[muyuu]

Together with Andres Segovia, he's the reason why Spanish (and classic) guitar is not considered merely a pop instrument nowadays.

It may seem strange nowadays because we are living in the musical aftermath of geniuses like these, but guitar wasn't taken seriously until the 20th century. It wasn't in the league of the piano, but rather in the league of the harmonica and the bongos.

[anaphor]

I would also throw in John Williams as a great popularizer of classical guitar (for example check out his renditions of Satie's gymnopedies and such). That's not to say that he is any better or more important.

[muraiki]

To clarify for some who might not be aware of the difference: anaphor is referring to a guitarist named John Williams, not the composer.