Actually it depends largely on social factors. Classical guitarists, who should only be second to Pianists in their ability to recreate compositions accurately are rarely remembers. I'm reading a book called "Practicing: A Musicians return to music" and he discusses how Fernando Sor and Marko Giulianni (spelled wrong I'm sure) were greats, and that the later sat at the head of Viennas Musical Society in 1808 with Beethoven and who among us has heard his music?
It depends on the music as well. Rock bands are still imitating and beholden to a movement that took place 40 years ago. Rap forgot who was #1 yesterday.
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