Added: 4 years ago
From: robertkittila
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  • There are people that appreciate good guitar playing ( such as this ) regardless of the player and the style of music being played. DG could obviously turn his hand to any style and was a master of his art. There are other people that think any musican other than the one(s) they like should be insulted and called un-talented. You people can't call anyone with a talent like Danny Gatton, Gary Moore, Roy Buchanan,etc anything other than Genius. If you haven't got anything good to say be quiet.

  • danny=the best forever

  • Brian Setzer and Danny Gatton are two brilliant guitarrists, both seeking perfection in their own style. It's wrong to say Brian is not in Danny's league, they both play masterclass. Of course if you ask Brian, he would say that Danny was better because Brian is one of the modest Guitar player with a good attitude. Same with Danny, he would say Brian has some incredible qualities which Danny never had. They respect each other, it's no competition.

  • oh shitt.... accidently stumbled on this... you know how youtube is,,, now im hookd...!!!

  • Blazing...

  • From what I've read about Danny Gatton's demons, he had a shitload of them. It's a damn shame that he never let them into his guitar playing. His guitar playing is incredibly fleet, fluent and virtuosic, but he never actually admits any emotion into it. It's only ever brilliant and spectacular - never moving, or involving. That's why he never connected with an audience outside guitar fans, and that's what stopped him from being a truly great musician.

  • @lexo30 How do you know if he "admits emotion into it"? All you know is, you don't respond to it, but I hear tons of emotion, and do respond. It's nonsense to say he affected only other players because of no emotion. The fact is, he was a rising star, but his rise was difficult because nobody could figure out what genre to put him in. The jazz record he did was almost destroyed by ham fisted production that killed his tone, and people still loved it. Considering the commercial climate he killed

  • @Gregorypeckory What can I say? It's hot licks played at maximum speed - in other words, wanking. It's taken me quite a while to realise that Gatton's style of playing really isn't very musical and certainly isn't anything to be emulated.

  • @lexo30 You don't like him, and that's fair enough, but you are totally wrong about him not putting emotion in his playing. Listen to "Blues Newburg" (not sure I spelled it right), and you'll hear some of the most soulful blues ever, or "Satisfied Mind"-not sure how anyone would not hear the emotion there. But to each their own.

  • @Gregorypeckory I listened to Blues Newburg, and, sure, I'll grant that there's some genuinely soulful and intelligent slow blues playing there, for a little while - but about 1:52 in he gets embarrassed, or loses his nerve, or something, and goes off into playing smart-assed licks, and after that he's just playing the head again with small variations. Still not convinced that he's underrated.

  • @lexo30 To me a silly argument is guaranteed whenever someone claims knowledge of the internal state of the players-which is pure projection on their part. Danny's playing doesn't move you-that is clear. What I disagree with is the leap from that to you knowing his emotional state by your responses. Ironically, one can play sublime music in an offhanded manner, or shit with great passion. I don't care what someone was feeling-that's their business. How I respond to it is mine.

  • the best

  • Brian Setzer had his time, and brought something to rock a lot of ppl hadn't heard, but to compare him to Danny Gatton is absurd.He's not in the same league with Danny, and i'm sure Setzer would be the first person to tell you that.

  • No way Setzer can compete with Gatton

  • I think you could, and should find words, other than rape and molest, when speaking of playing the guitar.....Just sayin'

  • Very Sad story, for some time Danny was hesitant to travel for his music. But he really never got the big break. Incredible guitar player - who knows what kind of demons he was dealing with.

    Big Ron

  • Was there a tune he couldnt play?

  • this guy rips!!! never seen a telecaster get molested like that

  • LOVE seeing the guitar in the hands of such a friggin' master. I'm hanging up my guitar too, it's been done much better.

  • I'm done playing guitar. THis made me happy and crapped on my aspirations hahaha

  • The sheer physicality of Gatton's playing is just mind-blowing.

  • i am

  • Very nice video. I think Danny lost his pick at the end. lol. What a great player.

  • Why do you morons have to make this DANNY GATTON vid be about Setzer? Both great players, but we only have one of them left, and we just lost Gary Moore. We better enjoy the great ones while they are still around, and quit the lameass bashing.

