as an influence by many. The Edge (with Bono) walk the walk as Christians, maybe not perfectly. Dave Mustaine has been very open about his conversion. Also Johnny Lange. All are gifted, #1 is absolute. Phil would remind everyone #1 is Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteLook up Shawn Tubbs. He played in the band The Violet Burning. Listen to the album Strength and tell me he doesn't belong on this list. He's UBER talented which is probably why he moved to Nashville and is Carrie Underwood's main guitarists.
ReplyDeleteHow about Dennis Agajanian and Don Potter?
ReplyDeleteAny list so heavy with metal shredders that leaves off Dave Perkins and James Hollihan is pretty silly.
ReplyDeleteAnd Tommy Emmanuel?
ReplyDeleteYes Tommy Emmanuel should be right up there, as should Christopher Parkening. Also Annti from HB. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I must not forget Dave Bainbridge Legendary guitarist for Iona
ReplyDeleteMike Knott ,Mike Stand & Gym Nicholson is Christian Rock. The Rock the builder rejected
ReplyDeleteWhat about Bruce Cockburn?
ReplyDeleteThat is what I was wondering! Bruce shoud be way up there!
DeleteAnd ya know, Tim Hawkins is pretty good. Start at the 7:10 mark
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2JzBJtWpWs
Adson Sodre
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNAPr27ijnU
David Wallimann
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7BMr2axuOY
not cause they are all rock guitarists, but cause they are awesome Christian guitarists.
ReplyDeleteGreg Jones (Collaboration Element) start at 2:15
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhJWF4Rn2Ws
Demi Barbito
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZUy26zREbU
Joel Bechtel
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkoaB-IeF6Y
Kevin Pike
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbXNK0zcl38
Randy Rico
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xrUwSE8VyI
Slav Simanic
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAGSUF7LH0k
Danny Masters
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syXl2VHulYI
Val Allen Wood should definitely be in the top 10. The kid could have outplayed most of these guys back when he joined Theocracy and was only 19...smh
ReplyDeleteagreed!!!!
DeleteVal Allen Wood in the top 10 no doubt!!! Very inaccurate! The dude outplays these guys by a million!! Oz Fox and Ty Tabor need to be waaay higher as well!
ReplyDeleteVal Allen Wood and Oz Fox need to be right next to Chris Impelliteri!!! The dudes shred better than most of the guys on the list!!
ReplyDeleteJust listen to the "As The World Bleeds" album by Theocracy. Then, go back and edit this list!!! ;)
ReplyDeletePhil Keaggy is the best.
ReplyDeleteWhich part of the following are people not understanding:
ReplyDelete"We managed make a list of the top 100 guitarists Christian rock of all time, the work was performed through the survey, and through reviews by members of classic bands, online radios, and editors from Christian magazines. As well as the intelligent comments from some of our fans on Facebook"
Why is Larry Carlton not on the list ???
ReplyDeleteI think that there should be listed Matt Harding from Apostle.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Matt_Harding/20144
Of course no mention of Steve Olsen who taught Zaffiro and used to have Larry Farkas standing in front of him at gigs watching everything. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stevie-And-The-Saints/134922009989136
ReplyDeleteWhat about Patrick Judge?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWHERE is Orianthi???????????
ReplyDeleteTy Tabor should be higher, since you're counting secular/spiritual bands. Listen.
ReplyDeleteAlso no Rex Paul Schnelle? here he is WITH Phil Keaggy making Phil shake his head - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRyYBuuqI0A
I only discovered him recently but Christian Rock website should know about him. besides he has actual Christian songs which should count for something on a Christian guitarist list...