Most Influential American Musician of All Time?

Dunno about all time...but how many rock guitarists (conciously or not) haven't absorbed Jimi Hendrix.

Thelonious Monk may not be a household commodity but he added alot of vocabulary and his influence on some of todays great players runs deep.

I hear Brian Wilson/Beach Boys in much of today's music.

Bill.....point taken about Elvis. I still think that even though he wasn't a great songwriter or actor, that he was very influential to modern day rock 'n' roll. Of course, as my wife always tells me, I'm probably wrong . :-)

One more name to throw into the mix, yes, I've long been a fan of Robert Johnson as the father of the US blues, however, I do believe tha Muddy Waters definitely has a well deserved place on this list. I feel that as many will say that Muddy inspired them as they will say of RJ. It may be a generational thing, but after listening to Muddy Waters on this rainy afternoon, I do feel that he deserves recognition.

Cheers,
John

Grant, you responded too quickly, I didn't have time to re-address my previous post. After thinking about it, yes, Muddy was stunning, but Robert Johnson was definitely the father of the blues. I would compare the Muddy Waters- Robert Johnson relationship to that of John Coltrane-Miles Davis. Yes, Coltrane and Waters are fabulous (to put it mildly), but I think I do have to give Robert Johnson and Miles Davis full credit as being the influences that inspired Muddy Waters and John Coltrane.
Therefore, I do believe that RJ and MD are the originators (even though Coltrane and Waters are fabulous).

Sorry to contridict myself, but that is how I feel at this moment.

Cheers,
John

PS: Makes you wonder if you went back another 50-100 years, who would be the most influential musicians.... the ones that influenced Robert Johnson and Miles Davis. You know there had to be someone........