Danny Gatton "Sleepwalk" Melody & Solo .mov 

When your maple fretboard looks like rosewood, you've been practicing. Long live Danny Gatton. The greatest who ever played a note.

I just discovered this guy. Jesus i think this is the best guitar playing I've ever heard.

Amazing! As the great Les Paul once said, "Danny Gatton can play everyone's licks. No one can play Danny's licks." True story...I caught Les Paul at many of his Monday nite gigs at Iridium in NYC, and I asked him about the quote...and Les, who was a good friend to Danny, said Danny had to have been one of the best guitar players he'd ever encountered...Awesome...

No human being has ever had as much control of an electric guitar as this man

Well, I have watched this video many, many times. I am a 6-3, 300lb solid man but it never fails to breach me broken and open like a shotgun, leaving me both hollow, and full, feeling, thinking, happy and sad. Happy to have ears to hear Danny. He was incredibly and immensely talented as a musician. And sad, because it also seems that he was so deeply troubled, and afflicted, to the point of taking his own life. We love Danny, but do we, as a collective society, love him more now that he is gone? We need to better love the living, too. It could save a struggling veteran, our sons and daughters, our neighbor or a coworker. The beauty and tragedy of Danny leaves me foremost with the desire to love better. Dont know about you...

Have to wait another 400 years because Danny was the 500 year flood plain of guitar playing.

Guitarists will know what I mean when I say that one of the many amazing things about Gatton is that it is obvious that whatever idea popped into his head at any given moment about some specific feel or sound or technique or style he wanted to play to fit into what he just played a second ago he could do it immediately and flawlessly and it would just flow. It's absolute perfection in improvisational skills. If he could think it, he could play it instantly. It's what we all aim for and some get very close but he was the only one who achieved it. For us guitarists it's like watching someone leap off a cliff and actually changing directions in mid air before they hit the ground. It's impossible but he could actually do it. There are any number of unbelievably great guitarists but there really is no one else I have EVER heard who could do this. Not a single one.

He wanted us to watch this over and over again forever. He knew he won a gold medal.

My God! How come so few of us have heard of this guy? He does the impossible effortlessly!

Been playing forever and would give anything to be 1% as good as Danny. My brother took his own life and I never can forgive him! Please people talk get help Stop and think of the hurt of the ones that love you and care! Rip Brother and Danny!

the guy play`s more chords and licks in one song then most have on entire records.

HOLY.FREAKING.SHIT. Beyond talent. Actual genius. Never another like him. period.

I’ve been playing for close to 40 years and have heard them all, even met and played with a few of them. Nobody has ever impressed me more than Danny. When we lost him it broke my heart, I can’t imagine him getting much better, but would love to have him around to know. R.I.P. Danny “The Humbler” Gatton You are missed🙏🎸

An unequalled master in flow state. There is nothing I can do but shed tears of joy.

I cannot believe this level of talent. So expressive. It's like he is talking through the guitar. WOW!!!!

Danny let the song have the mood and the mood have the song, and played that. Kinda turns me inside out and, when it’s time - without consulting a clock - brings me back again. Goosebumps, Danny. Goosebumps.

Sometimes you feel awe when you see a skyscraper or a tornado or something, but I feel it every time I watch this guy play. What a beautiful genius.

Danny's note selection is perfect. An astoundingly gifted musician.

Good Lord. Supernaturally astonishing. Greatest guitar player in the solar system.

This guy was beyond an amazing guitarist... this was someone with a deep understanding of music. He was writing new music on top of new music on top of themes in the melody of sleepwalk, seemingly on the fly. To call him a great guitarist is to sell him short.

Complete mastery of the fret board, playing the melody in different octaves where he left off at the previous note, what a God! 2:52 - 3:21 absolutely gorgeous! I mean the whole thing is, but THAT run.

Greatest tele player of all time! I love this man's music.

Brilliant. The most brilliant guitarist I ever had the privilege of seeing live, many times. He was a super nice guy, salt of the earth. I really miss him.

What can I say,..He threw in every style of playing guitar all in one song,..I think even Jeff Beck would tip his hat at this performance. RIP Danny

The thing that amazes me the most about Danny Gatton was that he was equally comfortable and almost any genre of music. He could play the most amazing jazz chords and then jump right into a blistering heavy metal solo and then become incredibly creative like he is in his video playing blues music. I didn’t know he had a daughter. I wonder how she’s doing these days. She’s got a lot to be proud of.

That transition at 4:22 just sends goosebumps up my arms!

the sheer amount of expressive devices he uses is incredible

To all the young generations. Don’t let Danny’s music die

Danny Gatton is by far my favorite guitarist! He could play in any setting or genre!

