It is difficult to say definitively who the most successful music historian of all time is, as there are many individuals who have made important contributions to music history. However, it would be safe to say that Alan Lomax is among the most successful and influential music historians of all time. Lomax was an American folklorist, ethnomusicologist, and educator, best known for his extensive field recordings of folk music of the 20th century. His work was instrumental in preserving and documenting folk music from around the world, and he is credited with helping to revive the American folk music scene. In addition, his work has had a global influence, as it has been an important source of inspiration for many contemporary musicians and recording artists.