Redneck Jazz Explosion - Danny Gatton

And another one of this concert featuring the incredible Danny Gatton

[@JeffSilverman-Palette]

I was asked to audition for Danny's position as lead guitar for Roger Miller's band in the early 80's (when he left the tour). I FREAKED to say the least!!! Thanks to a banjo friend of mine from the Kentucky Colonels (and Dillard's), he gave me a crash course on how to fake my way through Rogers Orange Blossom Special / Foggy Mountain Breakdown. Somehow... I got the gig. I then had the honor of meeting up with Danny when we played the Smithsonian Institute in DC. I asked if he would mind jamming out at his farm in Maryland. He was THE most humble guy & said ABSOLUTELY!! I only remember my jaw dropping most of the jam but he made me feel like I had a few good things to say / play along the way. What a loss to us all. Such an amazing person as well as player!

[@pretorious700]

Doug Dillard?

[@PaletterecordsNet-MSP]

Actually, Billy Ray Lathum

[@scottmatheson2390]

Wow what a great story man. As a fellow player I can only imagine how lucky and honored you must have felt to not only snag the Miller gig (I loved his stuff as a kid and still do)but also to share all that quality time with one of the world's greatest guitarists! I saw Danny play a few times and what can I say? Easily the most impressive player I've ever seen on any instrument. I imagine you're no slouch yourself to be asked to take over for Danny! yikes! That'd be a hard act for virtually any other guitarist on Earth to follow! Btw the Dillards were great as well. I used to watch Andy Griffith as a kid and it wasn't until years later that I learned it was them playing the otherwise mute Darlin boys. Great stuff.

[@BEN14680]

wow.... thats some ask,,lol... respect

[@brianlee5455]

You got to jam with Obi frickin' Wan Kanobi!

[@YesuAiNimen]

Every time I watch a Danny Gatton video my guitar lets out a sigh and says "I wish you would touch me like that."

[@davidfox2832]

vuduhwy my wife does the same

[@YesuAiNimen]

@@bradejensen 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@spudwickthrockmorton2112]

@@davidfox2832that sounds like a different issue there lol

[@i.p.knightly149]

Just in case anybody is confused, Danny Gatton is the guy wearing the "Danny Gatton" t-shirt.

[@rainbowriderjt7833]

Well someone down below actually asked the question! Probably drunk or high!! HAHA!!

[@BillRayDrums]

I swear I never would have figured that out, because I'm a drummer, ya know?

[@phantasm8180]

good point

[@bradconklin2878]

Let me get this straight... the guy with the Les Paul Custom (not a Tele) and the Danny Gatton t, is Danny Gatton?

[@ddss6227]

can you be more specific?

[@watermelonbeast]

I grew up in Arlington, Virginia and remember seeing Danny play several times. The time I remember most was one night at the Psychedelly in Bethesda having dinner with my brother. My brother had been in Bethesda Navy Hospital for a couple weeks and the doctors said he could leave for a couple hours as he was having surgery for a brain tumor the next day. Danny started to do his sound check and it was a solo concert on its own. They were starting to ask us for the cover charge and Danny told them to waive it for us so we could stay as we didn't have the money. My brother had the surgery the next day which took over 11 hours. My brother found out from his surgeon almost thirty years later that his tumor was actually considered inoperable and the doctors didn't think he would survive the operation. This was probably the reason the let him out of the hospital the night before the surgery. Danny was a great and humble guy and I will never forget that night in Bethesda! Danny also played a while with a great band, Liz Meyer & Friends, but I remember him the most with the Fat Boys. He came up to Connecticut in the early 1990's and I spoke with him briefly between sets. He was not in good shape and seemed out of his element. He hated being away from home. He really wanted to do music on his terms and couldn't deal with the pressures of the music industry. A very sad loss.

[@michaelslawrie]

Danny Gatton (pre-tele) and Buddy Emmons!?! THIS IS HEAVEN!!!!