Danny is simply a genius. Amazing and tasteful and always keeping it interesting. God he was good!!!

Absolutely the most incredible, dreamy instrumental composition of the modern era....❤️

Total mastery of the instrument,chordal and soloing. There will never be another one like Danny Gatton. You the man,Danny.

Such an amazing performance, just another night for Danny

I wish I could somehow travel back in time and get Danny the help he needed. Such a cool ass humble bad ass.

From the time I discovered him decades ago(and I was late to the table then), I have been and still am completely ASTOUNDED to the core every time I hear him play…I mean his musicality, and deep expressiveness is still unmatched and unparalleled to this day…and I say that not in a competitive sense, but just by his sheer expressive emotional and visceral virtuosity….his playing is like an open filter of Godliness, and there is nary a hint of pomp or contrived rehearsed to death shred, it just all him being him because he gets out of his own way and becomes the perfect musical and divine conduit. ….and there’s life lessons in every 8 bars!! I saw him double bill with the Hellecasters (killer union as well) in ‘93 in NYC, and it stll is one of the BEST performances I’ve ever seen…his band was amazing, and I mean every single member…got to meet and chat and get a photo with him after the show…sweetest, most humble down to earth man…loved his cars…was totally present, AND signed my ‘72 Tele Thinline guitar…one of the most, if not the most memorable musical moments in my life! God Bless you Danny!!! You continue to and perpetually inspire brother! I hope you have been truly at peace and jammin’ with the best;)

He’s one of the reasons I got a guitar back in 94 rip and thank u for all that you gave us danny and some guitar killer lessons on online too, shame I never got to see him live

Best guitarist to ever come out of DC. When you take a second to see who’s come out of dc, you’ll truly understand just how gifted Danny was.

I revisit this video so often, what an incredible performance. God bless whoever recorded this and uploaded it.

Countless subtleties in this performance that add up to so much feel. You see him flexing the guitar neck on the lower position chords, bending the the G above the nut a half step to grab the Ab for the Fminor.. the right hand movement from neck to bridge, pick to finger strokes to diversify the tone... This video is a deep well of ideas to pull from... wish I could have seen him live

An all encompassing display of other worldly prowess on the guitar. Spanning all genres and techniques on the fretboard, he was the best by far. The 80s shredders are nowhere near as good as he was.

Its like watching a master painter create a beautiful picture right there in front of you. Danny Gatton was not just a technically gifted guitarist but also a innovator. He did things to standard tunes that cannot and will never be conceived by many or any. People who post comments should pay more respect to a truly great musician. No matter how good YOU think you are. You are not even in the same Library as Danny Gatton let alone on the same page! (you know who you are)

It's like he figured out every bass, key, fiddle & guitar line imaginable, and then played that stuff. And...not even all of it.

I've never heard someone speak with the guitar quite like Danny did. The control he exhibited on the instrument brings tears to my eyes.

This... This is what keeps me playing every day

This guy doesn’t play music, he is music

What an incredible guitarist. Years ago a friend from the DC area told me I had to check this Gatton fellow out. I did, and he left my jaw on the sidewalk and my brain in outer space. RIP Danny, one of the greatest ever.

Favorite of all his performances - over the top!

Probably the man closest to ever master the guitar. Absolute genius

the dynamics, the f-ing technique... can you be too good for your own good? yep. i believe in this man, and his soul is at work again i am sure. Bless Danny Gatton

Thanks for this absolutely wonderful video. I am a long time Gatton fan and this confirms my views that , although so subjective , he was the best guitar player I've seen. His depth of imagination , his technical skill and downright musicality ranks him above all others. His tragic death was just so sad an end.

This is just fantastic. Best rendition of sleepwalk I've heard. There are guitarists and then there's danny gatton. He was light years ahead of any guitarist. Very expressive and soulful. Incredible musicality. Absolutely inspirational! None ever bettered the unsurpassable Mr Gatton. Astonishing rendition of a classic cover.

As much as I like the other versions of this tune, no-one else's comes close to Danny's. He takes the tune and pummels it from schmaltzy romance to alien invasion territory. Thanks for the great closeups, particularly from about 5:00 on, showing his extraordinary left and right hand technique.

Probably one of the most beautiful solos with the unique Danny's style.

Every time I see him play, It inspires me to practice or smash my guitar. Nobody even comes close.

There s just something special about these guys who can emulate convincingly a lap steel on a tele

One of the (very) few vids I can Watch, Watch over and over, without ever growing weary ... This guy was a GENIUS ... The way he sounds his guitar is staggering !

