Stevie Ray- his peers dug him! So did I. He was on the bill with the IMMORTAL (though not dead) Eric Clapton when he died.
Hendrix- a pioneer!
John Lee Hooker and just about any of the Chicago-Mississippi Bluesmen. All Those dudes laid the groundwork for ROCK AND ROLL!
Les Paul- Chet Atkins- excellent players. So was Bill Monroe.
Patsy Cline- timeless- really one of the first "crossover" sucesses from country to top 40
Jimmie Rodgers "The Singing Brakeman"- first country legend
Hank Williams Sr- The Country Legend
Irving Berlin---- all of those great movie songs from those old 40's films. Writers count too.
Sinatra- yes, but what about Dean Martin, the guy could sing!
Mel Torme- kinda different- one of a kind.
Who ever wrote those classic Kingdom Songs,77,103,5,9, and 45----If he's not dead at least , please, take up another line of work.