For me, there are two ways of looking at this. Those who influenced my playing and the sheer pleasure of listening and thinking "how in the **** does he do that"? Finding that middle ground is the tough part. Add to that, it is a disappearing art form that appeals to very few as far as the discipline of learning to play.... At one time, Duane was the man.....

1) No doubt, Derek Trucks
2) David Lindley
3) Duane Allman
4) Ry Cooder
5) Robert Johnson

No particular order for 5 of my favorites
Derek. His playing really moves me
Duane
Sonny Landreth
Mick Taylor
Johnny Winter
There are more but I'll leave it at five

Sonny Landreth

#6

When it comes to lists, I consider my favorite rather than "the best" since, as Dickey Betts says, playing music isn't a contact sport. My favorite slide players:

Duane Allman
Derek Trucks
Jack Pearson
Elmore James
Son House

Honorable mention: Furry Lewis, Dickey Betts, Jesse Ed Davis

I know a lot of people dig him, but I never really "got" Sonny Landreth. He always struck me as slide Eric Johnson or Joe Satriani type.

For me, it's Derek and Duane at the very top, then everybody else

Agree, Sonny Landreth is talented but doens't knock me out.

2 names not yet mentioned:
Jerry Wexler
Blind Willie Johnson

No particular order...

Duane Allman
Elmore James
Sonny Landreth
Bukka White
Blind Willie Johnson

This one is tough...

Duane Allman
Derek Trucks
Elmore James

would be my top 3, but beyond that there is a drop to

Warren Haynes
Johnny Winter
Ry Cooder
Blind Willie Johnson

As far as Sonny Landreth goes... I think he's a great player, but I could never get into his vocals or his songwriting. I love him with John Hiatt & The Goners though.

thats an easy one;
Duane Allman
Derek Trucks
Robert Johnson
Warren Haynes
Dickey Betts

I know a lot of people dig him, but I never really "got" Sonny Landreth. He always struck me as slide Eric Johnson or Joe Satriani type.

Well, if this doesn't get you into Sonny Landreth, nothing will…

Can't argue with anybody's posted choices, but I'd like to add George Harrison. Very sweet tone and a clear approach that always places musicality and the song above flash. I love the way he played slide.

Derek and Duane obviously.

Mick Taylor is a beautiful slide player. Love his slide with May all 1982-1983.

Joe Walsh is another great slide tone player. Fatter than fat.

A few of my favorite guitar players have done memorable slide work but are not full-on slide guys, but here goes: Jimmy Page has great lines on What Is and What Should Never Be, When the Levee Breaks, and In My Time. Tommy Bolin hits the note on Boom Ba Boom and Wild Dogs. Ritchie Blackmore does some nice stuff on the Rainbow instrumental with the German name I can't recall as well as Lady of the Lake I think. Steve Hackett conjures up some nice sounds on Fly on a Windshield.

Good call on David Lindley, BigV. I don't know a ton of his stuff (I saw him once with Rayo X at a reggae fest), but his work on the song "Running on Empty" alone should immortalize him. I still get goosebumps.

Here is a one hit wonder slide qualifier: there was an 80s song called "Lunatic Fringe" by a band called Red Ryder that had some really wild, vivid, jumping-out-of-the-speakers slide. Huge sound.

For that matter, add "Sleepwalk" and "One of these Days" to the list.

I know a lot of people dig him, but I never really "got" Sonny Landreth. He always struck me as slide Eric Johnson or Joe Satriani type.

Well, if this doesn't get you into Sonny Landreth, nothing will…

Well, that may be the least mass of notes I've heard from him, and the technique is undeniably impressive. But it's still more noise and technique than is just not my style. I hate to say it isn't soulful, because that is subjective and he digs it, but it is awfully clinical to my ears. But, all the more for others here to enjoy.

I know a lot of people dig him, but I never really "got" Sonny Landreth. He always struck me as slide Eric Johnson or Joe Satriani type.

Well, if this doesn't get you into Sonny Landreth, nothing will…

Sonny w/ John Hiatt & the Goners "Memphis in the Meantime"

[Edited on 3/26/2016 by BIGV]

Good call on David Lindley, BigV. I don't know a ton of his stuff (I saw him once with Rayo X at a reggae fest), but his work on the song "Running on Empty" alone should immortalize him. I still get goosebumps.

"Mercury Blues"...Possibly one of the best Live bands in the 80s..... David Lindley and El Rayo X

Duane Allman
Derek Trucks
Warren Haynes
Luther Dickenson
Bonnie Raitt

All great players have been noted, how about

Rod price-Foghat
Rory Gallagher

did I miss it or has no one yet mentioned Lowell George?

Great choices, but no females? I'll add Bonnie Raitt to the list.

For me, it's Derek and Duane at the very top, then everybody else

Agree, Sonny Landreth is talented but doens't knock me out.

2 names not yet mentioned:
Jerry Wexler
Blind Willie Johnson

Jerry Wexler???

I saw that and thought the very same thing, ....Jerry Douglass from Alison Krauss fame is a Monster...

Duane Allman
Jack Pearson
Derek Trucks
George Harrison
Warren Haynes

I know a lot of people dig him, but I never really "got" Sonny Landreth. He always struck me as slide Eric Johnson or Joe Satriani type.

Have you seen him play live? If not, you NEED to.

For me, it's Derek and Duane at the very top, then everybody else

Agree, Sonny Landreth is talented but doens't knock me out.

2 names not yet mentioned:
Jerry Wexler
Blind Willie Johnson

Jerry Wexler???

I saw that and thought the very same thing, ....Jerry Douglass from Alison Krauss fame is a Monster...

Yes he IS

sorry - I meant Jerry Douglas

I'm not sure what I was thinking. At least I know you guys are reading my posts 😉

Duane Allman
Lowell George
Ry Cooder
Derek Trucks
Elmore James

For me, it's Derek and Duane at the very top, then everybody else

Agree, Sonny Landreth is talented but doens't knock me out.

2 names not yet mentioned:
Jerry Wexler
Blind Willie Johnson

Jerry Wexler???

I saw that and thought the very same thing, ....Jerry Douglass from Alison Krauss fame is a Monster...

Yes he IS

sorry - I meant Jerry Douglas

I'm not sure what I was thinking. At least I know you guys are reading my posts 😉

Wexler was a great motivator though,and always got the best from the performers/musicians.

He also had a great eye for talent.

Some of my favorite photos are the ones from DA Anthology where he's sitting between Duane and Jerry Jemmott (I think at either Fame or Muscle Shoals Studios) directing how he wants them to play. I mean, here's this funny looking (he looked like a monkey to me because of his ears) hipsterish, beatnik Jewish guy from New York clearly berating and admonishing two of the greatest musicians of their time and they are both just watching him with rapt attention, hanging on his every word.

Absolutely classic.

One guy who blew me away live is Dave Hole , plays with his hand over the top of the fretboard not from underneath , only time I have seen that , he was awesome to watch .

I'll throw in a few acoustic players - Leo Kottke, Stefan Grossman and, despite his dying in disgrace, Bob Brozman.

Jimmy McCulloch of Thunderclap Newman, Stone the Crows and Wings was a fine player too.

I know a lot of people dig him, but I never really "got" Sonny Landreth. He always struck me as slide Eric Johnson or Joe Satriani type.

I see why you would think that.... I hear it as well. I'm a big fan because of his playing w/John Hiatt & the Goners...