Still listen to Danny's stuff every single day. No one ever came close to him. His technique, and mastery of it, not to mention the ability to play virtually any type of music, makes him truly untouchable. I've been playing for 49 years, and working on Danny's style/technique for the past 10 years. Still cannot get close to him. RIP Mr. Gatton.
I saw Danny play at The Ace of Clubs in Nashville , just Danny , stand-up bass and drummer. Amazing guitar player. As far as someone who was a master of every style of guitar be it , jazz, blues, rockabilly or country Danny was a master of them all. I'm so glad I got to hear him play that night . He got sounds out of that Tele that are often imitated but never duplicated . Danny is greatly missed.
He was amazing, I was fortunate to see him 3 times. He was the best. He played with great musicians. Locally when he played it was not posted till a few days before. However, many of the fans that showed up were Profesional musicians. They would cancel their shows to come to see Danny play. Although he did not sing with his voice but his guitar did the singing. Once again he was amazing and he left us too soon.
Fortunate to grow up in the DC/Baltimore and know about Danny Gatton & Roy Buchanan all these years. Have some family in Southern MD where Danny lived in Newburg, many stories of seeing him in Waldorf and them honky tonk bars in Charles County.
i was reading comments , about danny and i grew up in md and saw him many times and he always talked guitar after a show to us guitar nerds, for as long as you wanted , it was unreal we would be out in parking lot for over hour talking about gtr , never held back and made u feel very comfortable ,
Great first-hand insight into the infamous initial encounter of Gatton & Buchanan! Danny was a fine raconteur, as well as being the greatest guitar player of all time. Still sadly missed...
This interviewer drops the ball on the first question. Gatton shares that he started playing '54 and went PRO in '57? Wow, what a natural talent. I would love he dug deeper into that.
It is painful and it really bothers me that Danny ended his life. I never met him but love everything about him from his playing to his personality from what I've seen in video interviews and concerts. How could such a wonderful and humble person end up doing that? I wish someone could have reached him before it happened. God bless his family!
"Chet Atkins is the greatest of course" I agree ! Danny Gatton your also the greatest! You and Chet are my heroes and my teachers forever in yours debt and forever your apprentice!
Incredible!!, he added an extra fret, a high D.."to bend in case he need it". Danny was simply too much. Do you know what God told him when Danny went to heaven?...-"Hey Danny that thing on the guitar...how did you did it)???"
It was an argument with his wife that pushed him over the edge. He had said that it was a sin that Roy Buchanan took his own life (maybe) and then he wound up doing the same thing.
@KD4PEACE Kim, I Benny still alive? I played a couple of times with Heavy Country at the Outside Inn in Rockville Md. and my wife Deborah sang with the Shades of Blue in Alexandria. We have fond memories of Benny. Thanks, John
@HiFiVibe: Danny was not what you'd call an out-going guy, especially around unfamiliar people. He was very friendly around his pals, but maybe not all that much so around media types - even a sympathetic audience like this. I don't think he liked being on the road and away from home at all. He loved playing, but not the business or marketing aspect of music. He warms up a bit as this interview goes on.
Guys like Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan played a very different style from the contemporary player in that they relied on the amp and the controls on the guitar vs. stomp boxes. Personally I prefer this tone because when you play hard and clean, you can show up, plug into anything and just play. I still have the Redneck Jazz Explosion in my old Ford.
@KD4PEACE: Kimi, Benny is new to me, but I am not from Nashville. He is a class act and a warm and genuine host. Is his show still on the air, either radio or TV?
Actually, the Stevie Ray thing is a little more complicated. He actually agreed to do the tour at first, but once rehearsals started, he realized there was going to be more of a "show", as it were. I guess everything was too choreographed for his taste, and in particular, they wanted him to do stuff that he wasn't comfortable/able to do. So I think he went to his manager and said "You gotta get me out of this", so the two of them colluded to get SRV fired from the gig.
Great story John W, do you have any live recording of Danny ? What year did you see him in Nashville ? And finally, f you know any bigtime Gatton collectors let me know; thanks.
he was a million times better than holdsworth.. holds worth didn't make music just atonal single string crap.. compare that to Gattons mastery of all techniques and styles of electric guitar
Damn that sure is some 80's hairdo on the platinum blonde set piece and those white cowgirl boots.How in the world did they look in the mirror and say " I'm killin' it today"
The reason why nobody (except guitarists, and a few others) not know who danny was... is because he was just a really good guitarist, and the material he chose to play was just blues and country based quick pickin. It's what you can here just going to a local bar in the midwest. Just nothing interesting about it... he was the best, but still. It just reminds me of shit that I heard a zillion times at local bars when I lived in michigan. Again, he is much better than any of those guys, but still. You're not going to become famous be being the best guitarist in what sounds like a bar band.
