Son Seals

Maybe he learned a few things about the guitar from playing drums behind blues great Albert King in the '60s, but by the time Seals grabbed an axe in the early '70s, he could tear apart a set, leaving strings and audience in his messy wake. As a singer, Seals fills a song with grit and deep soul, but his finger work has earned him his reputation. His playing is extremely raw, filled with a stinging energy. There's nothing pristine about the way Seals plays -- though he can dig into a fast-picked crescendo with ease, his music is all about direct emotionality, and his feelings come straight through his guitar.