There are sooo many phenomenal players around the world...and probably in your own city that no one knows of.
I go to the NAMM show every year and I'm almost afraid to pick up a guitar and play because the whole show is loaded with talent walking around the floor...many are kids under twenty that just soak this stuff up. It takes some time though, to learn how to speak through the instrument with soul and feel. First comes learning how to play it...then learning how to speak through it...pretty corny, huh?