'The reason why nobody not know who danny was...' So lots of people do know who he is? Double negatives aside, I'm not really sure what your accusation against Gatton is. That he didn't write hit songs? That he didn't have his own style of playing? If it's the former, you are completely missing the point, if it's the latter that's simply untrue. The fact that he could play just about every style of guitar-based music imaginable and blend them together seamlessly with near-flawless technique is one reason why he's no highly regarded. That and his sense of feel; the emotion he put into his music. Stating that Gatton 'just' played blues and country therefore he's boring is a strange argument. It's the way he approached these genres that matters. And as Eric Mendelman has already pointed out, you've totally failed to mention Gatton's jazz playing which was hugely important to his musical vocabulary.
Still listen to Danny's stuff every single day. No one ever came close to him. His technique, and mastery of it, not to mention the ability to play virtually any type of music, makes him truly untouchable. I've been playing for 49 years, and working on Danny's style/technique for the past 10 years. Still cannot get close to him. RIP Mr. Gatton.
Such a fine human being and the GOAT. I listen to him everyday and I'm starstruck on his incredible playing.
Your right He’s The G.O.A.T !
I saw Danny play at The Ace of Clubs in Nashville , just Danny , stand-up bass and drummer. Amazing guitar player. As far as someone who was a master of every style of guitar be it , jazz, blues, rockabilly or country Danny was a master of them all. I'm so glad I got to hear him play that night . He got sounds out of that Tele that are often imitated but never duplicated . Danny is greatly missed.
How many of you out there know that Danny was the inspiration for the tune "Nashville Cats".
He was amazing, I was fortunate to see him 3 times. He was the best. He played with great musicians. Locally when he played it was not posted till a few days before. However, many of the fans that showed up were Profesional musicians. They would cancel their shows to come to see Danny play. Although he did not sing with his voice but his guitar did the singing. Once again he was amazing and he left us too soon.
Fortunate to grow up in the DC/Baltimore and know about Danny Gatton & Roy Buchanan all these years. Have some family in Southern MD where Danny lived in Newburg, many stories of seeing him in Waldorf and them honky tonk bars in Charles County.
i was reading comments , about danny and i grew up in md and saw him many times and he always talked guitar after a show to us guitar nerds, for as long as you wanted , it was unreal we would be out in parking lot for over hour talking about gtr , never held back and made u feel very comfortable ,
godbyone andy godby I too grew up in Md and used to go see Danny all the time. He was always willing to talk to fans about anything. A great guy....
fuxgood where did he play in MD?
I didn't grow up with him, but I saw him many times in the DC area
Great first-hand insight into the infamous initial encounter of Gatton & Buchanan! Danny was a fine raconteur, as well as being the greatest guitar player of all time. Still sadly missed...
AWESOME GREAT Guitar Player 🎸 REST IN PEACE Danny Guitar 🎸 🙏
thank you for post this video.
Danny , you will live forever ,into our hearts
He was the greatest and a very warm and accessible human being.
I get so sad listening to Danny.
He was a giant.
I have so much respect for this guy..
This interviewer drops the ball on the first question. Gatton shares that he started playing '54 and went PRO in '57? Wow, what a natural talent. I would love he dug deeper into that.
Can anybody tell me if there is anybody in the world who looks less likely to be a jawdroppin guitar genius than the untouchable Danny Gatton
Check out Scotty Anderson… Danny thought Scotty was one of the best.
Danny was an amazing player but was a great talker too, such a shame he's gone.
The Goat.
Thanks for posting!
I have played Telecaster style Country guitar for many years, and grew up in the DC area on Bluegrass, and Danny was one of the best.
Great player, and he comes across as a great fellow also! Sorely missed man!
Danny was a genius 🎶
Such a brilliant, sweet guy.
I wish he eas stillll here but his mark lives on r i p danny
It is painful and it really bothers me that Danny ended his life. I never met him but love everything about him from his playing to his personality from what I've seen in video interviews and concerts. How could such a wonderful and humble person end up doing that? I wish someone could have reached him before it happened. God bless his family!
I still cannot believe that he took his life.
@Robot I He suffered from depression for many years, its a torturous thing to deal with. He's been a great loss...
Gutted
Where did he take it?
Nice story about Roy Buchanan. Danny hold us all guitar players with our feets on earth.
This man is a truly excellent guitarist
"Chet Atkins is the greatest of course"
I agree ! Danny Gatton your also the greatest! You and Chet are my heroes and my teachers forever in yours debt and forever your apprentice!
Loved it! thx 4 posting xxx
I miss him.
Incredible!!, he added an extra fret, a high D.."to bend in case he need it". Danny was simply too much. Do you know what God told him when Danny went to heaven?...-"Hey Danny that thing on the guitar...how did you did it)???"
This is best I heard 😂
Danny Gatton also was Joe bonamassa's guitar teacher when Joe was just a kid
notice those chunky fingers !...not the typical player's hands
It was an argument with his wife that pushed him over the edge. He had said that it was a sin that Roy Buchanan took his own life (maybe) and then he wound up doing the same thing.
Hi Kim, Thank you so much for sharing. Danny as a great friend of mine and I and all miss Him
Sergio Sali
I play four times a week and use Danny as One of my influences .
Such a shame, I didn’t know a genius was out there. What a guitar God
Fender is still selling Them!
