# Joe Moretti

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Scottish guitarist (1938–2012)

Joe Moretti Born Joseph Edward Moretti (1938-05-10)10 May 1938 Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland Died 9 February 2012(2012-02-09) (aged 73) Johannesburg, South Africa Genres Pop, skiffle, rock[1] Occupations Guitarist, songwriter Instrument Guitar Years active 1960s–1970s Website www.joemoretti.org

Musical artist

**Joseph Edward Moretti**[1] (10 May 1938 – 9 February 2012)[1] was a Scottish [guitarist](/source/Guitarist) and [songwriter](/source/Songwriter), renowned for his work on seminal UK [rock and roll](/source/Rock_and_roll) records such as [Vince Taylor](/source/Vince_Taylor)'s "[Brand New Cadillac](/source/Brand_New_Cadillac)" and [Johnny Kidd & the Pirates](/source/Johnny_Kidd_%26_the_Pirates)' "[Shakin' All Over](/source/Shakin'_All_Over)", and later for his work as a [session musician](/source/Session_musician). He also worked with [Gene Vincent](/source/Gene_Vincent), [Vince Eager](/source/Vince_Eager), [Lesley Duncan](/source/Lesley_Duncan), [Nero and the Gladiators](/source/Nero_and_the_Gladiators), [Ronnie Jones and The Nightimers](/source/Ronnie_Jones_(singer)), [Eddie Calvert](/source/Eddie_Calvert), [Johnny Duncan](/source/Johnny_Duncan_(bluegrass_musician))'s Bluegrass Boys, [Tom Jones](/source/Tom_Jones_(singer)), [Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys](/source/Colin_Hicks_%26_The_Cabin_Boys), [Chris Farlowe](/source/Chris_Farlowe), and [Madeline Bell](/source/Madeline_Bell).[1]

## Life and career

Moretti was born in [Glasgow](/source/Glasgow) in 1938, to an Irish mother and an [Italian Scottish](/source/Italian_Scots) father.[2][3] He moved to [London](/source/London) in November 1958 with his wife Pina, and instantly became part of the burgeoning rock and roll scene based around [The 2i's Coffee Bar](/source/The_2i's_Coffee_Bar) in Soho.[4][5] There he found opportunities backing up singers such as [Gene Vincent](/source/Gene_Vincent), [Vince Eager](/source/Vince_Eager), Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys[6] and other skiffle acts and nascent rock n' roll outfits.

It was in the 2i's, in early 1959, that Moretti discovered guitarist-singer [Tony Sheridan](/source/Tony_Sheridan) had quit Vince Taylor's band, The Playboys, and was asked to take his place. Moretti toured with Taylor in the UK and cut "Brand New Cadillac" in the spring of 1959. Shortly after, Moretti left the band to take up with Johnny Duncan's Bluegrass Boys. The following year, 1960, Moretti was to play guitar on another session after being called into the studio by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates' guitarist [Alan Caddy](/source/Alan_Caddy) to play leads on two songs: UK number one single "[Shakin' All Over](/source/Shakin'_All_Over)" and its follow-up "Restless". It was Moretti who created the special signature sound to "Shakin' All Over" by sliding a cigarette lighter up and down the fret-board of his guitar.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

During the 1970s, Moretti was part of [Madeline Bell](/source/Madeline_Bell)'s backing band.[2]

### Session work and uncredited appearances

Throughout the 1960s Moretti continued to tour and record with artists such as [Nero and the Gladiators](/source/Nero_and_the_Gladiators), Ronnie Jones and The Nightimers and [Eddie Calvert](/source/Eddie_Calvert). In addition, Moretti was in demand as a [session musician](/source/Session_musician) and, along with other UK guitarists such as [Big Jim Sullivan](/source/Big_Jim_Sullivan), future [Led Zeppelin](/source/Led_Zeppelin) guitarist [Jimmy Page](/source/Jimmy_Page) and [Vic Flick](/source/Vic_Flick), often played guitar at a recording date without being credited. Moretti claims to have played guitar on hits for [Jet Harris and Tony Meehan](/source/Tony_Meehan#Jet_Harris_and_Tony_Meehan) ("[Scarlet O'Hara](/source/Scarlett_O'Hara_(instrumental))" and "[Applejack](/source/Applejack_(song))")[7] and [Donovan](/source/Donovan)'s hit record "[Mellow Yellow](/source/Mellow_Yellow)".[8]

It is now accepted that he played guitar on at least two more UK number one records: [Tom Jones](/source/Tom_Jones_(singer))' "[It's Not Unusual](/source/It's_Not_Unusual)" and [Chris Farlowe](/source/Chris_Farlowe)'s [Rolling Stones](/source/Rolling_Stones) cover "[Out of Time](/source/Out_of_Time_(Rolling_Stones_song))".[9]

