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These aren't the guys who sell out arenas. These are the guys who influenced the guys who sell out arenas. Four legends — B.B. King, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, the Chieftains' Paddy Moloney and Ralph Stanley — are coming through Tucson over the next two months, all pioneers in their genres and direct and indirect inspirations to thousands of musicians around the world. If you have the cash and the time, you should catch all of them in concert. If you can only blow your paycheck on a couple, here's a breakdown so you can pick and choose:

Age: 81

Genre: Blues.

Why he is a legend: King said he doesn't talk about the "r" word, retirement, when he last spoke with the Star in 2005. The blues guitarist made his way from a sharecropper in Mississippi to one of the most renowned names in the blues world and shows very little sign of stopping. Together with his guitar, "Lucille," he has performed for two U.S. presidents, Pope John Paul II and in December received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor the government can give a U.S. civilian.

Date with greatness: If you haven't already picked up your tickets, you are out of luck. King's Saturday engagement at the Desert Diamond Casino is sold out.

Age: 79.

Genre: Bluegrass/old-time country.

Why he is a legend: You can probably count on one hand the number of old school bluegrass and country musicians still out there today. Stanley has outlasted Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt and even his own brother Carter Stanley, who started the Clinch Mountain Boys with Ralph back in 1946 to carry on the musical traditions they found growing up in rural southwest Virginia. Stanley received an honorary doctorate of music from Lincoln Memorial University in 1976 and was a recipient of the National Medal of Arts in 2006. His career received a boost when his rendition of the song "O Death" was featured on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou" soundtrack in 2000. He currently has a duet with country youngin' Josh Turner called "Me and God" that has made waves on the Billboard country charts.

Date with greatness: Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys will perform Feb. 16 at the Rialto Theatre. Tickets are $21-$25 in advance. 740-1000.

Age: 75.

Genre: Folk.

Why he is a legend: In his extended career as a musician, Elliott served as an integral link between two major American folk icons in the United States. Elliott, born Elliott Charles Adnopoz in New York City, befriended pioneering folk troubadour Woody Guthrie as a young man, and traveled the country with him for five years, picking up Guthrie's unique cadence and lyrical style. Years later, a visit to a sick Guthrie in the hospital would lead to a chance meeting with Bob Dylan. Dylan couldn't learn from Guthrie, who was dying from Huntington's disease, so Elliott took him under his wing according to www.ramblinjack.com.

Date with greatness: Elliott plays Club Congress at 7 p.m. March 1. $15. 622-8848.

Age: 68.

Genre: Irish Celtic.

Why he is a legend: In 1962, Paddy Moloney formed the Chieftains, one of the most enduring Celtic bands to come out of Ireland. He remains the band's only original member. Aside from keeping Irish musical traditions alive, Moloney has strived to reach new audiences and break new ground by playing with artists of every genre. Type in "Chieftains" on YouTube and videos of the band playing with Ziggy Marley and Luciano Pavarotti pop up. Several of the group's more recent albums include cameos by everyone from Ricky Skaggs to Linda Ronstadt.

Date with greatness: The Chieftains play Centennial Hall Wednesday. Tickets are $21-$59. 621-3341.