Danny Gatton ~ Mistery Train/Thats Allright Mama/My Baby Left Me”
Today I’d like to recognize Mr. Danny Gatton (September 4, 1945 – October 4, 1994). He was the man Guitar magazine dubbed “The World’s Greatest Unknown Guitarist.” Danny Gatton stayed in the musical shadows while building a cult following as a sort of honky-tonk Eric Clapton. Never a superstar, Gatton was nevertheless a hero to fellow guitarists. He could pluck easygoing, banjo-like country rambles or grind out power chords or create wonderfully melodic jazz excursions that revealed just a sliver of his massive technique.
Gatton made his name as a performer in the Washington, DC, area during the late 1970s and 1980s, both as a solo performer and with his Redneck Jazz Explosion, in which he traded licks with virtuoso pedal steel player Buddy Emmons over a tight bass-drums rhythm that drew from blues, country, bebop, and rockabilly influences.
His skills were most appreciated by his peers such as Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, and his childhood idol Les Paul. During his career, Gatton appeared on stage with guitar heroes such as Alvin Lee and Jimmie Vaughan. Gatton had roomed with Roy Buchanan in Nashville, Tennessee in the mid ’60s and they became frequent jamming partners. He also performed with old teenage friend Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen (from Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna) as Jack and the Degenerates.
Danny Gatton has been described as possessing an extraordinary proficiency on his instrument, “a living treasury of American musical styles.” 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. Gatton referred to himself as “the Whitman sampler of music.” Legendary guitarist Steve Vai reckons Danny “comes closer than anyone else to being the best guitar player that ever lived.” Accomplished guitar veteran Albert Lee said of Gatton: “Here’s a guy who’s got it all.