Since the late '60s, Alan Stivell has done more to revive interest in the Celtic (specifically Breton) harp than anyone else and, in the process, almost singlehandedly made the world aware of native Breton Celtic music. His albums of extraordinary beauty and diversity have ranged from ancient Breton and Irish material to modern folk-rock and progressive rock. A major influence on a multitude of folk-rock musicians with his interweaving of electric and traditional instruments, Stivell's first major solo album, Renaissance of the Celtic Harp (1972), remains a favorite among fans of the stringed instrument, while his later albums also display his abilities with bagpipes and as a singer. Stivell's biggest accomplishment, however, involved the rebirth and rediscovery of an instrument and an entire cultural history.