Randy Rhoads is my favorite guitarist of all time. A peerless talent, he fused timeless riffs and solos of ingenious beauty and emotional fire. In his all-too-brief career, he created a catalog that has thrilled and inspired generations of musicians and hard-rock fans. He melded compositional genius and raw intuition in a way that is unique in the annals of electric guitar playing. He was a member of Quiet Riot, a heavy-metal band he cofounded in California. Then, as the gunslinger sideman, he revived Ozzy Osbourne’s career. His playing created a sonic landscape previously not in existence; he expanded the art form of rock and metal playing exponentially. His entire career was defined by inspired musical excellence. When I was a young guitarist practicing eight hours a day, a Randy Rhoads poster hung on my wall.