[@custommusic2433]

Took the words out of my mouth! Buddy Emmons! Wow

[@davidferrara1105]

this shit is next-level flow

[@iasoccerdad]

I'll be 70 this year and have been playing for 57 of those years... everytime I watch Danny I wonder why I keep trying.. the best hands down, so versatile and original.. RIP!

[@fisherohvf-men623]

Yeah. I just threw all my sh*t in a pile a burned it. Thanks Danny.

[@carguy3460]

Because she is a wonderful, mysterious puzzle to be solved yet can never be solved! A love affair beyond measure! Keep on pickin! Sincerely, A fellow elderly novice :)

[@pereztube2]

hey god, can we have danny gatton back for a little while? thanks

[@TheDrewish]

We'll trade you for any pop artist now. Beiber, Taylor, anybody...

[@rustysheckleferg8380]

Imo one of the greatest/ most underrated guitarist ever. r.i.p

[@tatonkaa]

+Rusty sheckleferg Rolling Stone rated him as like 64th. Those assholes put a terrorist on the cover of their magazine, though. You should check out Greg Koch. A local guy that likes to play here in Milwaukee.

[@sicklicksbyzwick6312]

+tatonkaa whos the terrorist?

[@rustysheckleferg8380]

tatonkaa I hear you there! . fuck rolling stone magazine. I still cant believe no one thought it would be a bad idea to put that fuck head on the cover after what he did.

[@jscordoba3]

+tatonkaa Greg's great!

[@cattleprods911]

+Rusty sheckleferg ...correct, nobody could come close to Danny

[@MrBighairyass]

Everyone talks about all these “Guitar Gods”, but this hillbilly is way better than all of them. Danny is using so many complicated techniques at once that most people have no idea what he is doing. Probably the best I have ever seen...

[@BUCKAROO6STRINGFEVER]

100% truth

[@JordanPattersonM]

Wow was that ever well said, my friend! Danny Gatton was a musical heavyweight with great humility in a very special way. The man was certainly confident in his capability and understanding of the instrument but also incredibly kind as a human being - his artistry was 100% committed to excellence and solely about him and the guitar!!

[@mjordan8432]

Yes

[@garethwest9069]

When Eddie Van Halen visited Jason Becker, he said that his playing was a gift from God and that anyone who believes otherwise is wrong. I believe that these musos have a spiritual gift ... but not from God, that's for sure. It was Satan's minions who gifted this man and the same demons who got in his head and led him to his self inflicted demise. DO NOT BE FOOLED!! What one reaps, they sow!

[@captainshiner42]

Danny is the shit, but this is just ONE random guy's opinion. There is no "best", my guy.

[@MrKittles1123]

This guy was sooooo talented and accomplished, it aches knowing what became of him. Particularly in today’s musical context. Nothing hurts quite like not being able to just be happy with life, and it’s criminal that such a man succumbed to that struggle. But Danny Gatton is not forgotten and is truly still a humbler today, and this is a fantastic testament to that fact. All guitarists should check this guy out and be reminded that “virtuoso” guitar playing comes in many forms beyond just thick distortion and 3 note per string licks.

[@elvislives-gl4rv]

He's not underrated by guitar players. They know who's boss.

[@BernieHollandMusic]

Buddy Emmons - the master of Western swing !

[@jamescadwell2731]

I got to shake Buddy Emmons hand at the Turtle Lake casino near Red Wing Minnesota. He was backing up the Everly Brothers. I also got to shake their hands. I was sitting about 10 feet away from the band. One of the coolest concerts I ever went to.

[@redghost3170]

There might be one or two dudes in the world who could imitate that. Amazing.

