Love Knopfler's solo work and much of Dire Straits. He is a very unique artist. Nobody comes to mind off-hand as very similar really.
Have you ever spun any Chet Atkins disks? He was more of a country artist mostly but one of Knopfler's biggest influences as a guitar player. He did an album with Knopfler as well a while back. Check out one of the highly rated Atkins compilations or one of his early sixties RCXA Living Stereo recordings on original vinyl or CD remaster, like "Teensville", say.
Have you ever spun any Chet Atkins disks? He was more of a country artist mostly but one of Knopfler's biggest influences as a guitar player. He did an album with Knopfler as well a while back. Check out one of the highly rated Atkins compilations or one of his early sixties RCXA Living Stereo recordings on original vinyl or CD remaster, like "Teensville", say.