  • dammm the trumpet player is also amazing on sax!!!!!

    i would enjoy so much if I could see them alive today!!!!! wow....

    RIP

  • A terrible end for a great talent.

  • Man I miss Danny Great Clip..

  • He quotes Ellington's "I'm beginning to see the light" in the middle of that. Nice!

  • Great playing !

  • Ripped it...

  • THX

  • I Love Gatton...but Setzer has true chops too!

  • Danny was a hoot to watch and listen to. Does anybody know the story behind why he committed suicide? Did he have on-going issues with depression? It's a terrible shame that he was unable to cope and regain a peaceful state of mind.

  • @spyguys

    at first they claimed it was an accident while cleaning his gun but it was pretty well known all around that he felt ignored by the big audience,record companies wanted him to tour all the time but Danny was no traveling man,he was extremely homesick each time he was away from home.He just couldn't have it the way he wanted and make money too.It's sad.....

  • @duanecoakes Thanks for the info!

  • Can I have some more please....;-)

  • Both Setzer and Gatton are fantastic guitar players, but they play two entirely different styles of guitar. Saying one guitar player is better than another is merely your opinion which has absolutely no merit to anyone but yourself. If you think about it, no one is qualified to make that statement. You would have to better than everyone to judge anyone.

  • RIP MASTER

  • does anyone have the song sailing on with Danny Gatton??? please post if you have

  • Hostia puta!!!!!!!...Brian...what???

  • That's Bill Holloman on Keys Sax and Trumpet. I believe he's in Arlen Roth's band.

    Checkout Arlen.. he's another great guitarist.

  • Forgive my ignorance, but that's only the second time I've seen that cat on trumpet, sax, organ. Holy Hell, what a monster of an asset for a group! Gatton experts: Who IS that guy? Is he still healthy and gigging?

  • 7-11 !!!

  • WOW!

  • One of the few guitarists who were truly versatile. It's impossible to categorise DG.

  • @taildragger53 The only other guy I can think of who plays a number of styles that well is Larry Coryell. This is a great clip...thanks for posting!

  • @Modes9 Oh my goodness, Larry Coryell is a technical genius. His recent stuff with Badi Assad is beautiful. Saw him onstage trading licks with Eric Clapton in 1976....Larry let rip with the fastest row of notes since McLaughlin. Claptons jaw dropped! I read recently in Gattons autobio that Eric avoided going onstage with Danny.

  • maserati waist coat is quite cool. lol

  • The "Humbler" does Jazz !

  • from where did this vid come and where can i find the complete song/video? 7 come 11 is one of my favorite songs danny does; the version on portraits is unbelievably, but id love to watch it if i can...please? please?

  • Danny is the only one who makes Jazz interesting

  • @AZmaxblues

    that's kind of narrow-minded.

  • Still love listening to Danny after all these years.

  • During his life time I believe he was the number 1 all around guitarist on the planet.

  • @gittahfiend

    Scotty Anderson maybe... It's close but I just really dig Scotty's style.

  • OMG...

  • hey does anybody know if there are any videos or recordings of gatton playing with roy buchanan?

  • mmm I think I will go and listen to hank garland jazz wind for the good stuff;;

  • Love``The Humbler Stakes His Claim`` live album.

  • Amazing guitarist

  • anything by gatton is a sure bet. a basic entry and staple might be 88 elmira street. if this is the first that you have heard of gatton, it is a shame that you weren't able to see him live. that is where the show really happened. what a gift. what a piss poor decision on his part to take his gift away. learned from his mentor rb i guess.

  • @elletsco  I also think that Billy Windsors death really affected DG to the point where he felt "Where do i go now for advice?" It's such a terrible shame he didn't seek professional medical help..but then he just wasn't the type.

  • o ma lawd...

    can anyone recommend an album to get started on?

    missing out this whole time...fail

  • @sebasian55 Danny Gatton "Redneck Jazz Explosion!" Live at the Cellar Door. So money.