[@grahamclews1571]

Emmons is the king of the pedal steel and Gatton is just awesome.. so fast and you can hear every note

[@duster71]

Buddy's solo was so great so out there,much like a Zappa solo

[@bcummings2187]

This is just ridiculously smooth and so in the groove ......and so fucking devastating at the same time ......phenomenal guitar playing ...guy was great ! :)

[@dutchjay1515]

I love heavy metal shredding Jazz and country, must have died and gone to heaven.... where has this been hiding...OMG....just absolutely farkin WONDERFUL

[@FatherRikhi]

Right on....!

[@NolaVenice]

I had the good fortune and pleasure of catching Danny Gatton in the DC area back in the late 70's back before computers, cell phones and all the electronic medication had done a number on humanity. Did Jeff Beck know this dude existed?

[@garymorgan3314]

I guess so. Beck is very much aware of everyone and all sorts of music, Indian ragas, Bulgarian harmonic singing, the lot.

[@RCHeath]

Yes Beck, who I actually really think is phenomenal but in another time zone to Danny, did know about him. Danny arranged to meet Clapton but he backed out and sent his manager. Beck agreed but failed to show up or send anyone.

[@davecorbin5088]

Yes, Jeff knew about him.

[@TheGattonmaster]

Yes Beck said he was awesome, called him Sir Danny. Beck is great, alot of fans thought he was the greatest; but Gattons better. Alot of people think Django, Wes, Lenny Breau are the greates:; but Gattons better, he's the greatest soloist ever by far, and can play anything, his improvisations messing around are mind boggling.

[@BillRayDrums]

One of the best unsung players the modern world has ever witnessed.

[@airdancr1]

Every time I watch one of his videos, I always catch myself saying "damn, I gotta pratice more." R.I.P Danny!

[@1954tele]

Thanks sooo much for uploading this!!! Has to be the earliest recording I have seen to date. Its nice to take a trip back to visit Danny's humble(r) beginnings!!!

[@RCHeath]

If you just watched the miracle that was Danny Gatton, you missed so much here. Everyone on stage is great. Sadly we don't have Buddy Emmons with us any longer either.

[@v2vroth]

Danny you are one of my all time favorites, thanks for sharing your musical gift with us mortals :-)

[@ClassicalRay]

Incredible! Any Gatton is precious, keep it coming..

[@bensweeney1251]

This is my favorite video ive watched it everyday for about a month some times more than once!!

[@GraffitiPhysical]

Thanks for posting John. This recording is epic and Danny Gatton one of the best guitar players of all time.

[@RCHeath]

Just the smiles and fun that Buddy and Dan had, made this so worth while.

[@IwoIwanov]

Just beyond the instrument. Words would not suffice. Many thanks for the upload.

[@mikejones-vd3fg]

holy crap what did i just listen too, that was awesome!!

[@jbbon]

Love listening to this. Danny was DA BEST...!!!

[@hearpalhere]

Man, this is sick! It was recorded the year I was born. Danny Gatton was simply out of this world. Thanks so much for sharing this!

[@wr70beh]

I wish I had paid more attention to music when I was younger. This is incredible stuff.

[@glennk1931]

He was beyond fantastic. In a class all his own.

[@drivinsouth651]

How come I`ve never ever heard this before? It is awesome! Thanks for posting; now maybe I can get the cd/dvd. :-D

[@marksil00]

God I love KZbin! Thank You John Boda. Danny is playing the most beautiful guitar I've ever seen.

[@DwainDwight]

Very , very crazy! Danny was just playing on another level. Easy top 10 ever, on pure talent, top 2 or 3. Thank you for posting this x 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

[@ryanferris7841]

This is a whole other level of playing! I’ve never seen the likes of it 🤣

[@buddybeetle]

Untouchable. The finest.

[@YudisDwikoMusic]

One of his primetime....always amazing 👍👍

[@dannyreyna2821]

One of the unsung heroes of the guitar that's not forgotten. RIP D.G.

