The music industry is one where influence is far reaching. Whenever an artist makes it big, they always talk about those that came before them who inspired them and helped them to decide that they wanted to be musicians themselves.

Influential musicians can be found wherever you look in the industry, from legends of rock and roll to famous flamenco guitar players. Here are some of those who did most to influence the musical landscape in the 20^th century.

Jimi Hendrix

As far as guitar playing goes, Jimi Hendrix took everything that the world already knew and understood about playing the guitar, then ripped it up and rewrote exactly what it means to play guitar.

There isn’t a guitarist alive today that doesn’t cite Hendrix as one of their main influences, and the fact that his songs are still among the most iconic in the world tells you everything you need to know.

Ramon Montoya

From one style of guitar to another now; Ramon Montoya is one of the most famous flamenco guitar players and undoubtedly the main who did the most to change the genre in the 20^th century. He was followed by his nephew, Carlos Montoya, who would take the work of his uncle and take it even further to become a huge musical influence in his own right.

John Lennon

In truth, we could probably have put any one of The Beatles here, but in terms of influence on a solo level John Lennon is probably just ahead of everyone else, particularly given the fondness with which he is missed and remembered by music lovers all around the world.

Ironically, it probably wasn’t until pre-Beatles that Lennon truly emerged as a remarkable, giant of a man within the music business, but tracks like Imagine and Merry Christmas (War is Over), along with many, many more, inspired generations that followed and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Elvis Presley

If people were asked to name a musical icon of the 20^th century, the chances are that Elvis Presley would be mentioned. He was one of the first to bring what became known as rock and roll and pop music into the mainstream, and could sing in a variety of styles to the degree that musicians from numerous genres from R&B to rock cite Presley as a huge influence on what they do today.

Nearly 40 years on from his death, Presley still sells huge volumes of records every year.