  • "The Humbler Live in 1977". His studio recordings don't do him justice. I was fortunate to see him once as an opening act and I was stunned by this man's playing speed and taste.

  • find a cut of his version of "Harlem Nocturne"off the "cruisin dueces" LP it is AMAZING it's on itunes

  • The recent release 'Live 77;The Humbler stakes His Claim' is great, my favourite CD that is easy to find (available to download on Amazon etc). I also really like 'Unfinished Business'.

  • @sebasian55

    You can probably find "American Music" on Aladdin Records somewhere. He didn't learn anything about killing himself from anyone. Shotgun in a vise, no more music.

  • Sheer genius!

  • Is there anyone better than Danny on electric guitar??

  • There's a guy named Johnny Hiland who is a Gatton disciple. "Better" is an impossible term, music isn't a competition and all players put their personalities into their playing, which makes it individual, but Hiland is very reminiscent of Gatton in technique and range, and purposely cops a lot of Gatton licks. On his first record he has a tribute song called Gatton To It.

  • Man, if I could play guitar like that I sure wouldn't be killing myself. I really wish someone would do a ducumentary film on Gatton, he's a bit of a mystery.

  • Wait what?

  • Danny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­

  • Embarrassed to admit I've never heard of Danny Gatton. Phenomenal player. Wow.

    I checked out "Sleepwalk", DG popped up as the Tele Master, so I had to listen and now seeing this for the first time. I'm amazed. he passed? RIP

  • nasty, reminds me of jimmy herring

  • you got it backwards buddy...herring came WAY after Gatton

  • Thats fuckin impressive

  • Gatton Kicks Ass  !!!!!!

  • wow!

  • Terrific playing! ...at 0:14, Danny is playing "Homage to Charlie Christian" by Charlie Byrd. ...fun stuff.

  • i like jazz now

  • Stunning, as always..

  • A true legend. Known by the best as one of the best.RIP

  • I honestly believe Brian Setzer was more popular because he was willing to wear make up womens' clothing. Who's with me?

  • Brian Setzer is an entirely different image. He is a mix of british punk culture and 1950's Elvis. Elvis tried eyeliner in 1955 for a while. The Brits were more experimental in the late 70's and early 80's . Danny gatton comes from a more mainstream country music culture, which is more conservative.

  • @ffairlane57

    exactly.. and although Gatton is absolutely amazing, music really comes down to songs... and Setzer reached way more people as a writer. Sure they overlap in some areas, but different animals.

  • @viciousattackvideo music really comes down to songs? that statements too categorical. although good songs are an important aspect in pop/rock (and other genres, if we use the word 'song' very loosely), what music really comes down to is the ability to create a pleasing aural aesthetic experience. many other aspects are included under this, but this is the 'meat' of what music is about - however a musician accomplishes this is variable, but that must be the main goal, and danny does it better.

  • @TexasTele1983 Setzer isn't anywhere close to being on the same page as Gatton.

  • @TexasTele1983 Setzer is a great arranger as well as a player. Gatton would kill him if they were up there together but nobodys talking about the Danny Gatton orchestra. Im sure the image has something to do with it though.

  • Who's talking about the Brian Setzer Orchestra anymore?. Danny was the real deal, his music is going to stand the test of time. Brian setzer is all about flash and being gaudy, and his orchestra days are already a joke. I mean, he let someone rap over "in the mood". They are both amazing players, i just prefer some soul in the music i listen to.

  • @TexasTele1983 Yeah, I agree Setzer's a bitch.

  • @TexasTele1983 Setzer is good too folks. but that's like comparing apples and oranges. Personally I like both apples and oranges. I love listening to Setzer when I'm in the mood for that style, but there never will be another Gatton - some people try - and I love listening to them too (like Johnny Hiland) - but he's still not Gatton. I was a musician in the DC area when Gatton and Emmons were there (and Roy Buchanan) - Damned good old days... that's what that was... RIP Telemaster!!!

  • @amoskowitz0103 Agreed! Nothing wrong with having apples and oranges in this world!

  • doesnt look that hard to play =) lolololo danny u rok forever brother

  • COmparing Danny to Seltzer is like comparing the Sun to a pebble.