[@jimmyrecce8787]

Danny truly had a divine gift....he was probably by far the greatest guitar player of all time...we all sure miss your genius Danny.....😏😏😏

[@commanderthorkilj.amundsen3426]

I agree. His friends and bandmates said he actually didn't practice, would pick his guitar up now and then, noodle around a bit, unlike some virtuosos who still play ten hrs/day. Danny didn't have to. It simply flowed out of him. He heard it, could play it, embellish it. Truly unique.

[@daveh5533]

I had the good fortune of following Danny early in his career while playing in the DC area. This could have been recorded at the famous Cellar door they did play there with the red t shirts. I do remember the great Buddy Emmons being in awe of Danny all night. He was by far the best I ever saw and he is missed greatly!

[@randyporter3491]

This is just stunning skill by any standard. Danny's mix of techniques won't be duplicated.

[@wehaveasituation]

this one's the best..really, of all the Danny Gatton performances, this captures best his loosed and most leading playing..

[@katooey]

Danny we miss you man. What a great musician!

[@mrguitarwho5500]

A big D. G . fan. just came across this. right hand , left hand . PERFECT ! R.I.P. teacher.

[@playAgainMe]

Thx John ... Danny was the definitely greatest unknown guitar player

[@davidsedlak2000]

This is my favorite era of Danny, the RJE band w Buddy Emmons, Danny on Les Paul with the Magic Dingus box. No one better. RIP

[@bowzera]

one of the top ten because of his mastery of all styles !

[@TheDCGuitar13]

The greatest guitar player to ever come out of dc. The humbler will never be forgotten.

[@TheEDZEPPELINBAND]

the dynamics around 4:00 are really nice...and I love the t shirts-these guys were like from outer space... their level of thinking and musicianship just messes me up-and makes me smile-

[@elvislives-gl4rv]

Only saw him live once. At the Bayou in Georgetown around '91 or '92. It was enough. I was ruined for anyone else. The best ever.

[@EmotionalShredd]

seriously, this is one of the most amazing guitar performances ive ever heard, and i listen to all the great guitar shredders out there, believe me, ive heard them all from Greg Howe, Allen Holdsworth, Frank Gambale etc...... BUT this is unbelievable, this is not just only shredding very amazingly, this is way more, those triads etc. are crazy, they way how he is soloing with triads and voicings is outstanding

[@dennissweeney6774]

Thanks for the video. The first time seeing DANNY GATTON it was 1988 in a small club in lower Manhattan and my jaw dropped went home told my brother what I saw he was the one who turn on to STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN in small clubs. I had to get him back at one point my brother hands a bottle of beer up to DANNY just took off on it miss them days.

[@milsurprifles]

Amazing. One of my all time favorites. In the 90’s I had a roommate named Evan John’s. He was in Danny;s band, and wrote some of the tunes on the B-Side to Redneck Jazz, including the album’s namesake “Redneck Jazz”. He would tell me stories about Danny all the time, many times bringing him to tears. Evan was one of the first people on the scene when Danny ended his life, and it greatly affected Evan. Danny’s mother Norma sent me a copy of Redneck Jazz on red vinyl. Still have it, and Evan was nice enough to sign it to me. I miss Evan so much, and always wished I had met Danny.

[@BenLubin]

Nuts to see danny playing a LP. So much more gain on the tone.

[@joemcgraw5529]

this is inspiring every time I hear his music ,nope cant play like that and never will but still makes me pick up and at least practice ,wonder if he ever met or played with Roy Clark ,different times but Roy grew up close to where Danny did and my father grew up with Roy Clark in Anacostia DC ,I have a guitar that my father loaned Roy it was 1 of his first guitars he played and it is treasured !!!

[@chuckelator]

Knowing just a bit about Danny really blows my mind! his technique is impressive! Also, knowing this little-known blues legend is from the same area I live (southern Maryland) really brings me a source of pride.. where.. Good Charlotte was all we had to be proud of (and I was never proud of that fact) I love all styles of music (particularly metal and punk and hardcore) but I can ALWAYS appreciate great musician-ship in any genre....Danny Gatton is damn near the top of that list.. wow...

