Perhaps the greatest tribute to Hank Garland's genius was the fact that I had to stop and think about where to post word of his passing. He made his reputation in Nashville backing Patsy Cline, effortlessly made the transition to rock 'n' roll with Elvis Presley and The Everly Brothers, and recorded a single, excellent and influential jazz album.
A ways down in the article the writer wisely observes, "Hank Garland the human being died Monday evening, but Hank Garland the guitarist was put to rest more than four decades ago."
The accident that robbed Garland of the remainder of his career as a musician robbed the world of decades of great music.
To quote Jeff Tweedy from one of the year's great singles:
"The best song will never get sung/The best life never leaves your lungs/So good, you won't ever know/I never hear it on the radio/Can't hear it on the radio"
Now Playing: "Cool Struttin'" Sonny Clark Cool Struttin' (Blue Note)
Posts: 1584 | Location: Bloomington, IN | Registered: 23 May 2004