100 Greatest Guitarists: David Fricke's Picks: Danny Gatton

100

99

98

97

96

95

94

93

92

91
90

89

88

87

86

85

84

83

82

81
80

79

78

77

76

75

74

73

72

71
70

69

68

67

66

65

64

63

62

61
60

59

58

57

56

55

54

53

52

51
50

49

48

47

46

45

44

43

42

41
40

39

38

37

36

35

34

33

32

31
30

29

28

27

26

25

24

23

22

21
20

19

18

17

16

15

14

13

12

11
10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Danny Gatton

Pownall/Getty

prev 63/100 next

Never a superstar, Gatton was nevertheless a hero to fellow guitarists. He could pluck easygoing, banjo-like country rambles or grind out power chords or create wonderfully melodic jazz excursions that revealed just a sliver of his massive technique. Gatton committed suicide in 1994, just as his national profile was on the rise.