[@schlitze1]

his playing transcends genre, it's just amazing music at this level. i don't care for country much, but i do like good music-and this is incredible.

[@BillyDaMountain]

Danny Gatton was unique. His playing combined the very best of all the great players who came before him: Les Paul, Carl Perkins, Duane Eddy, Roy Buchanan, Chet Atkins, Joe Maphis, etc. He was the true master of the Telecaster. I once thought I'd never get to see him play...thank God for KZbin.

[@PeteyHop]

Pure and simple, he was THE man!!!

[@rogerthat309]

Amazing! Love the ending that's awesome

[@DraggDaddy]

One of the Best of all times.

[@DwainDwight]

The first 2 minutes are pure guitar insanity. Gatton in a league by himself.

[@Migueltxum]

You have people who love guitars, people who play guitar, people who are very good at playing guitar, very good guitarists, wonderful guitarists, legendary guitarists...and Danny Gatton.

[@tomandaj1]

Was in Berkley CA. in 1978? I don't remember the year. But saw Danny backing up Robt. Gordon, @ The Berkley Square. Never heard of him before that night. That performance COMPLETELY changed my guitar playing. I miss him so much...

[@CJBlake-rf7mv]

He was just a phenomenal talent.

[@lauratwo16]

Danny Gatton level of playing = GENIUS

[@eddiemoney1093]

I find it foolish to definitively declare anyone the greatest of all time but this ol' boy sure could play.

[@FordyHunt]

Can't imagine the quality of player he would of grown in to today. One of the best ever. RIP.

[@abradfordajb]

It's very sad, because he was a troubled man and lived with that albatross of depression that finally took him down. He shared his musical beauty with the world.

[@MrSsfsfsf]

Last time I saw Danny Gatton was at the Tyson's Corner Holiday Inn Sunday Brunch. He was playing with I think one other guy, acoustic, while we ate bacon and eggs. Probably 50 people there. We had no idea we were being serenaded by the greatest guitar player of all time.

[@TheGattonmaster]

Acoustic, probably Danny and Pete Kennedy.

[@ThunderKrak]

Some how the earliest Danny Gatton videos seem more modern than when he was older, also weird to see him with a gibson! He is my guitar idol I will never approach a fraction of his abilities 🤘🤘

[@stevearle]

Another example of why "The Humbler" literally scares guitarists back to the woodshed... sounds great on that triple pickup Les Paul too with his own Magic Dingus Box attachment (basically a tape echo/ delay / Leslie I believe). In a class of his own, probably forever.

[@robertmuldoon9722]

stevearle ......might not be in a class of his own, but whatever class he's in it don't take long to call roll.

[@ArkyMalarkey]

stevearle : yep, forever.

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

Danny Gatton was on his own special planet musically-speaking. In his own solar system, one might say. But he's gone and we can't change that. But there are other musicians perhaps equally-deserving of attention, and they're still alive. Scotty Anderson was a good friend of Danny's - and like DG, Scotty is an utterly original voice on the Telecaster. No one else in the world can do what Scotty Anderson does. Not even Danny when he was alive. Scotty's approach to the instrument is utterly unique, and his musicality is just as impressive - he's a genius, he really is - although Scotty is far-too-modest a man to make such a claim. Folks, Scotty isn't getting any younger - so if you care at all about his kind of music, make it a priority to see/hear him live. He hails from rural Kentucky, but performs in the greater Cincinnati, OH area if memory serves. Another unsung great is Johnny Hiland. Johnny is from Maine and attained some notoriety amongst guitar fans when he emerged from obscurity twenty or so years ago with a blazing Telecaster sound that prompted comparisons with greats like Danny Gatton. Johnny is one of the few people living who can cover Danny's tunes properly - and he has recorded several tribute numbers to DG on his past recordings. Johnny can not only play the heck out of just about any style of music - he is also a pleasing vocalist and tours with his own band. If you doubt the greatness of this humble man's playing, just take a look at all of the greats who endorse him. It's like a who's who of guitar greats and guitar slingers. We can still appreciate and enjoy the precious recordings DG left us, but if he was here today, Danny would definitely approve of seeing these two underappreciated giants of the guitar.

