Danny was known as "the greatest unknown guitarist in the world", and no one ever mentioned in what genre. The answer is simple - every genre! Danny was a virtuoso in every style of guitar playing, and totally respected and revered by his contemporaries and peers alike. I was fortunate to meet Danny a couple of times, and a copy of 88 Elmira Street that he gave me and signed to me is one of my most prized possessions. He was simply the greatest.

He was not only a virtuoso player technically, but like Fil said, he could hold your attention. That is a sign of a true great. So cool you spoke about this.

None of this is preplanned and he does it with no effects or stomp boxes. The greatest ever born.

Love how he gives you what you don't expect but keeps everything coherent and flowing

Jeff Beck's favorite guitarist. That says it all.

I have spent a lot of time during my life, just searching for the best musician(s) in each popular music genre . Well I finally found Danny Gatton, and my search for the best guitar is over.

Ok I'll say it . I think Danny is the best electric guitarist there ever was.

He could solo with chords while still maintaining the rhythm with his incredible picking lines. A monster on the instrument with a gigantic knowledge of the fretboard. To me he's the best that ever lived.

Wow, major kudos to whoever suggested this. I saw him in 1980 at a small club in Georgetown, Washington D.C.. He was a local player in the area, as was his friend Roy Buchanan. Danny blew my mind that night. I'd never seen so much technique and style and he got me hooked on rockabilly. I call him Brian Setzer on steroids. I had a chat with him after the show and he couldn't have been more friendly. A very down to earth guy. One thing this video doesn't show is his ability to fly up and down scales. He was a speed picker too, played slide with a beer bottle, and when I saw him he flipped his hand the other way and did a scale run. He knew the neck better than anyone.

Danny has greater musicality over a wide range of styles coupled with clean jaw-dropping technique than anyone I've ever seen. His runs are improvised yet atypical, and he never seems to run out of new ideas. I've seen many greats live i.e., Beck, Holdsworth, DiMeola, EVH, Howe, Morse, Jordan - but Danny Gatton is the best I've ever seen.

Strange how Gatton and Roy Buchanan's lives ran parallel. Both loved the Telecaster, suffered from depression which stymied their careers. Lived in the same general area and committed suicide around the same age. And made more success and money in death than in life.

You’ve literally covered every one of my favorite guitarists from my youth, kudos. This video is so raw and a rare jem. People are sitting in a dive bar drinking cheap beer and eating greasy pizza. He’s playing in a cramped space with a dartboard by his head. Doesn’t matter, he was special.

This is my absolute favorite Danny Gatton recording. He looks so unphased by what he’s doing but seeing the technique in both hands really shows you what a masterful guitarist he was. Easily one of my top 3 of all time.

This guitarist was totally unknown to me till this morning. I've followed so many guitarists, studied them. I've never seen or heard ANYbody play like this. Will find out more about him. To me he's scary. lol

Dude had it all, that's for sure.. Tragic but, glad there's footage of him to enjoy and be inspired.

Glad you got around to Mr Gatton. I didn't mention this, but Danny was a teenager playing a Holiday Inn gig back in the 6ts. Watching him were Zally and Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful. They had just done a concert and couldn't believe that a kid this good was just playing a Holiday Inn lounge. Sebastian was so moved he wrote a hit single, "Nashville Cats". You need to listen to The Humbler and do a piece on that. No footage, but it does have part of the soundcheck as a bonus cut at the end of the show (2 minute limit).

One writer basically said that Danny’s playing was like every great guitar player you’ve ever heard, all playing at the same time.

Danny Gatton another underrated wonderful axeman. RIP Danny.

What an awesome and underrated guitar player. Danny Gatton, one of the greats.

I saw Dan at a guitar seminar in Vancouver in the early 1990s. What was great about it is us guitarists got to see 2 shows: the afternoon "seminar" and the general public concert that night. I don't quite recall but I think the seminar consisted of players fielding a few questions in between requested numbers they'd call out. Either way the playing, as you would expect,was absolutely stunning. I've never seen another musician demonstrate such faultless mastery of an instrument. He wasn't "one in a million" he was "one in a BILLION."

Yes, an absolute monster guitar player. Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan are the Kings of the telecaster!!!!!!!

Check out the Sleepwalk video (head for the abridged "Solo" clip) by Danny, and take a deep breath...

I'm late to the party but always thought of Danny as being a country/jazz/rockabilly version of Jeff Beck. Easily two of my all time faves. I've been listening to Beck's Blow by Blow and Wired plus Danny with Joey DeFrancesco's Relentless for decades and they still give me goosebumps. Rock on all🤘

There are no words for this guys playing.