I promoted him in a show and got to know him just a little...the nicest most humble person you could ever meet...it was like God played thru his hands. There are those who think he was a show off or was about tricks. Not at all...he played what he heard and he could instantly put it on the fret board. There is someone in the guitar world whose name everyone knows who said that Danny was selfish, etc. Then that guy came to a show and after that I would see him every time Danny came to town. To give you an idea of how great he was Ed Eastridge @ Big Mo records told me that Joe Pass offered to do an instructional piece for free if Ed would let him hear the voluminous recorded/out take material he had of Danny. He was one of a kind.

he plays just as though you or I were going to speak, just comes out that easily.........beyond amazing!!!!

My parents saw this guy's last show ever. So glad they were able to turn me onto him. I love how even when he's going crazy he's still tying in the melody.

I could watch this all day long. So good.

I’ve listened and watched many guitarist play but no one ever came close to the feel and talent Danny has its like he invented guitar rest easy we love you

Wonderful. The human race will never hear better...RIP Danny.

Thank u for sharing this masterpiece of sleep walk.

WOW!!! Thank you Danny Gatton for the pure genius of your music ! Thank you Robert Kittilia for sharing this video ! Long live "The Humbler"

He was from another planet.

Best version I've ever heard. That is what I call good. PURE GENIUS!

Guitar Mastery at its finest. I just finally got a Telecaster, was looking for tips, now I am daunted. In Fifty years of listening to guitar players, I somehow missed this guy. What a revelation!

Danny os one of my favorites. He is the" Humbler" no doubt. Long live his videos.

True genius. Died frustrated and too young.

quite possibly the greatest guitar virtuoso this country has produced. and still not a shred of joy on this mans face, ever. RIP Humbler

holy shit! my jaw is wide open and a tear in my eye.

A telecaster is Always Awesome!. In the hands of a master is otherworldly.. DG was truly amazing!

Also remember to tell your friends you love them and check in on them.

Man how I love to see him use his Tele. what a talent he was.

As a Danny Gatton fan you can't imagine how i appreciate this. Never had the chance to see him live on stage, but this is a good substitute. Thnk you so much , cheers

his mastery of the instrument, producing those sounds and colors without the use of a bar. vibrato, volume swells, finger picking, string skipping, harmonics. technique and feel unmatched.

WTF!!!! this guy is PAST AWESOME!!! good lord what an amazing guitarist.

So okay, to retread a story that's actually pretty well known, when Guitar Player magazine ran a multi-issue arc titled something like "The Greatest Guitar Player You've Never Heard Of," when they found Danny Gatton they said he's not just the greatest you've never heard of but he's quite possibly the greatest of all time...

These days everything is filmed on a smart phone. I'm so thankful to the people who took the time to film these kind of shows, when it wasn't so easy. Great video, cheers.

Best electric guitarist ever imo, obviously he suffered depression I pray he is in heaven with you Jesus as I am sure John Previti would. Praise be Jesus Christ our King.

i love that last chord

You also have to remember that he grew up with this song. He heard it a million times. He practiced it a million times. He played it a million times. Look at the way the Keith Jarrett Trio plays their standards. Any interpreter is eventually going to want to take it as far as their imagination will allow. As someone who's heard (and played) this song a million times, I can dig it.

Imagine stumbling into this bar...

Amazing.I'm very fortunate I got to see him.thanks for posting.

Watching this again.it seems to get better each time.Coolest guitar playing ever! RIP DG

Danny Gatton could play any song dozens of different ways and they're all really good.

This is what my telecaster watches when I’m in bed asleep.

There was Danny...and then everyone else who dreamed of playing like Danny...we all sure miss your genius Danny....😏😏😏

I Love the solo he plays after introducing the sax player, what an awesome display of control over his tone and sound. Love it!!!

Wow. I miss Danny and his amazing music. Thank you for posting this.

thank you. i have the album but couldn't believe i got to see that played live. again thank you so much for sharing this.

So effing good! In the zone, blessed, talented, genius, you name it.

absolutely phenomenal....wish he were still here....

Saw this GUITAR GOD only One Time and he stays in my soul.

Nice! He had some talent all right...Shivers!

The ending of this from about 5:43 onwards gives me chills every time I hear it. Just stunning stuff. Imagine being lucky enough to walk into a bar and hear that.

Absolutely stunning. Thank you so much for sharing this, and I'll be watching for more.

Danny drew from vast resources that most think don't exist. It's hard to imagine that anyone else who ever lived could have that kind of facility on the electric guitar ✨

Wow…….Just wow, amazing skill & beauty He does live on every time we listen

The Humbler!!! Steve Vai once said Gatton "comes closer than anyone else to being the best guitar player that ever lived. You think you're so great? Let's see you go head to head with Gatton. You will be humbled."