### Later work

Moretti settled in [South Africa](/source/South_Africa), in the late 1970s.[2] He worked as house musician at a [Sun City](/source/Sun_City_(South_Africa)) casino.[2] He contributed to a 1994 [Sonoton](/source/Sonoton) album called *Authentic Africa,* featured alongside [Dizu Plaatjies](/source/Dizu_Plaatjies) and [Amampondo](/source/Amampondo).[10]

## Death

Moretti died from lung cancer in [Johannesburg](/source/Johannesburg) in February 2012, aged 73.[1]

## Partial discography

### Singles

- "Pledgin' My Love"/"[Brand New Cadillac](/source/Brand_New_Cadillac)" - [Vince Taylor and his Playboys](/source/Vince_Taylor) (April 1959)

- "[Shakin' All Over](/source/Shakin'_All_Over)"/"Yes Sir, That's My Baby" - [Johnny Kidd & the Pirates](/source/Johnny_Kidd_%26_the_Pirates) (August 1960)

- "[In the Hall of the Mountain King](/source/In_the_Hall_of_the_Mountain_King)" - [Nero and the Gladiators](/source/Nero_and_the_Gladiators) (July 1961)

- "[It's Not Unusual](/source/It's_Not_Unusual)" - [Tom Jones](/source/Tom_Jones_(singer)) (January 1965)

- "Snakes and Snails" - [Alma Cogan](/source/Alma_Cogan) (July 1965)

- "[Out of Time](/source/Out_of_Time_(Rolling_Stones_song))" - Chris Farlowe (June 1966)

- "Aggravation" - Chris Curtis (June 1966)

### Albums

- *Own Up* - [Twice as Much](/source/Twice_as_Much) (1966)

- *Oscillation 67!* - The Leading Figures (1967)

- *Don Partridge* - [Don Partridge](/source/Don_Partridge) (1968)

- *[Would You Believe](/source/Would_You_Believe_(Billy_Nicholls_album))* - [Billy Nicholls](/source/Billy_Nicholls) (1968)

- *Pick Up a Bone* - [Rupert Hine](/source/Rupert_Hine) (1971)

- *[Sing Children Sing](/source/Sing_Children_Sing)* - [Lesley Duncan](/source/Lesley_Duncan) (1971)

- *[Barbados Sky](/source/Barbados_Sky)* - [Typically Tropical](/source/Typically_Tropical) (1975)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Dead_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Dead_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Dead_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Dead_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Dead_1-4) ["The Dead Rock Stars Club"](http://www.thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2012.html). Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 23 February 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_2-3) ["Joe Moretti: Session guitarist whose work graced a string of hits"](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/joe-moretti-session-guitarist-whose-work-graced-a-string-of-hits-7321346.html). *The Independent*. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Barbra Streisand Archives | Joe Moretti, guitarist on OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS"](http://barbra-archives.com/bjs_library/70s/moretti_musical_instruments.html). *barbra-archives.com*. Retrieved 26 September 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["2 I's Coffee Bar"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110721063528/http://www.joemoretti.org/page3.htm). JoeMoretti.org. Archived from [the original](http://www.joemoretti.org/page3.htm) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Kielty, Martin. ["Scotland's number ones"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110910135629/http://www.bignoisebook.com/bignoise/readabout.html). Big Noise. Archived from [the original](http://www.bignoisebook.com/bignoise/readabout.html) on 10 September 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys"](https://forgottenbands.blogspot.com/2010/10/colin-hicks-cabin-boys.html). *Forgottenbands.blogspot.com*. Retrieved 20 June 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["The Truth About Jet Harris"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110721063707/http://www.joemoretti.org/page22.htm). JoeMoretti.org. Archived from [the original](http://www.joemoretti.org/page22.htm) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Haidenbauer, Johann. ["John McLaughlin - List of Issued Records"](http://www.oocities.org/bourbonstreet/quarter/7055/McLaughlin/index.htm). Robert's Jazz Corner. Retrieved 20 June 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["The Rolling Stones Database: 1966/660427A"](http://www.nzentgraf.de/books/tcw/1966.htm). The Complete Works Website. Retrieved 20 June 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [*Dizu Plaatjies, Pedro Espi-Sanchis, Bez Martin, Ron Franchitti, Joe Willis, Joe Moretti, Romeo Avelino, Xosa Tribe Drum Ensemble, Amampondo - Authentic Africa*](https://www.discogs.com/release/15464371-Dizu-Plaatjies-Pedro-Espi-Sanchis-Bez-Martin-Ron-Franchitti-Joe-Willis-Joe-Moretti-Romeo-Avelino-Xos), 1994, retrieved 28 September 2025

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.joemoretti.org)

- [Joe Moretti at Discogs](https://www.discogs.com/artist/362182-Joe-Moretti)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National United States Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joe Moretti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Moretti) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Moretti?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.