I saw Danny Gatton play the only time he played in Boston, Massachusetts. The club was a very small venue (300 people max) in Somerville called Johnny D's. This must've been around 1989-1990 or so. It was pouring rain that night. My friends and I got there early and were able to position ourselves right next to the stage directly in front of Danny's 2 blackface Fender Deluxe amplifiers. He played with only 3 or 4 other dudes, one was Billy Windsor his usual rhythm guitarist and his drummer was longtime Danny sideman Shannon (can't remember last name). They played mostly rockabilly and early rock and roll, similar to the type of music he played with R. Gordon. Danny had his very very old Telecaster that night, not the reissue. Needless to say, his playing was beyond impressive. It was actually unfathomable at times. Being a guitarist myself playing in and around Boston for years at that point, his playing just made me smile and smile. I had gotten the same feeling when I saw Stevie Ray Vaughan back in 1984. Just pure joy. A lot of Boston's big-shots were there that night: the Aerosmith guys, a couple of guys who played in The Cars, Peter Wolf and J. Geils. At one point I looked around and saw almost all of them trying to appear non-chalant about it all as if unimpressed with Danny. But then I saw Elliot Easton paying very close attention and obviously fully engaged with what Danny was doing and I realized the rest of them were lying.

Danny Gatton was one in a million ! A showman , unbelievable technique , the smoothest lines that are very complex , but played with ease ! His sense of timing was amazing , everything he did made a groove. He also proves my point that music is not music unless you can dance to it ! I miss him , and Roy Buchanon , and think of them daily ! If you look up Telecaster in the dictionary , there is a picture of him !

I really appreciate you covering Danny Gatton. There are many great unsung heroes in that sort of "almost famous" stratum of popularity (you also covered Roy Buchanan and several others).

I used to live in Maryland and have seen Danny several times. I saw him at the Cellar Door in D.C. with Buddy Emmons on steel! Holy smoke! There was no one like him and it is too bad that his life ended the way it did.

Omg! Thanks for this! I live in the dc suburbs. I just started getting seriously into guitar playing when he passed. I never got the chance to see him myself. From the people I've spoken with, he would have been much more known if would have accepted even a few more of the requests he had from other artists to tour with them. He apparently didn't care for the touring. Danny is amazing. Thanks for getting him out there.

I like the video on KZfaq where Danny's playing slide with a beer bottle up and down the neck and not missing a note, then as though that Wasn't cool enough, he continues to play and fret the notes while using a rag to dry off the fret board over spilled foam from his beer and again, never misses a note.

I was lucky enough to see Danny play live a couple of times, and he definitely knocked me out. His playing seems to have a lineage back to a certain aspect of Roy Buchanan's playing. Also, I think he has things in common with Jerry Donahue and Will Ray, of the Hellecasters. All of these guys are monsters on guitar! Thanks for the video!

Lots of jazz influence going on there . Fil great video, working hard for us on the weekend deeply appreciated. Have a great one and remember ROCK .

Stumbled on your site..LOVE IT!!

Glad you finally gave DG a nod; he was so damn outstanding!

Very cool. Flowing cool licks that don't stop. Improvisation to the hilt. Thanks FIL for another take on alternate guitar styles

All I can say is wow! And thank you Fil. Amazingly I've never heard of Danny Gatton before. Absolutely amazing!

Great video, and very informative commentary, a pleasure to watch and listen.

I never liked electric guitar until about 20 years ago when I was searching for some covers of "Harlem Nocturne" and stumbled across DG playing it. I instantly (no hyperbole) fell in love with electric guitar. It's still my favorite version of this tune. And he is still my favorite guitarist. May he rest in peace poor fellow. He was listed on Rolling Stones best 100 guitarists of all time at number 64 or something and said he was the greatest unknown guitarist.

Its a great pleasure to see and hear great guitarists. Its great to have the comentary as it makes you think more about what and how the music is being played.

So proud to be from dc area when I hear this reaction. As a young man in southern Maryland.. I started playing drums after I saw him live. It may have been very cool and traumatic at the same time

Danny covered all the techniques, all the tricks, all the chords, all the modes. He absorbed like a sponge. He had a fine sense of hearing and rhythm. When he wrung it all out it was uniquely his.

One of the best I never heard of.

One of the most insane guitar videos on KZfaq ever, thanks for covering this one Fil

The difference to shredding, is that Gattons playing always has a musical point He constantly improvise melody. Shredders, as known to man, mostly produce notes with little meaning. This is stunning.

