finetune artist: Hank Garland

b. Walter Louis Garland, 11 November 1930, Cowpens, South Carolina, USA, d. 27 December 2004, Orange Park, Florida, USA. A professional electric guitarist at the age of 15 Garland played on The Grand Ole Opry with Paul Howard for several weeks, before Howard found out he was violating the state's child labour laws and reluctantly sent the talented youngster home. Garland returned to Nashville on his sixteenth birthday, where he quickly became one of the most popular and respected session guitarists and played on recordings by countless artists. In 1949, he made his first solo recordings for Decca Records, even including a few vocals, which clearly failed to match his instrumental talent. His recording of "Sugarfoot Rag" not only inspired his nickname ("Sugarfoot"), it also firmly established him in Nashville. During the 50s, he recorded for Decca and Dot Records, being remembered for versions of "E-String Rag" and "Guitar Shuffle" and also worked with Chet Atkins. In the late 50s, Garland's playing was a prominent part of the coming of the Nashville Sound and his work extended to rockabilly and recording with Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers. In 1959, it was Garland who played the lead on Jim Reeves' recording of "He'll Have To Go" and later on Patsy Cline's "I Fall To Pieces". Garland also became respected in other genres of music, particularly jazz, which he had always loved. He appeared at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival and made jazz recordings with Gary Burton (vibes), Joe Morello (drums) and Joe Benjamin (bass), most notably the superb 1961 set Jazz Winds From A New Direction.

Listen to Hank Garland at Finetune.

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