Danny Gatton

Danny Gatton
Gatton with his pearloid Telecaster
Gatton with his pearloid Telecaster
Background information
Birth nameDaniel Wood Gatton Jr.
Born(1945-09-04)September 4, 1945
Washington, D.C., US
DiedOctober 4, 1994(1994-10-04) (aged 49)
Newburg, Maryland
GenresBlues, rockabilly, jazz, rock & roll, country
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1959–1994
Websitedannygatton.com

Daniel Wood Gatton Jr. (September 4, 1945 – October 4, 1994) was an American virtuoso guitarist who combined blues, rockabilly, jazz, and country to create a musical style he called "redneck jazz".[1]

Career

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Daniel Wood Gatton Jr. was born in Washington, D.C., in 1945. The son of a rhythm guitarist, Gatton started playing at the age of nine. From 1960–1964 he played jazz guitar with the Offbeats, then worked as a session musician in Nashville.[2][3] When he returned to Washington, he drew attention in the 1970s as a member of Liz Meyer & Friends and other local bands. He recorded his debut album, American Music (1975), followed by Redneck Jazz (1978) with pedal steel guitarist Buddy Emmons appearing as a guest. He founded the band the Redneck Jazz Explosion.[2]

Although Gatton could play most genres of music, including jazz, blues, bluegrass, and rock, he was known as a country and rockabilly guitarist.[2] He toured with singers Roger Miller and Robert Gordon.[3] He was sometimes called "The Telemaster" and "the world's greatest unknown guitarist".[2] Guitarist Amos Garrett called him "The Humbler" for his ability to defeat other guitarists in "head-cutting" jam sessions.[4] On this point, however, Gatton declared: “The biggest humbler to me, of all time, would be Lenny Breau. He was the best I have ever seen."[5]

In 1987, nine years after his previous album, he released Unfinished Business, an eclectic collection of pop, rock, and country music that Guitar World magazine named the tenth best album of the 1980s.[6] He got a contract with his first major record label and released another eclectic album, 88 Elmira Street (Elektra, 1991),[3] which contained a cover version of the theme song from the animated TV series The Simpsons.[7]

Gatton turned toward jazz for the albums New York Stories (Blue Note, 1992) and Relentless (1994) with Joey DeFrancesco.

Death

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On October 4, 1994, Gatton locked himself in the garage on his farm in Newburg, Maryland, and committed suicide by gunshot.[8][9] Although he left no note nor explanation,[10] family members and close friends believe he suffered from depression for many years.[11] Friend and drummer Dave Elliott said that he thought Gatton had suffered from depression since they met more than twenty years earlier.[9]

Reception

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When Rolling Stone magazine selected the 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time in 2003, senior editor David Fricke ranked Gatton 63rd on his ballot.[12] On May 26, 2010, Gibson.com ranked Gatton as the 27th best guitarist of all time.[13]

Among his admirers are Buckethead, Joe Bonamassa, Lenny Breau, James Burton, Chris Cheney,[14] Vince Gill, Johnny Hiland, Evan Johns, Bill Kirchen, Albert Lee, Les Paul, Arlen Roth, Paul Bechtoldt, Roy Buchanan, Darren Thiboutot Jr., Richie Sambora, Ricky Skaggs, Slash, Lou Reed, Trey Anastasio,[15] and Steve Vai.[10]

Gatton has been described as possessing an extraordinary proficiency on his instrument, "a living treasury of American musical styles."[16] In 2009, John Previti, who played bass guitar with Danny for eighteen years, stated, "You know, when he played country music, it sounded like all he played was country music. When he played jazz, it sounded like that's all he played, rockabilly, old rock and roll, soul music. You know, he called himself a Whitman sampler of music."[11] Guitarist Steve Vai reckons Danny "comes closer than anyone else to being the best guitar player that ever lived."[17] Guitarist Albert Lee said of Gatton, "Here's a guy who's got it all."[18]

On January 10–12, 1995, Tramps nightclub in New York organized a three-night tribute to Gatton featuring dozens of Gatton's musical admirers, the highlight of which was a twenty-minute performance by Les Paul, James Burton, Arlen Roth, and Albert Lee.[19] Those shows (with all musicians performing for free) raised $25,000 for Gatton's wife and daughter.

