Danny Gatton
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Biography
The guitarist they called "The Humbler" was a picker of remarkable virtuosity who wrenched a shimmering, blazing, twanging assault of sound from his guitar in a seamless blend of blues, jazz, rockabilly, country and rock 'n' roll that was uniquely his own. If ever it could be said that they broke the mold when they created a guitar player, it was for Danny Gatton.
In his youth, Gatton played in various groups, notably the Redneck Jazz Explosion. In the late Seventies, he began doing session work with the likes of Commander Cody and Roger Miller. In 1987, he released a solo album on the family label, and drew the attention of Elektra Records, who signed him. In 1989, Guitar Player magazine named him "World's Greatest Unknown Guitar Player," and he released the critically acclaimed and Grammy-nominated album 88 Elmira St. in 1991, followed by Cruisin' Deuces in 1993. After those two albums failed to meet label expectations, he was dropped by Elektra, and in 1994 the guitar community lost a great talent when Danny Gatton died by his own hand.
