Album Notes

All major music producing studios in Hollywood, with one exception,were strangely dark and silent during three evenings in February of 1961. Guitars and guitarists, essential to any modern recording session, were not available for regular duty. Instead, every guitar virtuoso in the film cityhad been booked to record en masse in three nightlong sessions.

During those sessions, in a huge studio alive with the sounds of music, a chapter was added to the history of the guitar. That chapter, entitled 50 Guitars Go South Of The Border, recorded the combined efforts of many of the world's most renowned guitar soloists. Playing together for the first time, they produced a new string dimension - the sound of the guitar in depth.

With a guitar perfectionist in each chair, the guts, steels, guitarrones, Mexican harp guitars and rhythm guitars playing in unison, an orchestra of guitars was born. The solos of Laurindo Almeida are backed by the elite choir of Mexican and jazz guitarists, including Barney Kessel, Howard Roberts, Al Viola, Bob Bain, Tiny Timbrell, Bill Pitman, Jose Barroso and many others.

The result is awesome. A bullring overflowing with the world's most outstanding mariachis, flamencoists and classicists could do no more to astound and enrapture a critical listener. The music of these guitars in concert will fill the ears of the aficionado with sounds he had not imagined possible.

With pride, we present Tommy Garrett's 50 Guitars.