50 GLOBAL GUITAR GREATS.

This article highlights fifty influential guitarists from around the world who have shaped diverse musical traditions beyond mainstream rock, including soukous, bossa nova, flamenco, desert blues, and reggae. It profiles key figures such as Franco Luambo, the “Grand Maître of Zairean Music” who pioneered soukous; Django Reinhardt, a foundational Gypsy jazz innovator; Ali Farka Touré, who fused Malian traditions with American blues; and Ry Cooder, noted for his versatile career spanning American roots and global collaborations. The article also features artists like Maybelle Carter, inventor of the “Carter Scratch” in American folk, and contemporary musicians such as Bombino and Rokia Traoré, who blend traditional and modern styles. Together, these guitarists represent a rich tapestry of cultural expression and technical innovation across continents and genres.