From: "Dik de Heer" Date: Wed Sep 4, 2002 1:15 am Subject: Born To Be With You : Danny Gatton DANNY GATTON Born 4 September 1945, Washington, D.C. Died 4 October 1994, Newburg, Maryland Danny Gatton was one of the great guitarists, certainly in terms of sheer technique. But, as Colin Escott has remarked : "He got an F in charisma, lacking every star trapping imaginable". At the age of six, Danny was introduced to the guitar by his uncle. Gatton was always as much intrigued by the technology of the guitar as the music itself. Les Paul was his principal influence because of the technological innovation as much as his music. Gatton moved to Nashville in 1967, toying with the idea of trying to break into the studio scene, but he found himself without contacts in what was then a closed shop. Back in the D.C. area he formed his own trio, Danny and the Fat Boys, in 1975. In 1980 he joined the backing group of Roger Miller. For a while he played both with Miller and Robert Gordon, but eventually settled for a year or so of steady work with Gordon. Many of those who saw Gatton with Gordon have fond memories of the music they made together. By now, he could reproduce the guitar licks of all the rockabilly pickers that influenced him, like Scotty Moore, James Burton and Al Casey, with amazing power and precision. Soon Danny got the chance to record albums of his own, first for the NRG label, then for Elektra, a major label, but Gatton wasn't the product of major- label culture and didn't belong there. It was a relief when Elektra dropped him after two albums. He later recorded a jazz album for Blue Note and another record for a local label. In October 1994 came the news that he had committed suicide. Those close to him say that Gatton was prone to bouts of depression. He had a domestic argument, then stormed out of the house and over to his garage to work on his car. Later there was a gunshot. Further reading: Colin Escott, Tattooed On Their Tongues (1996), p. 183-189. Official website: http://www.dannygatton.com/ Anthology: Hot Rod Guitar : The Danny Gatton Anthology (WEA/Atlantic/Rhino), 2 CD-set. The two Elektra albums (88 Elmira Street and Cruisin' Deuces) both have a few stunning rockabilly tracks, but include too many "modern" styles to satisfy the fan of fifties R&R. A sampling of Gatton's work with Robert Gordon has been reissued by Bear Family as "Red Hot" (BCD 15446) and "Black Slacks" (BCD 15489). I'm not familiar with the two NRG albums, Unfinished Business and Redneck Jazz.