He recorded his debut album, American Music (1975), followed by Redneck Jazz (1978) with pedal steel guitarist Buddy Emmons appearing as a guest.

[2] Although Gatton could play most genres of music, including jazz, blues, bluegrass, and rock, he was known as a country and rockabilly guitarist.

[6] He got a contract with his first major record label and released another eclectic album, 88 Elmira Street (Elektra, 1991),[3] which contained a cover version of the theme song from the animated TV series The Simpsons.

[7] Gatton turned toward jazz for the albums New York Stories (Blue Note, 1992) and Relentless (1994) with Joey DeFrancesco.

[11] Friend and drummer Dave Elliott said that he thought Gatton had suffered from depression since they met more than twenty years earlier.

[9] When Rolling Stone magazine selected the 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time in 2003, senior editor David Fricke ranked Gatton 63rd on his ballot.

[13] Among his admirers are Buckethead, Joe Bonamassa, Lenny Breau, James Burton, Chris Cheney,[14] Vince Gill, Johnny Hiland, Evan Johns, Bill Kirchen, Albert Lee, Les Paul, Arlen Roth, Paul Bechtoldt, Roy Buchanan, Darren Thiboutot Jr., Richie Sambora, Ricky Skaggs, Slash, Lou Reed, Trey Anastasio,[15] and Steve Vai.