Danny's daughter Holly, mother Norma, and wife Jan accepting his Hall of Fame award
On the cold fall-season night of Monday, November 13th, 1995, the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) inducted Danny into the WAMA Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony was held at the Hard Rock Cafe, located at 10th and E street in North-West Washington D.C.
Receiving the award on behalf of Danny were Danny's mom Norma, his wife Jan, and daughter Holly. Attending the ceremony were Danny's long-time friends and bandmates John Previti (from Funhouse, The Redneck Jazz Explosion, and The Danny Gatton Band) and Ernie Gorospe (from The Offbeats and The American Music Company). Jay Montrose (Danny's pal and guitar tech) was in attendance, along with Danny's brother Brent Gatton. Donna Windsor, wife of the late Billy Windsor, also attended. I attended the ceremony too and took the pictures you see here on this page. The Hall of Fame award to Danny was presented by Bill Kirchen (of Too Much Fun).
This excerpt is from page 10 of the 10th Annual Wammies: Danny Gatton
Washington guitar legend Danny Gatton was revered worldwide for the dazzling virtuosity of his playing and the diversity of his styles. His sudden death in 1994 silenced at 49 the man the Washington Post called "The Greatest Guitar Player You've Never Heard" and Guitar Player called "The World's Greatest Unknown Guitarist." From the bands Fat Boys to Funhouse, Gatton traveled from Nashville to L.A., but always returned to his Charles County farmhouse. He left behind friends and family, including wife Jan and daughter Holly. His musical legacy was captured on records released by his mother Norma, including "Redneck Jazz"and "Unfinished Business," and on two Elektra releases, "88 Elmira Street," which was named after his boyhood Anacostia home (his major label debut at 45) and "Cruisin' Deuces." There is also "Blazing Telecasters" with Tom Principato, an instructional video "Hot Licks," and the Fender customized Danny Gatton Signature Guitar modeled after his '53 Telecaster--although Gatton traded the original for a 1934 Ford. Gatton was recognized in Guitar Player's 1993-94 reader's polls, as Rolling Stone's 1989 "Hot Guitarist", and with 19 Wammies during his lifetime.
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