Well, I would have to argue B.B. King since he influenced Buddy Guy who then influenced Jimi Hendrix, Slash, and Jimmy Page (to name a few). Those guitarists are now considered rock icons, so it's safe to say that their influences created the music we know today.
Also, it all started with the blues...so I would say it goes the same way for any other guitarists (jazz, folk, country, modern-day classical, etc.).
That's my 2 cents
