Hank Garland was a Nashville session guitarist who played on numerous country music albums in the 1950s and 1960s. He was dubbed the “Godfather of Country Music” for his influence on the genre. Garland began his musical career at the age of 11 and quickly rose through the ranks of the Nashville music scene. He worked with many country artists, including Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, and Brenda Lee. Garland also played on rock, pop and jazz albums, demonstrating his versatility as a musician. Unfortunately, Garland suffered numerous health problems in his life, including depression and drug addiction, which had a negative impact on his career. Fortunately, Garland has recently been rediscovered by country music fans and is now considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
Hank Garland: the pioneer of country music
Hank Garland is a country music pioneer. He grew up in a musical family and began playing guitar at the age of six. During the 1940s and 1950s, he played with some of country’s greatest artists, including Patsy Cline, Jimmie Rodgers, and Hank Williams. In 1954, he recorded his first solo album, “Jazz Guitars”, which became a jazz classic. Hank Garland is also known for inventing the “Nashville Sound” style, which helped popularize country music in the 1950s and 1960s.
Hank Garland: the inventor of country music
Hank Garland is a country music legend. He grew up in Appalachia and began playing music at the age of six. He quickly mastered several instruments, including guitar, banjo and fiddle. As he grew older, he developed his own style of music, blending Appalachian and country influences. Garland went on to record albums and play with some of the greatest country artists, including Ernest Tubb, Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson. Over the course of his career, he invented several guitar-playing techniques that have influenced many guitarists. Hank Garland is considered one of the greatest country music guitarists of all time.
Hank Garland: the country music giant
Hank Garland was a renowned country and rockabilly guitarist who greatly influenced country music in the 1950s and 1960s. Hank began his career playing honky tonk in clubs in the southeastern United States. He was then spotted by Nashville Sun Records, who signed him in 1955. Hank went on to record several albums for the label, some of which proved very popular, including “Sweet Dreams” and “The Unforgettable Guitar of Hank Garland”.
Hank was a virtuoso guitarist, capable of playing a wide range of styles. In particular, he popularized the style of guitar picking known as “the Nashville sound”, which was characterized by its use of electric guitars and reverb. Hank’s guitar playing can be heard on many classic country recordings, including those of Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, and Conway Twitty.
Sadly, Hank’s career was cut short by a car accident in 1961 that left him in a coma for five years. He never fully recovered from his injuries and died in 2004. Nevertheless, Hank Garland is still revered by many as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
Discography
As leader
Sleight of Hand (Concord Jazz, 1992)
Burnin’ (Concord Jazz, 1994)
Concord Jazz Guitar Collective with Howard Alden and Frank Vignola (Concord Jazz, 1995)
Like That with Joey DeFrancesco (Concord Jazz, 1996)
Live at Birdland (Concord Jazz, 1997)
Full Circle with Howard Alden (Concord Jazz, 1998)
Live at Birdland II (Concord Jazz, 1999)
Polarity with Joe Beck (Concord Jazz, 2000)
Two For the Road with Jennifer Leitham (CD Baby, 2000; reissue: Azica, 2005)
Midnight Blue (Concord Jazz, 2001)
Solo (Mel Bay, 2004)
Maplewood Avenue with Tony Miceli & Jeff Pedras (Affiliated Artists, 2007)
As a sideman
Pixanne, Bloop or Blink (Pixanne, 1975)
Tommy Tedesco, Carnival Time (Trend, 1985)
Tommy Tedesco, Fine Fretted Friend (Discovery, 1992)
Jack Wilkins, Heading North (String Jazz, 2001)
Selected bibliography
Art of Picking, Mel Bay
Six essential fingerings for the jazz guitarist
No Nonsense Jazz Guitar (Hot Licks Video, DVD)
Inside Outside Jazz Guitar (Hot Licks Video, DVD)
Hank Garland: the king of country music
Hank Garland is a country music legend. He began his career playing banjo and fiddle in the honky-tonks of the South, before making a name for himself as a guitarist on Nashville’s biggest stages. Hank quickly established his reputation as a guitar virtuoso, and his unique style has influenced many country musicians. In addition to his solo career, Hank also worked with major country artists such as Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves and Roy Orbison. Unfortunately, Hank’s life was eventful, and he suffered from numerous health problems. Despite these difficulties, Hank Garland is considered one of the greatest country guitarists of all time.
Hank Garland: the master of country music
Hank Garland was an accomplished musician, able to play many instruments with mastery. In particular, he was one of the first country musicians to use the bow to play the fiddle. Hank Garland grew up in a musical family and began playing music at the age of seven. He quickly proved himself as a musician and was hired by many famous artists, including Patsy Cline, to record their albums. Hank Garland was known for his unique style of playing, which blended virtuosity and feeling. Sadly, his career was cut short by a series of accidents and illnesses, and he finally died in 1964, at the age of 37. Hank Garland has remained a major influence in the world of country music, and his playing style is still admired by musicians today.
Hank Garland was a jazz and country guitarist who played with some of the greatest artists of his time. He has been dubbed the “Godfather of Country Music” for his influence on the genre. Garland popularized the “jazz-tinged” style of guitar playing that was adopted by many country guitarists. He also helped popularize the use of the wah-wah pedal in the genre. Garland is considered one of the most influential guitarists in the history of country music.