  • well said garyguitar; i agree 150 %!!!

  • Holy Smoke!

  • what a player!

    Joey Lodes

  • He made it all look EASY, that darn genius! ! Sad to think we'll never hear him play live anymore. But his playing is immortal.

  • Your absolutely right! I have been checking out Albert lee, and Johnny Hiland. How do they Do it???

  • It would have been damn fun if Danny and Brian Setzer made a guitar duel!!

  • probably not, because danny rapes the hell out of brian setzer on guitar....

  • Bingo

  • I agree, if danny gatton had a quiff and a gretsch the rockabillys would have hailed him god of rockabilly bob jazz country guitar haha

  • agree totally

  • Nonsense! The popularity of the Gretsch 6120 is overrated...I still like the guitar, though. Rockabillies like Paul Burlison played a tele. Scotty Moore played a Gibson ES-295. And yes, Eddie Cochran played a Gretsch.

  • ..word

  • @cofree22 just because someone's music is more technical dosn't mean it is better, hats off to Danny Gatton and Brian Setzer though!

  • @cofree22 Danny could rape the hell out of anybody

  • @jcomshaw I agree! Sad story, man what a player!

  • Such an idiosyncratic player. The effortlessness of it all. was he doing something different or were his hands just built to work that way by nature? It certainly worked and his musical mind was as sharp as his fingers. A player worth studying.

  • love it

  • how many country guitarists could play seven come eleven i wonder danny was always accused of being a country guitarist 2 funny...........

  • haha gotta love the tritone the devils friend! hahaha

  • While Danny Gatton usually gets the well deserved accolades for his technical prowess, I think we often overlook two other sides to his genius. First, his creativity: How many other guitarists arranged pieces anything like this? Finally, as one guitarist friend reminded me, Gatton was an incredibly soulful player, and I fully agree. While I can listen to Brent Mason and admire his technical speed and wizardry, there is something from deep within lacking, and that something, Danny had IT.

  • I threw my guitar collection is in my garbage can after seeing this. (just kidding)

  • FUUUCKKKK.

    This  is great !

  • i had a similar experience, I had heard of gatton... but I had only found him after searching for joe bonamassa

    He can rip up any song with his distinct firey blues playing, with jazz harmonics in passing, trebley tele tone, country right hand technique.

    the mans another freak I'll aspire to play like

  • I just discovered Danny Gatton a while back while searching for vids of Joe Bonamassa. I have been searching out all the videos of DG I can find and they never cease to amaze me. What a tragedy that this "Master" is no longer with us. I am a new fan even though he is passed. RIP Danny Gatton,

  • my god, that was outstanding!

  • damn its a shame he couldnt play

  • bucky bucky. you believe what you will but you don't even know how to play a guitar and I don't even know you. It is most obvious from your idiotic remarks. Your momma never taught you if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. It makes you look like a fool.

  • Matt, If someone tried to poison your youngster, I'm sure you would want to spank their mama, fool or no fool. I'd bet you have something to say about. Larry Struthers is dead. I cant bitch to him about it.

  • I grew up with Danny. We graduated from Oxon Hill High School (1963) in Maryland. Danny used to play at a bar called Billy Jacks a lot. Billy Jacks was owned by Billy Underwood and others who also graduated with us. Danny we love you and R.I.P. We will miss you forever. Matt

  • =0 0-0

  • how was he? he seems like a great guy. i barely discovered him, but dig alot of his stuff.

  • Danny was very quiet. He loved to challenge guys when they thought they could out duel him. He was very competitive. He was really a loner except for his car people and various bands. Danny was depressed in his later days and was torn as to what to do. He really hated to go on the road and hated to play in bands when they insisted he be just a guitar player, he wanted to be in front.

  • I wonder how he got so good?

  • Danny's father was probably his biggest influence. His mother Norma was into music also and actually published some of his music. His wife took Norma to court and stopped Norma from doing any more after he died. Danny could repair a guitar better than anyone in the business. In fact that was a way to provide since playing in clubs was not very lucrative. He loved to tinker and try to improve pickups and tuned guitars differently than most. He was special.