Interesting to hear your take on this , Fil. For me, this is one of the greatest guitar clips on the whole of KZfaq. You're right, not many people can pull off a piece like this without vocals - especially "What'd I Say" by the great Ray Charles. I'm sure Ray would have loved this. This level of groove with endless variety and imagination shows that over and above all the his other qualities, Danny was one of the greatest rhythm guitarists ever. His rockabilly work is unbelievable - Setzer is brilliant but Danny was on another level. Check out the Humbler record. Almost certainly the most incredible imitation of pedal steel guitar on a normal guitar is on Danny's live version of "Heartache by the Numbers" here on KZfaq. A truly amazing player that all electric guitarists need to know about, especially the tele players. Thanks Fil, ROCK! :-)

Man you've found everyone I thought I was going to have something for you

Great commentary Fil.👍

Love the way he makes that Tele sing.He was playing some difficult riffs,I'm not familiar with him so thxs for that video Fil.Rock on brother.

Damn that guy is amazing!

Another great one ,Fil!

FIL old something on Ritchie blackmore or deep purple. One of the main reasons I bought a strat 33 us ago and still play it. Thanks again

Great subject!! A jazz and rockabilly player all rolled into one. Never ceased to amaze me. Your review is spot on.

Really love your channel. Oh geez, getting emotional. I saw Danny twice. First was '92 (maybe) with the keys/sax man four-piece. He tore it up. Did the "anyone got a bottle?" slide mesmerization, spilling beer all over the neck. Grabbed a towel to clean up and played through the towel never missing a beat. Crushed it, did an encore. But those of us who knew wanted to hear something and we howled and howled. And he came back and did "In My Room", the Beach Boys classic. If you know the lyrics, well........ Afterward, my friends who I told "you have to see this guy" hugged me and the look of awe on their faces- they knew they had seen A FORCE OF NATURE. The second time was mere weeks before he left us. Much smaller venue, stripped down trio. My guitar geek buddy and I got there early and were front row. Unbelievable. But that's the problem, he was playing tiny venues and not making enough to survive. Too much talent, not enough love. RIP, Danny.

Danny was a Banjo player and guitarist that learned the economy of motion and used it to the MAX ! That's why Chet and Les came to watch him play .

Thank you for this tribute to a magnificent artist. He truly was "the Humbler". Danny's playing isn't just an exhibition of technique. He was a highly musical guitarist. And he is missed.

I feel guilty, I've never heard him. But I'm a fan now. Dug the sustaining high G while playing the rest of the scale. Awesome, Thanks Fil, Keep 'em coming!

The two most musically gifted guitarists iv'e ever heard are Django and Danny they were so good they got bored with the guitar while most guitarists strive all their life to get better and better. i think it came pretty easy for them

Dude was untouchable.. Such a loss! HUGE inspiration!! Love you Danny! The greatest never know their worth! RIP

thanks for doing my request.

Really enjoyed that one. Great analysis too. Interesting to hear jazz progressions mixed in.

Cheers Lil brother another great Telemaster. . Seen Danny live alot through late 70's and early 80's I still have a few of his vhs lessons

Phil you need to spend more time on this man. He is undeniably untouchable. This was a fraction of his vocabulary

I have a Gatton video tutorial and what he actually shows you will take you quite a while to master. I read some of his bio and at that club in Washington he used to like to "cut heads" in an open jam session. Had a sign outside of the club that said "Victims Wanted" 😎😎😎😉😉😉😉

The King! Nice analysis Fil!

When i was shopping for a Tele almost 10 years ago, i thought of players i dug, like Page, Roy Buchannan, Ray Flacke (Hwy 40 Blues) and Amos Garrett (Midnight At The Oasis). Dave Carpender from The Greg Kinn Band circa '76 sealed the deal for me. Of course i knew of Danny G. He just would have scared me away ;)

Total genius player. I remember my first job in a guitar shop and a customer said 'I want a Danny Gatton' guitar. At the time I had never heard of him. Thanks to the customer whoever you were.

And yes Danny gatton tutored a young joe bonamassa in 89 when joe was 11 or 13 one of the reasons joe is so good he was taught by the best!

Really slick stuff fun to listen to

When I finally got to herehim play it was a real treat never knew he was that Great play that’s why they call him the Humblr

Danny was well known in the Washington DC area in the late 1970s. I was introduced to his music (what he called "redneck jazz") in 1980 when I crashed in a house in Oregon for the summer with some college kids from Maryland. His true love was working on old cars and he didn't really chase after the big time. Fame found him anyway and it wasn't all that long afterwards that he committed suicide. For some reason, artistic genius and internal conflict often go hand in hand. It's one of the tragedies of this world that those who can make so many other people feel good can't find peace.