[@stivlucavincent174]

Danny Gatton? THE BEST.

[@1DShoe]

The mark of truly great players - Danny and Buddy both make it look so friggin' easy.

[@nobodyspecial7369]

Forrest White and I had lunch in 1981, and on the way back to his office he played a demo tape for me of an unknown guitarist. He was amazing, and his ability to switch styles in mid solo, and make it fit whatever he was playing, blew me away. Of course, it was Danny Gatton on the cassette, one of the most underrated players I've ever heard. He was also good playing Rhythm behind another instrumentalist, because he was so creative and talented. There's a tape up here with Danny, Vince Gill and Albert Lee you really should check out, they tore it up.

[@RobertFairweatherMusic]

What a gem!

[@joepowell1004]

holy S*#t... really? Been a Gatton fan for many years but never saw this clip. There must be something it the water in the DC/ Maryland region. Danny, Roy Buchanan, and Sean Costello - all amazing guitar players - all gone on. God bless them all.

[@InspecteurClouseau]

the last 20 secs of the gig are just great - First time I see the "gatton device" in action

[@NolaVenice]

True Americana Music performed by one of the all time greats, Danny Gatton.

[@YT28666]

Incredible. Thanks for putting this up. This is the oldest video I have seen yet of Danny & band, going back to late 70's. I hadn't seen footage of him with the Les Paul either, just Tele and Gibson hollow bodies. Amazing how he drops the low E down to an A at the end.

[@amarillosantero5586]

Capo Danny , gracias por compartirlo!!! bodagracias

[@elpelao2011]

Saw danny at a bar in D.C. bout 1979 where I was a waiter. Amazing! Since I fooled around with the git, we talked about his playing style. He was way ahead ...a musicians musician.

[@lilamilgrom5506]

pure genius and olympic athlete chops. If I can learn 2% of what they do in the coming year, I'll be really happy.

[@ianashworth1101]

The best was yet to come! Who knew?

[@John-cr2tn]

All the rock gods owe this man

[@Jamestele1]

I'm so proud of our local boy, Danny Gatton.

[@calebolin3419]

ok, DG is sick, but I gotta give a shout out to Buddy Emmons too!

[@footstompinleroyscott6892]

The top guitar player. Rock & Roll, Jazz, Country, Blues The guy was the rockinest and swinginest cat.

[@jackoshaw]

INCREDIBLE GUITARIST!

[@TheGattonmaster]

HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST FEROCIOUS , SPECTACULAR SOLOIST EVER !

[@ericswolgaard1808]

+TheGattonmaster You got it, GattonMaster!! No one did or ever will do what he did, and a tip of the hat to the late Big E- Mr. Buddy Emmons. Best wishes-E.

[@bills48321]

Love that part at the end when he starts turning knobs on the Magic Dingus box and the Leslie sounds like it's blasting off.

[@bills48321]

love the last chord with the echoplex feeding back through the leslie.

[@zelpho3]

As the World's Greatest Unknown Guitar Player that was a necessity!

[@hillbillyholdout6437]

And your right about LP and tele. I have played both and they can sound very similar.

[@texasflood3165]

Got to hear him yrs ago in Maryland…so hot.. so smoky..i stood in parking lot..watched him do his magic through open emergency doors.. didn’t appreciate it till later..standing room only…🎸❤️‍🩹..RIP..

[@numv2]

What mastering electric guitar looks like. (and also having 2 brains)

[@arthurnawrath6701]

The King!

[@smoovegittar]

Thank you!

[@ChicoEastridge]

Glad you guys got the "Expo-losion" cover in there.

[@TheBluesJammer]

True command of the instrument!!!