Walter 'Hank' Garland (November 11, 1930 – December 27, 2004) was a legendary Nashville studio musician. Although he is probably best known for his work on the early Elvis Presley recordings such as Little Sister and Big Hunk of Love, Garland worked with most of the country stars of the late 1950s and early 1960s including Brenda Lee, Mel Tillis , Marty Robbins, Boots Randolph, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty and Hank Williams Sr.. He also played with jazz greats like George Shearing and Charlie Parker.

Garland began playing the guitar at the age of 6 and had a million-selling hit at 19 with Sugar Foot Rag. He played with Elvis from 1957 to 1961 when a car crash placed him in a coma for months. He eventually recovered but had to once again learn to walk, talk and play the guitar.

Garland died on December 27, 2004 of a staph infection in Orange Park, Florida.

External link

• Official web site