Wooof!!
Danny Gatton was to guitar what Bill Hicks was to comedy.
Interesting connection there...
Vertyx Faez 9
Great post !! Really enjoyed this interview with Danny Gatton, A real fine Musician, And Person, One of the best :)
@KD4PEACE Kim, I Benny still alive? I played a couple of times with Heavy Country at the Outside Inn in Rockville Md. and my wife Deborah sang with the Shades of Blue in Alexandria. We have fond memories of Benny.
Thanks,
John
in the world of guitar there is Danny, and then the rest of the universe trailing behind going, wtf??
@HiFiVibe: Danny was not what you'd call an out-going guy, especially around unfamiliar people. He was very friendly around his pals, but maybe not all that much so around media types - even a sympathetic audience like this. I don't think he liked being on the road and away from home at all. He loved playing, but not the business or marketing aspect of music. He warms up a bit as this interview goes on.
That's a funny story about Danny and Roy awkward first meeting.
How is it that I hate bluegrass music and so called country music but Gatton is my favorite guitarist?
Guys like Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan played a very different style from the contemporary player in that they relied on the amp and the controls on the guitar vs. stomp boxes. Personally I prefer this tone because when you play hard and clean, you can show up, plug into anything and just play. I still have the Redneck Jazz Explosion in my old Ford.
Billy looks thrilled to again be sitting in Gatton's huge shadow.
@KD4PEACE: Kimi, Benny is new to me, but I am not from Nashville. He is a class act and a warm and genuine host. Is his show still on the air, either radio or TV?
Actually, the Stevie Ray thing is a little more complicated. He actually agreed to do the tour at first, but once rehearsals started, he realized there was going to be more of a "show", as it were. I guess everything was too choreographed for his taste, and in particular, they wanted him to do stuff that he wasn't comfortable/able to do. So I think he went to his manager and said "You gotta get me out of this", so the two of them colluded to get SRV fired from the gig.
Danny became despondent when his longtime friend and band mate Billy Windsor passed away.
DogCatchersBand Was Billy Windsor the ripping bass player in the 'song of India' clip?with Buddy Emmons.A very sad loss for Danny if so.
Great story John W, do you have any live recording of Danny ? What year
did you see him in Nashville ? And finally, f you know any bigtime
Gatton collectors let me know; thanks.
I have probably 200 reel to reels of Danny, some in the studio and some at his house. Please contact me for details. Ken Roberts 301-922-5394
Kenneth Roberts 9
Incredible
Just wish he'd play some more here. Kind of a torture to see him there with the tele on his knees…
What a nice grounded bloke
Dude with the shades looks like a drunk Glen Campbell.
Hahaha! Right!
Andy Marshak A blind Glenn Campbell
why the heck did he have to die. such great talent.
mr c he killed himself if you didn't know.. shot himself I believe
@@cerrito7806 yes he did
Nice story about Roy Buchanan.
Javier Gomez
No, the first thing I said lol
hehe, you mean Holdsworth is rather Gatton-esqe.
Holdsworth-esque
yeah he's up there alright
bryan baker is on that mountain too
wayne krantz
bobby lee rodgers
of course Holdsworth is pretty much outer space tho~
frank o
he was a million times better than holdsworth.. holds worth didn't make music just atonal single string crap.. compare that to Gattons mastery of all techniques and styles of electric guitar
Steve Windsor Your Dad and Danny !
Damn that sure is some 80's hairdo on the platinum blonde set piece and those white cowgirl boots.How in the world did they look in the mirror and say " I'm killin' it today"
Seems slightly irked at the ladys questions.
The reason why nobody (except guitarists, and a few others) not know who danny was... is because he was just a really good guitarist, and the material he chose to play was just blues and country based quick pickin. It's what you can here just going to a local bar in the midwest. Just nothing interesting about it... he was the best, but still. It just reminds me of shit that I heard a zillion times at local bars when I lived in michigan. Again, he is much better than any of those guys, but still. You're not going to become famous be being the best guitarist in what sounds like a bar band.
***** you never saw his jazz gig
+Charles J Gartner Agreed
'The reason why nobody not know who danny was...'
So lots of people do know who he is? Double negatives aside, I'm not really sure what your accusation against Gatton is. That he didn't write hit songs? That he didn't have his own style of playing? If it's the former, you are completely missing the point, if it's the latter that's simply untrue. The fact that he could play just about every style of guitar-based music imaginable and blend them together seamlessly with near-flawless technique is one reason why he's no highly regarded. That and his sense of feel; the emotion he put into his music. Stating that Gatton 'just' played blues and country therefore he's boring is a strange argument. It's the way he approached these genres that matters. And as Eric Mendelman has already pointed out, you've totally failed to mention Gatton's jazz playing which was hugely important to his musical vocabulary.
Gatton did not take his own life.
He did, and if you know anyone suffering from depression please try to help them. It's an awful disease.
I wish he hadn't blown himself away. :(
Why why ?!?! 😞😒😢
he sounds bored and fed up
He’s just a curteous man !
He may have been. I think he ran out of things to play.