Born: September 4, 1945 in Washington, D.C.
Died: October 4, 1994 in Newburg MD
Few guitarists have the chops to play in the wide range of styles that Danny Gatton explored with ease. The underrated guitarist seamlessly melded elements of country, R&B, and jazz music into his signature blues and roots-rock sound. Drawing his influence from enormously skilled instrumentalists like Les Paul, James Burton, and Dick Dale, Gatton expanded upon his idols' sound to develop his own unique style. Admired by and influencing players like Eric Clapton, Joe Bonamassa, and Jimmie Vaughan, Danny Gatton's contributions to blues guitar are too often overlooked.
Danny & the Fat Boys
Born in Washington, D.C. Gatton was the son of accomplished rhythm guitarist Daniel W. Gatton, Sr., so it was only natural that he'd pick up the guitar. The younger Gatton began playing in bands as a teenager, joining the jazz outfit the Offbeats at the age of 15 years old. After spending four years learning the ins-and-outs of the music business, Gatton moved to Nashville during the mid-1960s to try his hand at session work. While in the Music City, Gatton met fellow guitarist Roy Buchanan, and the two men became friends and, for a brief time, roommates.
Gatton would inevitably return to the D.C. area where he formed Danny & the Fat Boys with former Offbeats member Dick Heintze (keyboards), releasing the American Music album in 1975. Gatton earned a national reputation as a hot-shot guitarist during the 1970s, touring up and down the east coast with his own bands as well as touring with country star Roger Miller and neo-rockabilly singer Robert Gordon, and performing session work. Gatton released his second album, Redneck Jazz in 1978, adding former Offbeats guitarist Bob Hancock and pedal-steel master Buddy Emmons to his band. During this time fans began calling Gatton "The Telemaster" for his mastery of his favored Fender Telecaster guitar.
The Humbler
Gatton received another nickname during the 1970s, becoming known in guitar circles as "The Humbler" for his ability to out-play just about anybody on stage. Gatton would continue to play and do session work during the late-1970s and early '80s, but wouldn't record again until 1987's Unfinished Business, the album earning acclaim and attention from music publications as varied as Guitar Player and Rolling Stone. During this time, Gatton also performed with his teenage friends Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen (Hot Tuna) as Jack & the Degenerates, a band whose unreleased live recordings would be frequently bootlegged.
The buzz around the album and Gatton's dynamic live performances would lead to a deal with Elektra Records. Gatton released his major label debut 88 Elmira St. in 1991, earning a Grammy® Award nomination for the song "Elmira Street Boogie" as well as almost universal critical acclaim. A jazz-oriented album for Blue Note, New York Stories, Volume One, was released in 1992 and Gatton released his second and final album for Elektra, the acclaimed Cruisin' Deuces, in 1993. Gatton's record sales for Elektra never met the label's expectations, and he was dropped from the Elektra roster. Gatton would subsequently return to his role as a hired gun for session work and touring.
Gatton's Last Year
Gatton's last year was, tragically, one that may have finally earned him the commercial success he deserved. Gatton added his guitar to singer Chris Isaak's 1993 breakthrough album San Francisco Days and recorded his own album Relentless with keyboardist Joey DeFrancesco. The guitarist also lent his skills to albums by a diverse bunch of musicians during 1993/94, including Robert Gordon, Arlen Roth, Liz Meyer, and Delbert McClinton. Tragically, Gatton committed suicide in October 1994, leaving behind no note or explanation.
Interest in Gatton has continued long after his death. In January 1998, a number of friends and musical admirers gathered for two days in Alexandria, Virginia to hold a tribute show and benefit for Gatton's widow and daughter. Vince Gill, Steve Earle, Radney Foster, and Rodney Crowell were the featured headliners, and other performers included Les Paul, Albert Lee, Tom Principato, and Amos Garrett as well as former bandmates like Evan Johns, Billy Hancock, and Robert Gordon. A Gatton biography by writer Ralph Heibutzki, titled Unfinished Business: The Life and Times of Danny Gatton, was published in 2003.
Recommended Albums: There have as many (or more) posthumous Gatton albums released as there were during his life, mostly due to the efforts of his mother Norma Gatton, who formed the NRG Records label to keep the guitarist's legacy alive. The Elektra albums are the place to start, however, and both 88 Elmira St. and Cruisin' Deuces remain in print, while the hard-to-find Hot Rod Guitar anthology includes material from both Elektra albums as well as early recordings and rarities.
Danny Gatton – Select Discography
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- American Music (as Danny & the Fat Boys) (Aladdin Records, 1975)
- Redneck Jazz (NRG Records, 1978)
- Unfinished Business (NRG Records, 1987)
- 88 Elmira St. (Elektra Records, 1991)
- New York Stories, Volume One (Blue Note Records, 1992)
- Cruisin' Deuces (Elektra Records, 1993)
- Relentless w/Joey DeFrancesco (Big Mo Records, 1994)
- Redneck Jazz Explosion (NRG Records, 1995)
- The Humbler w/Robert Gordon (NRG Records, 1996)
- In Concert 9/9/94 [live] (Big Mo Records, 1996)
- Untouchable (NRG Records, 1998)
- Portraits (Big Mo Records, 1998)
- Hot Rod Guitar: The Danny Gatton Anthology (Rhino Records, 1999)
- Funhouse [live] (Big Mo Records, 2004)
- Oh No! More Blazing Telecasters w/Tom Principato [live] (Powerhouse Records, 2005)
- Redneck Jazz Explosion, Volume 2 [live] (Flying Deuces Records, 2006)
