Most Influential American Musician of All Time?

T-Bone Walker was more influential than Muddy Waters. His writing, singing, guitar playing and dancing were a major influence on Muddy, B.B. King and Chuck Berry. Jimi Hendrix wasn't the first to play the guitar behind his head.

That said, my vote goes to Mr. Louis Armstrong. He invented modern popular singing. 2nd place goes to Nat King Cole. Every piano lounge player is channeling Nat. 3rd place - tie between Elvis and Frank S.

If Leo Fender had never been born, Jimi Hendrix would still have been a great guitarist. Like one of his mentors Jimi also played a Flying V.

Genre! We don't need no stinkin' genres!

That's why Miles Davis is in the rock hall of fame. So is Robert Johnson, Hank Williams & Mahalia Jackson.