Hate to drag this thread out, but...!!  ...I never thought I'd be defending the Tolkien-haters out there, but daforce speaks for a pretty large crowd out there, even within the fantasy society.  Have we forgotten that a prolific voicer of anti-Tolkien sentiment just so happens to hold the number 5 spot on this very list???  Michael Moorcock has never pulled any punches when it comes to his disdain for Tolkien.  JRRT's still #1 for me though.  Stephen R. Donaldson deserves a nod, too.  He and Terry Brooks kept the fantasy genre alive when it was in the doldrums, in the 1970s.  I can see where the Thomas Covenant books are a little slow, compared to what is written nowadays, but TCtU makes up for what it lacks in action with what I would call a "spiritual resonancy" that a lot of fantasy just doesn't have.  LotR has it, and so does TC, but not a lot of others.  Plus Thomas Covenant is the best anti-hero in fantasy, after Elric.  Who gives their main character leprosy??  That was just a stroke of genius.

And hey, If C.S. Lewis and Lloyd Alexander get honorable mentions, what about Susan Cooper and Madeleine L'engle? 

 Charles Saunders is definitely among the best fantasy writers of all time.  He wrote the Imaro series in the 80s.  As far as I know, he was the first fantasy writer to present an African hero in an African setting.  The Imaro books are marvelously written action adventure tales.  Saunder's meticulous world building draws heavily from his research into ancient African history and culture.  He is also the inspiration that spurred the creation of a category of fantasy called Sword and Soul.  Sword and Soul is fantasy that is usually set in a fantastical Africa with African protagonists.  Saunders re-released the first three Imaro books and recently added a fourth installment.  He also wrote a novel called Dousouye, featuring an African warrior woman.  A sequel to Dousouye is forthcoming.

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What About Robin Hobb?!?

And why is JK Rowling on there, her books are overrated!

 I'm glad to find this list.  I am familiar with many but have not heard of others.  this gives me something new to read (even though the cost of paperbacks is becoming insane!).  I would suggest you consider one other author...Mercedes Lackey.  although some of her works have not entirely thrilled me, "The Last Herald Mage of Valdemar" series more than makes up for it.  She has added a few other stand alone novels set in the same world that are also fantastic.  A good book should connect with a reader and even be able to make a grown man tear up.  She is a master st this.