  • Gee, my parents almost bought a house in Oxon Hill and I would of gone to school there. Thank God they could not get a loan with that subdivision. For me at lease Arlington was golden enough. No offense. Hey how bout that Army-Navy game? When's Army going to win one?

  • William I don't ever remember Larry Struthers playing with Danny. You seem to be off base about Danny just because of a player that might have played in his band. To judge Danny because of someone else is silly.

  • No, Danny is quite fine with me, and I feel very sorry for the family and his friends.  His guitar playing is magical no doubt.

    But if Larry Struthers poisoned you back in 1972 what would you do? There is a picture of a band on the internet and both D and L are in the photo.

  • William if you are referring to The Drapes that band never got together until 1985 and they only did about 9 or ten gigs. Larry only sat in maybe one or two gigs. You got poisoned in 1972...Danny and Larry did not even no each other and I'm not sure Danny knew who he was in 1985. You got your stories mixed man. Danny had nothing to do with you and you owe this blog a huge apology for saying what you did about Danny's "crappy music". Matt

  • That is probably true about Larry and Danny only doing a few gigs. And I am not pointing the finger at Mr. Danny. But I think I have the right to say that I dont enjoy the erratic fusion here that this band is playing in this blog. That donesnt mean that the man cant play. How do you dance to something like that HAHAHA Trying to be funny.

  • Matt, My ex wife was sleeping with all my buddies. Larry Struthers was in the older group that Larry was in who graduated HS 1965.  Then to get poisoned by the bugger, well people can only take so much. And Dannys Blog is the only venting venue. I remember the Keg. I performed there a few times. Also I would buy a Danny instructional DVD to add to my collection. So I feel no pain from him.

  • I said Billy Underwood...I meant Billy Windsor who played with Danny and Jack Jensen...thus BillyJacks. Billy died before Danny and we still think Danny never got over that death. Matt

  • You can really see the Django influence in Dannys playing here.

  • agree

  • Never heard of this guy before tonight. Shame on me! You can see the combination of intelligence, concentration and delight at his own inventiveness on his face while he's playing. What an amazing guitarist.

  • He's got he own model of Fender Telecaster named after him! Deservedly so.

  • I had the pleasure of witnessing this fine guitarist on at least 3 occasions. The only picker that I know of who cleaned his guitar neck with beer while playing it !

  • Like your rendition of Mabelene?

    Stop being so sour. Danny could put a 100 guys like you in and out of his pocket in a jiffy.

  • OK, I try to be positive. " here it goes........I am sooooo happy that his sax player poisoned my drink which made my fingers so spastic so that I can never sound good regardless of how hard I try" Also, it would of been nice to have been shot in the vietnam war.

  • heck are you talking about?

  • someone used my name and posted a false comment which 6+ people deemed inappropriate. Im just responding to your comment.

  • Thank you very much for your kind comment. Malta has to be out of this world. My mom was from Palermo and work as a seamstress near the Capital building in Washington DC.

    We were poor but my pants alway fit like a glove.

  • That wasnt that sax player on this video. Different guy. Use scientific method and hypotheically poison Danny's drink. Would he be able to find his pocket?

    But as I said Danny was probably a good guy and I feel sorry for the family but not for Larry Struthers the sax player who would for no reason poison someone's drink.

    What if it was your child who was poisoned? I might add that I was in church every Sunday of my life so I kept my nose pretty clean.

  • Sorry That was me, I just dont like that music. Im not sour.

    But I was poisoned by a sax player of Danny Gatton's band.

    This sax player,Larry Struthers , who has been dead a while , went to school with me. HOPE that explains the confusion.

  • I uh, have, uh, no idea of what the heck is, uh, going on.

    I'm sorry for being hard on you, I was in a pissed off mood when I commented on your rendition of Mabelene. The comment written from your account didn't help and I just said the meanest thing I could think of at the time. I apologise.

    Regarding who's posting what I'm kind of confused.

  • Obvious to me you don't even know what a guitar is. He was dubbed "the best unknown guitarist". His other name in the guitar business was "The Humbler". Guitarist would walk off the stage if he was in the audience. If they challenged him to playing they would literally stop playing and stand in amazement and in disbelief. He could play circles around most. Les Paul thought he was cocky but later respected his performances.