Blue Skies Calling (2011), an album by Boy Wells, includes nearly an hour of Gatton and Wells playing in his living room. "Danny called me before he died and asked me to put a vocal tape together for his label at the time. He needed a singer after his singer, Billy Windsor, had passed. He remained a friend, a good one all those years. This lesson was in the late '70s; it's me and Danny in the living room of his house on Holly Lane in Indian Head, Maryland. It's killer stuff."[20]

Awards and honors

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photo: Arlen Roth 1994

Discography

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As leader

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  • American Music (Aladdin, 1975)
  • Redneck Jazz (NRG, 1978)
  • Unfinished Business (NRG, 1987)
  • Blazing Telecasters with Tom Principato (Powerhouse, 1990)
  • 88 Elmira St. (Elektra, 1991)
  • Cruisin' Deuces (Elektra, 1993)
  • Relentless with Joey DeFrancesco (Exile, 1994)
  • Redneck Jazz Explosion (NRG, 1995)
  • "The Humbler" with Robert Gordon (NRG, 1996)
  • In Concert 9/9/94 (Big Mo, 1996)
  • Untouchable (NRG, 1998)
  • Portraits (Big Mo, 1998)
  • Capitol Attack with Robert Gordon (Renegade, 1999)
  • Funhouse (Flying Deuces Music, 2004)
  • Showdown at the Hoedown with Evan Johns (Jellyroll, 2005)
  • Oh No! More Blazing Telecasters with Tom Principato (Powerhouse, 2005)
  • Redneck Jazz Explosion Volume Two (Flying Deuces Music, 2006)
  • Live in 1977: The Humbler Stakes His Claim (Powerhouse, 2007)
  • New York Stories with Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove (EMI, 2009)

References

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  1. ^ Heibutzki, Ralph (2003). Unfinished Business – the Life and Times of Danny Gatton. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-748-X.
  2. ^ a b c d Yanow, Scott (2013). The Great Jazz Guitarists. San Francisco: Backbeat. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.
  3. ^ a b c Huey, Steve. "Danny Gatton". AllMusic. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  4. ^ "Danny Gatton, The Humbler | RCR | American Roots Music". Rubbercityreview.com. September 24, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  5. ^ Newton, Steve (May 5, 2014). "Guitar god Danny Gatton says Lenny Breau is the biggest humbler of all time". Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  6. ^ Schulte, Tom. "Unfinished Business". AllMusic. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  7. ^ Koda, Cub. "88 Elmira St". AllMusic. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  8. ^ "GATTON DEAD OF GUNSHOT WOUND". The Washington Post. October 6, 1994. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Harrington, Richard (October 6, 1994). "October 4th, 1994 – Danny Gatton". Thehumblermovie.com. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Heibutzki, Ralph (2003). Unfinished Business: The Life & Times of Danny Gatton. Backbeat Books, San Francisco. ISBN 0-87930-748-X.
  11. ^ a b "Danny Gatton: 'World's Greatest Unknown Guitarist'". NPR. October 4, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  12. ^ "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone. December 3, 2010. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  13. ^ "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time – 30 to 21". Gibson. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  14. ^ "Ian Moss & Chris Cheney Talk Guitar!". September 10, 2007.
  15. ^ "Trey Anastasio on Instagram: "Pat Martino We lost a true genius of improvisational guitar yesterday. One of the greatest of all time. Pat Martino was an absolute giant of flow, musicality and invention. He was a wellspring of melodic ideas, an open channel. I deeply loved and still love his playing, and I'm beyond grateful for his enormous contribution and influence on improvisational guitar music, on me, and on Phish. He opened my mind and heart. In the 80's I wore out the vinyl version of his 1974 Pat Martino Live, one of my all time favorite albums (Which is shamefully now out of print and not on Spotify). That album played on perma loop in the Weaver Street house where Phish rehearsed. I must have listened to it a thousand times. It had a massive effect on me, and I know on Page too. Listen to the interplay between the Ron Thomas' Rhodes and Pat's guitar on "The Great Stream". Luckily some of those tracks were rereleased on "Pat Martino Consciousness Live", which you can still find on Spotify. "The Great Stream" is an excellent starting place to discover Pat. I consider Pat Martino Live to be in the upper echelon of all time great live guitar improv albums. It belongs right up there with Jimi Hendrix "Band of Gypsies" and Danny Gatton "The Humbler Stakes his Claim". Rest in Peace Pat. Thank you for filling my house with music and my mind with visions of the boundless nature of improvised guitar music. With Love, Gratitude and Respect, Trey 📷: @lendelessio"".
  16. ^ "Chairman Ralph's Ministry Of Truth". Chairmanralph.com. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  17. ^ "Playlist: Danny Gatton « Guitar Aficionado". Guitaraficionado.com. November 15, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  18. ^ "Albert Lee Interview : Guitar Interviews". Guitarinternational.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  19. ^ Herndon, David (January 9, 1995). "A Tribute to Danny Gatton". Newsday. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  20. ^ "Bman's Blues Report: Marcel Marsupial Records artist: Boy Wells – Blue Skies Calling – New Release Review". Bmansbluesreport.com. December 1, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  21. ^ Graham, Jonathan (February 14, 2019). "Forgotten Guitar: Danny Gatton Performs on 'Nightwatch' in 1989". guitarworld. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  22. ^ "The Definitive Danny Gatton Web Site". Dannygatton.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-24.

Further reading

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