An inspirational tale (or "so you think you've got it bad?")

Bob-Dubery

Heard of Hank Garland? I have, but I hadn't heard the whole story.

Garland was something of a prodigy - a Nashville session musician at age 16. He was a contemporary of Chet Atkins. Like Atkins he couldn't make a living playing just jazz so got involved in the worlds of C&W and the then new Rock 'n Roll genre. He worked with many of the big names of his day - Elvis, Patsy Cline, Flatt and Scruggs, Jerry Lee Lewis, Don Williams and many more. He also recorded some big selling instrumentals and through those he became an influence on the young George Benson (amongst others). Make no mistake, Hank Garland could play.

Age 31 he was involved in a serious car crash. He sustained brain damage that effected his motor control.

With the aid of his wife he relearned to walk and talk, and then decided he was going to regain his mastery of the guitar. He spent two years practicing scales and then decided he was starting to regain his feel and technique. It took him another 13 years, but he ended back up on the stage in Nashville, playing his hit instrumental "Sugarfoot Rag".

See http://www.angelfire.com/tn2/bobloyce/garlandbio.html

PeteM

Thanks Bob - a very nice read. Sad that we didn't see where he would have develop to next. A lesson I have learned from this is to explore all genres of music and then develop your own style.