  • That may be so and Im sure God loves him to. But that does not mean that it is impossible for a dark haired sax player that has played with him to be a murderous spirit.

  • crazy licks

  • el mejor guitarrista del mundo a mi gusto.. the best gitar

  • Now THAT was a guitar lesson!

  • argh why such a shitty bitrate????

  • Those that were able to see Danny perform live over the years are privileged. All I can do is give thanks to the technology that brought us youtube and allowed many like me who never saw him live appreciate the immense talent Gatton possessed, if only in video snippets. Unbelievable player and innovator.

  • Lordy! I remember seeing Danny with the Fat Boys at the Psychedelly in Bethesda in the 70's, and with various incarnations of his band at the Birchmere and Danny Gatton's Beneath It All. He was a treasure . I still have my Redneck Jazz red vinyl album. He is my favorite guitar player. I am glad more people are getting exposed to this underappreciated genuis's talents. Rest In Peace Danny. We love you, and your music will inspire generations...

  • ExecuMutant great story, love to hear about people who saw Danny live, especially in the 70's. Its a shame there are probably what 2 -70's Gatton shows on video. Man, he was possesed in the 70's and flying all over that Les Paul neck; unbelievable. Doing research the 70's shows that were very explosive were 74 A Childe Herald, 75 Annandale Bar & Grill, 76 Psychedelly, 77 Babes, 77 Desperados, 78 Cellar Door, 77 Psychedelly, 79 Cellar Door. And for historical significance 73 Crossroads.

  • I believe I saw Danny during his brief stint

    with Liz Meyers at a club down the street from U of Md. at college park in d.c.

    I also have the red vinyl red neck jazz album

    In Liz meyers danny would play his banjo

    during the bluegrass set.

  • sndwchman great story; I can only imagine Danny playing the banjo in the early 70's. Danny's guitar was ferocious in the 70's especially from 74-78. I've heard between 20-25 live shows of Gatton from the 70's and they are red hot!!!

    Gattonmaster/formally mastercollector

  • Liz and Danny played all over the DC area. Liz and Emmy Lou Harris are good friends. They used to play at the "Keg" in Georgetown. Liz now lives in the Netherlands. Matt

  • mbenz380 do you think you could find any live shows from 1970-1973 with Danny Gatton? I have heard one show live from 73 and it sounded a little muddy but I haven't seen too many live shows between 70-73 of Danny Gatton but am waiting far collectors to contact me if they find some!! formally mastercollector and now gattonmaster

  • ExecuMutant, IF YOU KNOW OF ANY BIG TIME SERIOUS GATTON COLLECTORS SEND THEM NY WAY WON'T YOU?

  • I've sent 10 of them to New York, but I don't understand why. Why? That was all I knew, now they are gone

  • Why is this video clip rated 5 and Gallaghers is ranked 4? Who ranks these clips; it should be me, or a few other people. That Gallaghers clip should be 5 like most Gatton clips. mastercollector

  • Because we are highly trained experts, and you're not.

    heheh just kidding.  You bring up a good point.

  • Gatton fans this is mastercollector; I've changed my name to Gattonmaster; ready....begin.

  • the man was not human,

  • RIP brotha

  • Check out that wicked trumpet player, Bill Holloman, going crazy on tenor sax on the Danny Gatton Band (Part 1) clip. This guy is an unsung genius. Plays tons of instruments well (all over Danny's "Cruisin' Deuces"). Toured with Nile Rodgers and Chic.

  • Gatton is a genius. And the Austin performance should really get a DVD release (yup, the bottle slide with beer spilling is priceless!). Danny's playing keeps inspiring me to pick up my Tele and just wail! When I read what happened to him, I just started to cry.

  • They need to release the Austin City Limits show Danny did on DVD. That was a great performance.

  • Especially the last song when he used the beer bottle slide and played under on towell on his tele neck drenched with beer!!! mastercollector

  • Honky Tonk Country Girl. mastercollector