The following article was published in the March 2005 edition of Vintage Guitar Magazine.
Gatton Go-Round
Thank you for contenuing to keep the Danny Gatton flame burning ( "Danny Gatton : Ten Years Past," January' 05)!
I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, and during the '70s my oldest brother played the rock scene and was friends with Danny. Danny came to our house several times to jam with my brother. I was six or seven, and would sneak to the door of the basement and sit at the top of the stairs, just out of sight, so I could listen to them. They'd play for hours, then Danny would always end up in our garage with my dad tinkering with dad's Model T Fords.
By 18 I was playing guitar and touring. I had a night off in Charlottesville, Virginia, and heard Danny was in town. I told my bandmates how this guy used to jam at my house and was sort of country or something, but Dorian (my brother) always said he was "the best."
That night, Danny put on the most awesome display of guitarmanship I've ever seen, period. Squeeling harmonics, tuning changes as part of solos, blistering speed, mind- boggling chords- playing the most incredible slide parts with everything from ink pens to a fire extinguisher- effortlessly. And more impressive, he did it musically. All I could do was shake my head and laugh.
After the show I went out to see Danny. I found him loading a trailer. To my suprise, he remembered my entire family, almost all by name. He wanted to know if Dorian still played the ES-335, and if my dad still had the "T- Models." I helped Danny load his gear as we became reacquainted.
What a beautiful guy he was, and in my opinion, a peerless talent.
Dadion Lester