Most important to who exactly?
I would say that many younger people are rediscovering the classic acts that influenced the generations above them these days. Of course song writers have more staying power than strictly virtuoso players so I'll throw in a few.. Jim Croce (Maury Muehleisen), Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, etc.
During the last few years the boom in Americana bands has really helped and resulted in a few hits. Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, Houndmouth, Leon Bridges, The Devil Makes Three, and many others are definitely influencing players..
I think that with the culture as it is today people are finding as much influence from the classics as they do from modern music. Someone my age or older may be bored out of their mind to hear some of the old staples because you've heard it so much before, but when the kids hear someone like Woody Guthrie for the first time, it really can make quite the impression and I wouldn't be quick to dismiss the older folks because of it.
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