Unfinished Business: The Life & Times of Danny Gatton

by Ralph Heibutzki

Danny Gatton was a players' guitar player, hailed by both Rolling Stone and Guitar Player as the greatest unknown guitarist anywhere. His legend has only grown since his untimely suicide in 1994, along with appreciation for his blinding speed, effortless genre-hopping, flawless technique, and never-ending appetite for tinkering and problem-solving. Drawing from first-hand interviews with dozens of friends, family members and fellow musicians, Unfinished Business places Gatton's musical contributions into context, and documents his influence on those peers who admired him most, including Albert Lee, Vince Gill, Arlen Roth and Lou Reed. “Danny Gatton comes closer than anyone else to being the best guitar player that ever lived.” – Steve Vai

Genres: Music

306 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

Reviews

[Janet Meenehan]

Several years passed before I was in a place, mentally, where I was ready to read this book. I had always thought of Danny Gatton as a zen master, eschewing fame for what mattered more to him. When I heard of his suicide, like many others, I was shocked, confused, angry, and sad. I never knew of his struggles with cultivating his joy and sense of home. I was lucky enough, living in the DC area to have seen Danny Gatton play in numerous different venues and incarnations of his many bands. He as always gracious, modest, and seemed to get a chuckle from his gigs. This book offers incredible detail and insights into his life, cataloging a very busy musical playground and a man devoted very much to his family and his cars.

[Tom]

I felt this was a missed opportunity - while there was obviously a lot of research with old friends and colleagues, the writing and analysis never got deeper than it would over a 2 page spread in a guitar magazine.

Still an interesting read for fans of this great guitarist

[Xander]

As a budding guitarist, I mourned the loss of Danny Gatton when I was 14. I never understood why someone so talented could take his own life. This biography doesn't answer that question, but it does paint a more vivid picture of a man who I only knew through his music. The real value for me is that I have a renewed interest in the music of DG, and in the music of many artists who were in his orbit for so many years.

[Donald]

A look at a great guitar player who is still relatively unknown a sad story of fame and art.