Because of musicians like the ones below, the instrument of choice for aspiring musical stars went from tenor sax to guitar in a single bound. Here are the heat seeking missiles of the first assault.
Pioneers of the blues and R&B guitar that eventually inspired rock and rollers are collected together on a pair of anthologies. Let the good times roll
Johnny Guitar Watson (1935-1996) had a career and T-Bone Walker styled guitar that was the rage of the early rock and soul days. This 29 song collection includes includes his big hits “Gangster of Love” and the famous instrumental “Space Guitar” that spawned a wake of copycats. He teams up with fellow six stringer on the hard hitting “Broke and Lonely and 
“You Better Love” as well, with the joint jumping with Watson singing and hitting the ivories on “Highway 60”. Hep to the jive!
Chuck Norris (1921-89) from KC, but got his sound when he moved to Chicago, being the guitarist for artists ranging from bluesers like Charles Brown (“Let’s Have A Ball” to the boogieing pianist Amos Milburn (“Operation Blues”). His tone and style shows a debt to Charlie Christian with some clean lines with Oscar Pettiford on “Don’t Drive This Jive Away” while digging in with Buddy Collette on “Blue Strings” and hitting eight to the bar with Lionel Hampton for “Helpless”. Clean lines like Oscar Moor come up on Dinah Washington’s “Fat Daddy” and Red Callender’s “Early Times”. How did I miss this guy before?
Playing guitar and singing the blues, Lafayette Jeri Thomas (1928-77) came from Louisiana to California, supporting artists that range from pianist Memphis Slim (“Don’t You Think You’re So Smart” and Little Brother Montgomery (“Tasty Blues”. Both his guitar tone and voice is blue collar workmanlike, blues rocking on his own “Weekly Blues” The Thing” and “Cockroach Run”. He’s spotlighted on his solos with James Reed on “You Better Hold Me” and Jimmy Wilson’s “Strangest Blues” working up a seat on “West Side Trio’s “West Side Jump/Boogie Boy Boogie”. An axe to grind!