He is the greatest. I was lucky enough to see him live in Philadelphia when I was younger. Man I miss that guy.

I've been a fan of Danny ever since I picked up a copy of some American guitar mag that had a flexidisc of 'Nitpickin'. For a guy who seemed to play with such a sense of fun and lightness of touch, it was tragic to hear of his death, and the manner of it. He even did a cover of the theme from 'The Simpsons', mashed up with 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown'.

When I finally got to herehim play it was a real treat never knew he was that play that’s why they call him the Humblr

Have loved Gatton's playing for years. Great choice for analysis Fil. How about Jake Shimabukuro for a future vid? The guy credited for the resurgence of the ukulele via his KZfaq vid of While My Guitar Gently Weeps?

None other than Steve Vai labeled Danny Gatton as THE BEST all around guitarist of all time. I would absolutely agree. Eddie Van Halen gets my vote as the best pure Rock guitarist.

I was lucky enough to see him live in a smallish club in NYC once. A few celebs as diverse as Axl Rose and Malcolm Forbes were quietly in attendance. He was so freakin good. He used to do this crowd-pleasing thing where he would play slide with whatever objects people would hand him. This night he played with a bicycle seat among other things. Such a tragic loss.

John Sebastian acknowledges that it was hearing Danny Gratton play that ended up inspiring the Lovin' Spoonful song, Nashville Cats.

I had purchased an instructional viddy of his, and after 5 min, I put my guitar down, and face palmed myself, and felt so scaled back lol. He was and will always be an innovator . Thx FIl.

Really Really great stuff

Awesome video Fil. Danny Gatton was such an amazing guitarist and a big influence. Check out his album 88 Elmira St. He plays an incredible instrumental version of The Beach Boys "In My Room" that will blow your mind.

When I saw you were doing Danny Gatton, I let out an audible "All right". Thanks, man.

The humbler! Danny the legend

Very good. Kinda jazzy like music, but executed very well. The treble of the Telecaster compliments his style perfectly. Well done.

Yeah, this was impressive. He keeps throwing in new stuff the whole time, and it never feels forced or too busy. And his precision is pretty damn amazing. There's no hesitation here, as you may find with blues players sometimes when they hold a note for a "little bit too long". He knew what he was doing, and he did it very well, indeed.

Wow. You can hear the uniqueness pretty much immediately. I can't even say what genre that is but it's way cool. It seems like a fusion of rock, funk, blues, and probably a few others.

Got most of his albums. Greetings from Utrecht Holland

Best guitar player ever. Don’t talk to me about Hendrix or Clapton. Danny is better by far.

Met Danny in my teens he was a SMD boy. Saw him play all over the DC area . Saw some smoking Dueling Telecasters with Principato. He and another Dc area native standout as two of the best ever....Roy Buchanon was a NOVA local as well.

Love this groove

I was lucky enough to see Danny live about 6 months before his death. Though different stylistically, I put him on par with SRV who I saw live 3 times. Rock in Peace Danny!

Jesus. His playing is so complex. It's rock over blues. I think he's knows the fretboard better then any guitarists ever, IMO.

For me the ultimate player, the humbler , the master 🎼🥰

One of Danny' few effects was a Fender footswitch that was just that: an on/off switch that plugged into the 110 volt outlet on the back of his amp. If he didn't like the way a gig was going, he'd hit the switch and kill the circuit breaker running his amp. An electrician would be called and unless Danny hit the switch again there was nothing anybody could do. I first caught him (I'd never heard of him) in Boston with Robert Gordon at the last show of the "Humbler" tour. I think the CD everybody's heard was the 4th show of the tour in Berkeley CA and the band was still finding it's feet. You should have heard him that night. I was sitting about 12' away. It changed my life.

Unbelievable technique one of the all time greats

you have some new faces especially reserved for extreme funky dude legend harmonic musings

This is the good stuff

Best I've ever heard

One of those Masters of the Telecasters! The "Humbler" hisself!

Having attempted to play guitar for many years, Imo the depth of his knowledge in terms of cord inversions, chord patterns, single note scales, in combination with double stops and triplets ,impeccable instinctive phrasing, in combination with picking and finger picking make other guitar players, nice players, but this is unmatched, that's obvious, I agree with the other guy, tell me about Eric Clapton or Hendrix they're all nice players, basically single note, this stuff is ultra-dimensional

If this doesn't bring a smile to your face, something is terribly wrong. Love this.