Pulling from deep roots, southern rock incorporates elements of country, blues, and rock and roll.  The music has a focus on vocals and electric guitar, and has been the breeding ground for many great guitarists.  We have pulled together a list of the top five greatest guitar players of southern rock.  We will now count them down.

5. Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) – Billy Gibbons was born in Texas and grew up in a home with a father that played piano and was an orchestra conductor.  Around age 13 he received his first guitar, a Gibson Melody Maker, and by age 14 he had started his first band.  His musical influences included Jimmy Reed.  Early bands that he was a part of drew inspiration from psychedelic rock greats like Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane.  The formation of ZZ Top resulted in a pairing of the psychedelic rock influences with blues rock.  Gibbons has a masterful way of combining rock and blues in catchy guitar riffs.  He has played various guitars throughout his career including, a Gibson Explorer, a Gretsch Jupiter Thunderbird, and his famous Gibson Les Paul “Pearly Gates.”  To hear Gibbons rock it out, listen to ZZ Top’s “La Grange.”

4. Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd) – A native of Florida, Gary Rossington began dreaming of becoming a star at a young age.  He first began by playing drums, but soon turned to the guitar.  He was a founding member of the The Noble Five that eventually became Lynyrd Skynyrd.  Early musical influences on Rossington were Elvis Presley and The Beatles.  Through the years he has played both a Gibson SG and Gibson Les Paul.  After the fateful plane crash that injured him, Rossington formed The Rossington-Collins Band and later The Rossington Band.  He is now the only original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd that still plays with the band. To hear Rossington’s soulful playing, listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Tuesday’s Gone.”

3. Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd) – Another Florida born musician, Allen Collins was raised by a single, working mother.  Collins first began playing guitar at age 11 when he borrowed a friend’s.  Soon later, his mother bought him his own guitar and he taught himself how to play.  Collins joined Rossington and others in the The Noble Five.  In Lynyrd Skynyrd he mainly played lead guitar, and after the plane crash he joined Rossington in The Rossington-Collins Band, and later in his own project The Allen Collins Band.  Collins played a Gibson Firebird, Gibson Explorer, and a Fender Stratocaster during his career.  His legendary mark on music can be heard when listening to him tear it up in Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Freebird.”

2. Toy Caldwell (The Marshall Tucker Band) – Born in South Carolina, Toy Caldwell began playing guitar at a young age with his younger brother.  While most musicians play the electric guitar with a pick, Toy developed his playing style using his thumb instead.  He served in the military during Vietnam before he became a star.  Toy, alongside his brother Tommy and other bandmates, created The Marshall Tucker Band in 1972.  Music genres that influenced the band include jazz, rock, rhythm and blues, country and gospel.  The specific guitar player that influenced Caldwell was Chet Atkins.  In addition to being the band’s lead guitarist for many years, Caldwell also was the primary songwriter.  Hear Caldwell play his Gibson Les Paul in The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See.”

1. Duane Allman (Allman Brothers) – Duane Allman was born in Tennessee, and began playing guitar on a Gibson Les Paul Junior.  Inspiration came to him by way of rhythm and blues concert featuring B.B.King.  By 1969, Duane and his brother Gregg formed The Allman Brothers Band.  They incorporated jazz, blues, and country elements into their style.  Even with his untimely death, Duane is often high on the list of great guitarist rankings for his contributions to the industry.  In addition to playing with The Allman Brothers Band, he also played with Eric Clapton in Derek and The Dominos.  His slide guitar work along side Clapton in the song “Layla” is named among the top guitar solos of all time. Duane played a Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG, and a Fender Stratocaster.  To hear a master at work, listen to The Allman Brothers Band’s “Blue Sky.”

Due to their impact on southern rock, these great guitarists rocked their way into our top five.  Who would you choose to top your list?  Let us know, we’d love to hear your picks.

Keep Rockin’!!!