artists who most deeply touch you

Without a doubt, my first selection would have to be James Taylor.
Followed closely by Santana; Led Zeppelin; The Who; The Rolling Stones; The Byrds; Buffalo Springfield; Neil Young; Crosby, Stills and Nash (and Young); Jackson Browne; Bob Dylan; Joni Mitchell; Emmy Lou Harris; Linda Ronstadt; The Eagles; George Harrison; John Lennon; The Jefferson Airplane(but not the Starship); Hot Tuna; Jethro Tull; The Doors; Jimi Hendrix; Johnny Winter; Steppenwolf; Eric Clapton; Cream; Early ZZ Top; Warren Zevon; The Allman Brothers; Warren Haynes and Government Mule; Lynard Skynard; Bad Company; Pure Prairie League, Jerry Garcia; The Grateful Dead; Little Feat (old and new); Lowell George; Steely Dan; Donald Fagen; Dan Fogelberg; Spooky Tooth; AC/DC; Metallica; Tool; Jerry Cantrell;
Keb Mo; Dave Matthews; Natalie Merchant;
Weather Report; Spyro Gyra; Chick Corea and Return to Forever; The Yellowjackets; Fourplay; The Rippingtons and Russ Freeman and Craig Chaquico; Steve Morse; Stevie Ray Vaughn; Buddy Guy; Albert Collins;
Nightnoise and anything off the Wyndham Hill recording label;
These are just a few artists out of my thousands of lps and cds that have had a lasting effect, and are generally in heavy rotation.

Led Zepplin is in my DNA............

Pat Metheny playing In To The Dream on the 42 string Pakasso Guitar

I'm surprised I'm the first to mention Van Morrison in this thread. I currently have "No guru, no method, no teacher" in heavy rotation.

Van Morrison-INto the Mystic
Martin Sexton Black Sheep (Oh BAby)
Dave Matthews esp their DVD soundtrack
Grateful Dead esp Dicks Picks
Gabriel
BECK -like Seachange and Mutations
Radiohead OK Computer Kid A
Pink Floyd (Early, Wish you were here and back)
David Gray
FSOL Future Sound of London
Miles Kind of Blue, Tutu, etc.
Joni Mitchell
Pat Metheny
Bjork