It was just the other day I asked the question on Facebook, what is your all time favorite instrumental song, you’re all time favorite instrumental tune. There were more than 200 comments. I appreciate every single answer. There were some good ones, great answers and some that I wasn’t familiar with. One answer came up quite a few times. It was mentioned by Wayne Myers, Jef Bredemeier, Cameron Hunter, Quinn Loggins and Barron Ruth so far. It’s a very famous tune. It’s been covered masterfully by a lot of acts…some of the acclaimed versions were recorded by the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Larry Carlton, Jake Shimabukuro, Jeff Beck, The Ventures, my favorite of course is the original… by Santo & Johnny. It’s probably one of the most well known, beloved, played instrumentals of all time. NO exaggeration. You know the song. You’ve heard it. I remember seeing or hearing it in a Publix commercial and being mesmerized. It’s been in movies, on television shows, it’s probably playing somewhere in the world right now! I’m talking about “Sleep Walk.”
I remember talking to Doyle Grisham, well known as the steel guitarist in Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. He said he loved playing that song and it always got a great reaction. Talk about being influential too. You know the Stephen King movie Sleepwalkers, the song also influenced the Beatles song “Sun King” appeared on the Abbey Road album.
Johnny Farina likes to be identified only as Johnny Farina of Santo & Johnny because he likes to remember his legacy. He and his brother Santo Farina composed and recorded the song “Sleepwalk,” which is the most famous instrumental song of all time. In the world of the steel guitar, Santo & Johnny are legendary!
It was a real honor to talk to Johnny Farina of Santo & Johnny and I hope one day soon we get the chance to talk again.
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