JERRY SWALLOW BIOS & REVIEWS:
Jerry Swallow obituary in Guitar Player Magazine August 2003:
Jerry Mayo Swallow:
The Southern California studio musician died February 27 of complications stemming from a brain tumor. He was 50. Noted for combining country overtones with rock and R&B, Swallow performed with Olivia Newton John, Randy Meisner, Michael Nesmith, Glen Campbell, Tanya Tucker, and others.
Bio from Sonic Garden:
Jerry Swallow is one of the world's premier guitar players. No exaggeration. He has done it all, from the studio, to touring the world with top name acts, as well as song writing and producing. Jerry began his music venture at age 11, which is documented in the book, Instrumental Surf Bands of the Sixties. At 16, Jerry was playing the Hollywood nightclub circuit. By 18, he was touring the world. Shortly after, Jerry landed in Las Vegas, playing the major showrooms on the strip.
In Hollywood, Jerry was recognized by top producers and eventually became a studio musician. He worked on sessions with members of Toto and Little Feat. What set Jerry apart from other studio musicians was his creativity combining country overtones with R&B and hard driving rock.
It wasn't long before Jerry found himself touring with such names as Olivia Newton John, Randy Meisner of the Eagles, Michael Nesmith, Lynn Anderson, Johnny Rodriguez, and Glen Campbell.
Jerry's blend of rock and country was the connection between Hollywood and Nashville for Tanya Tucker. Jerry led Tucker's band for five years, which recorded five albums, including the platinum TNT.
Currently, Jerry owns and operates Swallow Recording. He has also produced and played guitar on Dennis Agajanian's Outlaw CD, as well as serving in the same capacity with a group, Diamondback (Deadeye Records).
Reviews & Comments
CD Review from MuzikMan (Keith Hannaleck) April 30, 2000 MusicDish.com:
From The Diamonds to Tanya Tucker to "Teleride." Jerry Swallow has paid his dues as a musician. As a very young man he got his start with the surf group The Diamonds and then had a five year stint as Tanya Tucker's lead guitar player. There was plenty in between of course, that's an abbreviated history of a man that has traveled a storied and long road to where he is now. So where is he now? He currently plays in the group Diamondback and brings you this amazing solo CD called "Teleride."
With a world of experience and professional gigs behind him, Jerry Swallow really cuts loose on this album. Swallow's colorful and varied experiences as a musician quickly becomes evident in his music. He is able to craft a unique style of surf-instro-rock-country-r & b that remains consistently strong throughout the entire listen.
Jerry's sound is a clear, stinging, echoing one that is synonymous with the Telecaster guitar and surf-instro music. That's not all though, the man is not one dimensional, oh no. The blend of genres that the artist uses is prolific to say the least. If you like the fat chords, or the loud and biting ones that cut like a knife, Jerry does it all and more with a certain refinement that can only be found with those specially gifted musicians.
Who needs coffee in the morning when all you have to do is pop in Jerry Swallow's "Teleride" ? It's totally energizing and it really rocks. Just wait until you hear the versions of "Walk Don't Run" and "Apache", wow! I am used to hearing boring note for note cover renditions of the same songs over and over again. This is a real treat. The basic elements of the song are intact but Jerry gives it all a different flavor and sound with his fabulous blend of styles. He attacks the songs with fervor and changes the whole number into a new and refreshing version that's all his own.
This is a triumphant solo release that deserves world-wide attention from the surf-instro scene, and I am certain that it will.
From Mike & Sheila Smith Four Corners Post Card Business Directory:
Cherokee Guitarist Jerry Swallow
The album: Teleride. "This is the hottest guitar I have ever heard.
The voice of the Telecaster. Think chainsaw, jackhammer, and laser."
In Jerry's own words:
I made my first record when I was 14 years old in 1965 on ARC Records. I've recorded on many records thru the 70s and 80s and toured most of my life. The 90s I've been doing the same plus producing. Teleride is my first solo record since 1965, and it sums up what I've been doing for the last 35 years.
From Taylor B. McKinnon:
Jim Cook already was a good friend of the late Jerry Swallow, one of Americas top guitarists, and talked him into recording with us, using tunes which the three of us had written. Unfortunately Jerry Swallow passed out during the last of recording "takes", and died of a brain tumor later. Jerry was only in his fifties when he left us,so we have decided to dedicate this web site to Jerrys name. You may distinctly recognise Jerrys Fender Telecaster playing on all three of the Jim Cook & the TaylorMACs albums. Listen to how he can make his prized 1952 Fender Tele sound like a steel guitar,and rip through intricate passages of music which amazingly were all perfect on the first "take". Please enjoy yourself by listening to Jim Cook & the TaylorMACs on cdbaby.com or on jetspeedrecords.com or on statuerecords.com, or Triicopolis records.com or at Towerrecords.com If you really want to hear some spectacular guitar solo's go to Tricopolisrecords.com and punch in Jerry Swallow and his only released CD which he called "Teleride". You will be astounded! Taylor B. McKinnon
From Tricopolis Records:
Jerry Swallow-Teleride JS-001 CD Jerry Swallow Productions
Here is a unique CD by one of the greatest country guitars players ever. Jerry Swallow has done it all! He has done studio recording with some of country music's legends to touring with these world famous acts. His talents run the gambit of the music business from playing guitar to song writing and producing. Jerry has appeared on recordings and in stage appearances with Olivia Newton John, Randy Meisner, Michael Nesmith, Lynn Anderson, Johnny Rodriguez, Glenn Campbell and five years on the road with Tanya Tucker. This is Jerry's first solo CD effort. The CD is an all instrumental blend of Rock, Country and Surf music. This CD has been called "Unique/Guitar anthems."
From the Tom Jans website Jerry Swallow tribute page:
Jerry Swallow
"We are saddend to hear of the passing of this great guitarist.
Jerry played with Tom Jans, notably on Dark Blonde and during the tours of 1975-76 with the Tom Jans band. There is so much of Jerry's playing out there including work with Olivia Newton John, Randy Meisner, Michael Nesmith, Lynn Anderson, Johnny Rodriguez, Glenn Campbell and I'm sure there are recordings from the years on the road with Tanya Tucker, and Jerry did so much more." - Geoff M Gough webmaster @ TomJans.Com
"Jerry was gifted in his guitar playing to the point that he never had to "sell" it - when you heard him play, that was all that needed to be said. He played as he lived - honestly."
Alan Brackett, March 2003
Record producer, and vocalist with Peanut Butter Conspiracy.
For some wonderful guitar playing do check out the cd Teleride, recorded using Jerry's 1952 Telecaster
The following is edited from a note received from Jerry Swallow in July 1999 when he contacted me about the Tom Jans web site:
"Yes we have the Champion LP. I played on two cuts, some how they left my name off the credits. I think The Eyes Of An Only Child and Dark Blonde are his best. I was playing with Tom at the concert in Texas, I would like to see that picture Tom was my son's Godfather. Tom wrote something special on the album to Isaiah (my Son), were living together in Nashville when he died, I took him to the airport [in Nashville] so he could return to California to take care of some business, and he never returned. Tom's song (Lovin Arms) recently is a hit again on the country charts... I appreciate you didn't forget him."