Rockford Files guitarist?

Geoff Brown · Post by **Geoff Brown** » 18 Jun 2009 2:03 am

The theme song for the 2nd season of The Rockford Files featured a great guitar solo. Who played it? Tommy Tedesco would be a good guess, but it's just a guess. Anyone know for sure?

Inquiring minds want to know

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 18 Jun 2009 4:19 am

Larry Carlton

Randy Phelps · Post by **Randy Phelps** » 18 Jun 2009 9:25 am

Dan Ferguson played the rockford files theme not Carlton and played the part you are talking about.

He played lots of themes including Barney Miller etc....

He played zillions of sessions in LA but never got the fanfare LC did.

Geoff Brown · Post by **Geoff Brown** » 18 Jun 2009 9:39 am

I've heard both Carlton and Ferguson's names mentioned as players.

Part of the confusion may be that there are at least two versions of the tune with a guitar solo.

#1.
http://www.nutsie.com/song/The%20Rockfo ... id=1106129

#2.
http://www.thesandbox.net/arm/rockford/ ... eme_S2.mp3

I like the 2nd version better, and it's the one I remember from from the show, but supposedly the 1st version was used for a while before being replaced.

Both sound like the same player.

Randy Phelps · Post by **Randy Phelps** » 18 Jun 2009 9:52 am

My friend and LA session man Ken Lasaine asked Danny and Danny played on both versions. I have no doubt as to that being correct.

there was a remake in 2004 that Carlton played on... if you listen to it... it is different.

I love LC but Danny deserves his due.

Geoff Brown · Post by **Geoff Brown** » 18 Jun 2009 10:02 am

Great info...thanks Randy. Would be interesting to know what other themes/soundtracks Ferguson was involved in.

Geoff Brown · Post by **Geoff Brown** » 18 Jun 2009 12:18 pm

Randy Phelps wrote:
there was a remake in 2004 that Carlton played on... if you listen to it... it is different.

Ok, but the remake with LC isn't either of the two versions I posted, correct? These are both Ferguson?

It would be cool to hear the 2004 version w/ LC.

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 23 Jun 2009 1:48 am

BTW, David Lindley mentioned somewhere that he played on the Rockford Files sountracks once in a while.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 23 Jun 2009 6:02 am

Thanks, Randy. I have always wondered who did both the Rockford Files and Barney Miller themes - they are very unique and off-kilter in a cool way. Never sounded like Carlton to me. I had always assumed Tommy Tedesco, but never knew for sure.