Danny Gatton

Biography

Danny Gatton, born Daniel Wood Gatton Jr. on September 4, 1945, in Washington, D.C., grew up in a musical family with his father, Daniel W. Gatton Sr., a rhythm guitarist who prioritized family stability over a performing career. Starting guitar at age nine, inspired by Les Paul and Hank Garland, Gatton joined his first band, The Offbeats, at 12 in 1959, playing with them until 1967 and reuniting later as American Music Company. He worked as a sheet metal worker, married Jan at 21, and became known for repairing instruments while immersing himself in the D.C. music scene, blending blues, country, bebop, rockabilly, and jazz on guitars like his customized 1953 Telecaster and 1956 Gibson ES-350.[1][2][3][4]

Fun Facts

• Nicknamed 'The Humbler' for his ferocious guitar chops that humbled other players, and 'The Telemaster' for his mastery of the Fender Telecaster.[2][3][4]
• Inspired John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful to write 'Nashville Cats' after witnessing his virtuosity in a Holiday Inn basement bar.[2]
• Once responded to a club owner firing his band due to overwhelming crowds with, 'Why don’t you hire more waitresses?'[4]
• Released his first solo album 'Unfinished Business' in 1987 on his mother's NRG label, considered by many his best record.[1][4]

Associated Acts

• Danny & The Fat Boys

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Les Paul - early stylistic inspiration (general influence on guitar technique) [1950s]
• Hank Garland - early stylistic inspiration (general influence on guitar playing) [1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Buddy Emmons - virtuoso pedal steel player in Redneck Jazz Explosion (Redneck Jazz Explosion albums) [late 1970s-1980s]
• John Previti - longtime bassist for 18 years (88 Elmira Street (1991), various albums) [1970s-1990s]
• Roger Miller - joined forces for performances and sessions (Nashville sessions) [1981]
• Robert Gordon - rockabilly artist collaboration (recordings) [late 1970s]
• Liz Meyer - guitar and banjo in Liz Meyer & Friends (group performances) [1973]
• Vince Gill - performances (various) [1990s]
• Albert Lee - performances (various) [1990s]
• Delbert McClinton - performances (various) [1990s]

Artists Influenced

• John Sebastian - inspired to write song after seeing Gatton play (Nashville Cats (Lovin' Spoonful)) [1960s]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #electric-blues, #jazz-blues, #rockabilly