The Melody Spin Song Encyclopedia

Tommy Tedesco was an American master session musician and renowned jazz fusion and bebop guitarist. “The Most Recorded Guitarist in History” was a title conferred upon Tommy Tedesco, and it’s doubtful anyone else could lay claim to it. Tedesco’s astonishing portfolio and reputation were a result of his versatile sight-reading abilities and talent for interpreting – and delivering – whatever a producer or composer wanted, whether it was a TV or movie theme, soundtrack, or pop, rock, jazz, country; in short, anything. As a session guitarist, Tedesco’s career stretched from the beginnings of the “California Sound” in the early Sixties until 1992. Tedesco’s credits, to name a few, include the themes to television’s Bonanza, The Twilight Zone, Green Acres, M*A*S*H, Batman, and the music under much of the Beverly Hillbilly’s show. On his own, Tommy Tedesco recorded a number of great jazz guitar albums.

“I am an admitted television child and much of my musical influence comes from the music under cartoons and sitcoms. Elle May was the daughter of Jed Clampet on the Beverly Hillbillies and every time she came out to the “ceeeement pond”, Tommy Tedesco would play these wonderful major seven chords. Doesn’t this song sound similar to Tommy Tedesco playing for Elle May? I recorded this version in July 2005, but I originally recorded and released it as a guitar and clarinet duet for the Acoustitherapy disc “Relaxation”. I used my handmade Pimentel Classical in standard tuning.” - Darren Curtis Skanson

Bio - Darren Curtis Skanson (1967 to present) American composer. Encouraged in music from a young age, Skanson began singing, playing instruments, and composing as early as he can remember. At 13 he took his first classical guitar lesson and began a partnership with the classical guitar that has produced a wide variety of music. After an outstanding collegiate career studying classical guitar, composition, and recording science, Darren spent the early part of the 1990’s touring and composing for both the progressive band Mata Hari and violinist Malcolm Watson. Embarking on his solo career in 1995, his composition output exploded with works for classical guitar, acoustic fingerstyle guitar, 12 string guitar, cello, and violin. Skanson is known mostly for his classical guitar compositions and arrangements of Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, and other classical composers. Skanson continues to record, compose and perform out of his Denver, Colorado base. His discography currently includes 10 compact discs of classical guitar arrangements and original work with over 200 pieces to his credit. As well as playing solo, he performs with his trio of classical guitar, violin, and cello aptly named The Skanson String Trio.