Danny Gatton

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Danny Gatton

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Daniel Wood Gatton Jr.

| birth_date = {{birth date|1945|9|4}}

| birth_place = Washington, D.C., US

| death_date = {{death date and age|1994|10|4|1945|9|4}}

| death_place = Newburg, Maryland

| genre = Blues rock, rockabilly, jazz rock, rock & roll, country rock

| occupation = Musician

| instrument = Guitar

| years_active = 1959–1994

| label =

| website = {{URL|dannygatton.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".{{Cite book|title=Unfinished Business – the Life and Times of Danny Gatton| last=Heibutzki|first=Ralph |publisher=Backbeat Books|year=2003|isbn=0-87930-748-X|location=San Francisco}}

Career

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.{{cite book|last1=Yanow|first1=Scott|title=The Great Jazz Guitarists|date=2013|publisher=Backbeat|location=San Francisco|isbn=978-1-61713-023-6|page=82}}{{cite web|last1=Huey|first1=Steve|title=Danny Gatton |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/danny-gatton-mn0000955027/biography|website=AllMusic|access-date=26 April 2017}} 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.

Although Gatton could play most genres of music, including jazz, blues, bluegrass, and rock, he was known as a country and rockabilly guitarist. He toured with singers Roger Miller and Robert Gordon. He was sometimes called "The Telemaster" and "the world's greatest unknown guitarist". Guitarist Amos Garrett called him "The Humbler" for his ability to defeat other guitarists in "head-cutting" jam sessions.{{cite web|url=http://rubbercityreview.com/2010/09/danny-gatton-the-humbler/ |title=Danny Gatton, The Humbler | RCR | American Roots Music |website=Rubbercityreview.com |date=2010-09-24 |access-date=2016-08-10}} 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."{{cite web | last1 = Newton | first1 = Steve |title=Guitar god Danny Gatton says Lenny Breau is the biggest humbler of all time| date = May 5, 2014 |url=https://earofnewt.com/2014/05/04/guitar-god-danny-gatton-says-lenny-breau-is-the-biggest-humbler-of-all-time/|access-date=15 November 2017}}

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.{{cite web | last1 = Schulte | first1 = Tom |title=Unfinished Business|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/unfinished-business-mw0000677749|website=AllMusic|access-date=26 April 2017}} He got a contract with his first major record label and released another eclectic album, 88 Elmira Street (Elektra, 1991), which contained a cover version of the theme song from the animated TV series The Simpsons.{{cite web|last1=Koda|first1=Cub|title=88 Elmira St.|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/88-elmira-st-mw0000262505|website=AllMusic|access-date=26 April 2017}}

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

Death

Gatton killed himself at his farm in Newburg, Maryland on October 4, 1994.{{Cite news|date=October 6, 1994|title=GATTON DEAD OF GUNSHOT WOUND|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/10/06/gatton-dead-of-gunshot-wound/b1cfae12-39d5-4e13-a19f-ea9f4a599254/|access-date=2022-02-20|newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113485730 |title=Danny Gatton: 'World's Greatest Unknown Guitarist' |publisher=NPR |date=October 4, 2009 |access-date=2014-02-24}}

Reception

When Rolling Stone magazine selected the 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time in 2003, senior editor David Fricke ranked Gatton 63rd on his ballot.{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time-19691231 |title=The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time |date=December 3, 2010 |publisher=Rolling Stone |access-date=2011-10-30 |archive-date=December 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216184007/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time-19691231 |url-status=dead }} On May 26, 2010, Gibson.com ranked Gatton as the 27th best guitarist of all time.{{cite web|url=http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/Top-50-Guitarists-526/ |title=Top 50 Guitarists of All Time – 30 to 21 |publisher=Gibson |access-date=2011-10-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527234351/http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/Top-50-Guitarists-526/ |archive-date=May 27, 2010 |df=mdy }}

Among his admirers are Buckethead, Joe Bonamassa, Lenny Breau, James Burton, Chris Cheney,{{Cite web|url=https://australianmusician.com.au/ian-moss-a-chris-cheney-talk-guitar|title=Ian Moss & Chris Cheney Talk Guitar!|date=September 10, 2007}} 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,{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CV0cCHvJaYS/ | title=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" }} and Steve Vai.{{cite book|title = Unfinished Business: The Life & Times of Danny Gatton|last = Heibutzki|first = Ralph|author-link = Ralph Heibutzki|year = 2003|publisher = Backbeat Books, San Francisco|isbn = 0-87930-748-X}}

Gatton has been described as possessing an extraordinary proficiency on his instrument, "a living treasury of American musical styles."{{cite web|url=http://www.chairmanralph.com/dannygattoncorner/ |title=Chairman Ralph's Ministry Of Truth |publisher=Chairmanralph.com |access-date=2015-10-26}} 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." Guitarist Steve Vai reckons Danny "comes closer than anyone else to being the best guitar player that ever lived."{{cite web|url=http://www.guitaraficionado.com/playlist-danny-gatton.html#sthash.MPdkbIXm.dpuf |title=Playlist: Danny Gatton « Guitar Aficionado |publisher=Guitaraficionado.com |date=November 15, 2011 |access-date=2014-02-24}} Guitarist Albert Lee said of Gatton, "Here's a guy who's got it all."{{cite web|url=http://guitarinternational.com/2011/01/05/albert-lee-a-real-country-gentleman/ |title=Albert Lee Interview : Guitar Interviews |publisher=Guitarinternational.com |access-date=2014-02-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329214848/http://guitarinternational.com/2011/01/05/albert-lee-a-real-country-gentleman/ |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |df=mdy }}

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.{{cite news|last=Herndon|first=David|title=A Tribute to Danny Gatton|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/20132382.html?dids=20132382:20132382&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+09%2C+1995&author=By+David+Herndon.+STAFF+WRITER&pub=Newsday+%28Combined+editions%29&desc=A+Tribute+to+Danny+Gatton&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105005242/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/20132382.html?dids=20132382:20132382&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+09,+1995&author=By+David+Herndon.+STAFF+WRITER&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=A+Tribute+to+Danny+Gatton&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2012|access-date=January 4, 2011|newspaper=Newsday|date=January 9, 1995}} 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."{{cite web| url = http://www.bmansbluesreport.com/2011/12/marcel-marsupial-records-artist-boy.html |title=Bman's Blues Report: Marcel Marsupial Records artist: Boy Wells – Blue Skies Calling – New Release Review |publisher=Bmansbluesreport.com |date=December 1, 2011 |access-date=2014-02-24}}

Awards and honors

Grammy Award nomination, "Elmira Street Boogie", Best Rock Instrumental Performance, 1991{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Jonathan |title=Forgotten Guitar: Danny Gatton Performs on 'Nightwatch' in 1989 |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/forgotten-guitar-danny-gatton-performs-nightwatch-1989 |website=guitarworld |access-date=17 February 2019 |date=14 February 2019}}
Danny Gatton Signature Telecaster{{cite web |url=http://www.dannygatton.com/telecast.html |title=The Definitive Danny Gatton Web Site |publisher=Dannygatton.com |access-date=2014-02-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604232250/http://dannygatton.com/telecast.html |archive-date=June 4, 2014 |df=mdy }}