The Visionary

Acoustic guitar virtuoso GORDON GILTRAP talks to Tim Jones

Gordon Giltrap is the proverbial guitarists’ guitarist, a player with a warm and instantly recognisable style. His TV theme tunes, such as BBC’s Holiday programme, are part of the popular psyche, bringing to mind sun-kissed vineyards and beaches. During his 40-year career, he has won countless fans including Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore, Brian May, Mark Knopfler and Yes’ Steve Howe.

Born in April 1948 and raised in a terrace in Deptford, south-east London, his interest in all things stringed and musical was fired in 1957 when a friend showed up at the house with a Spanish guitar. Gordon’s parents bought him a plastic Elvis Presley ukulele to try to satiate his hunger for plucking and, on going to secondary school, he was presented by his mother with a sunburst Martin Coletti arch-top jazz guitar. Experimenting for up to 16 hours a day, the 12-year-old taught himself how to play tunes by The Shadows, Buddy Holly and The Everly Brothers and devised a unique technique using a plectrum and his little finger that created a trademark chiming sound.

By 1962 he was playing with The Young Ones (named after his hero, Cliff Richard) in the area’s clubs, before forming an acoustic duo and then going solo, earning his keep on building sites, and honing his guitar-playing in his spare time. He soon mixed …

by Tim Jones
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