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Hank Garland, Guitarist
| by Michael Macomber |
Hank Garland
Nov 11, 1930 to
Dec 27, 2004
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The word "legendary" is often used when describing talented musicians such as Hank Garland, but never has it been so appropriate. Garland's unique style and amazing resume place him squarely in that category, while his story is definitely the stuff from which legends are woven.
Born in Cowpens, South Carolina, he grew up surrounded by the sounds of hardcore country music. His earliest influences include Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith and the Carter Family.
By the age of 15, Garland was a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and by 19 he was signed to Decca Records, where he recorded a million-selling original tune, "Sugarfoot Rag." |
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During the '50s, Garland spent his days racking up an impressive list of studio credits with country and rock n' roll artists such as Eddy Arnold, Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Patsy Cline, Webb Pierce, and Bobby Darin—and his nights in Nashville clubs, playing the music that truly moved him, jazz.
Garland had first been introduced to jazz while playing the Grand Old Opry with Chet Atkins, Owen Bradley, and Billy Byrd. In fact, Garland's close friendship with Byrd would eventually lead to the two men being asked to design a guitar for Gibson. The resulting signature model was called the Byrdland, a combination of their names.
Garland's jazz obsession got a shot in the arm when he went on the road with Eddy Arnold's band, and thus was able to make it to New York City and meet some of the jazz guitarists he so admired. One of these guitarists was Barry Galbraith, who was more than happy to show the eager and talented Garland a few licks.
As the '50s became the '60s, Garland was honing his craft, and preparing for a leap that only a handful of his closest associates would have expected. At the height of his popularity as a country and country-flavored rock n' roll guitarist, he decided it was time to show the world the real Hank Garland. In 1960, Garland entered a Nashville studio with vibraphonist Gary Burton, bassist Joe Benjamin, and drummer Joe Morello, to record the acclaimed LP "Jazz Winds from a New Direction."
For Garland, this was no one-off project, but as the title suggested, the beginning of an entirely new direction. He followed up "Jazz Winds" with the equally impressive "Velvet Guitar," once again mixing his country and jazz influences to produce a record of unique and lasting beauty.
Sadly, in the fall of 1961, not long after the release of "Velvet Guitar," Hank Garland was involved in a near-fatal car accident. He spent weeks in a coma, and when he awoke, he had lost much of the physical coordination that made his playing so amazing.
Garland did not perform publicly again until 1976, when he made a brief but delightful appearance in Nashville at a Fan Fair Reunion Show. Playing his classic signature tune, "Sugarfoot Rag," he brought the audience and his fellow performers to tears, and left them with the knowledge that, even if he wasn't able to head back into the studio anytime soon, he had found his way back to the thing that mattered most, his music. |
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Hank Garland on Darin LPs:
Bobby Darin (Atco 33-102, September 1958) |
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Hank Garland on Other LPs (Selected Discography):
The Everly Brothers: The Everly Brothers' Best (Cadence 3025, 1959)
Elvis Presley: Elvis is Back (RCA 2231, 1960)
Hank Garland: Jazz Winds From A New Direction (Columbia JCS 8372, 1961)
Hank Garland: Velvet Guitar (Harmony HL 7231, 1961)
Patsy Cline: Here's Patsy Cline (Vocalion VL-73753, 1965) |
Hank Garland Links:
Hank Garland Official Site
Hank Garland on MySpace |
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