Born Thomas Garrett on July 5, 1938, in Dallas, Texas, Garrett garnered the nickname “Snuff” while working as a disc jockey in Wichita Falls as Elvis Presley and Bill Haley and the Comets were streaking across America in the late 1950s. The nickname stuck due to his affinity for both music and cowboy culture.

An unabashed promoter with a hunch that rock ‘n’ roll music was here to stay, he moved to Hollywood in 1958 and by 1961 was the head of Artist and Repertoire (A&R) at Liberty Records, hiring Phil Spector to produce songs for Liberty in New York City. In Los Angeles, Garrett produced songs by singers such as Johnny Burnette, Gene McDaniels and Bobby Vee, gaining fame as one of the legendary producers that brought us many of the great sounds of the ‘60s.

Garrett produced records for the son of comedian Jerry Lewis and as a result, Gary Lewis and the Playboys had a string of hits that secured Garrett’s place in the music industry (as well as into a mansion in Bel Air). Later, Snuff produced solos for Cher that included Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves, Half Breed and Dark Lady.

Additionally, Snuff released many albums during the 1960s under his birth name – Tommy Garrett. These 50 Guitars albums were focused on regions as seen in titles like 50 Guitars Go Italiano, 50 Guitars Go South Of The Border and 50 Guitars Visit Hawaii as well as genre titles like 50 Guitars For Midnight Lovers and 50 Guitars Go Country.

Considering retirement at the youthful age of 30, he just couldn't stay away from the business and returned in the 1980s, composing the scores for Clint Eastwood movies Bronco Billy and Every Which Way But Loose as well as the Burt Reynolds hits Smokey and the Bandit II and Cannonball Run. Garrett’s success in music and other ventures enabled him to indulge his real passion of just playing cowboys with his friends and western matinee idols, including Gene Autry, John Wayne and Roy Rogers, whom Snuff fondly recalled “Roy was like a father to me.”

Upon Garrett’s recent passing, Hake’s has the honor to offer numerous items from his impressive Western heroes collection in this auction. Snuff was one of Hake’s earliest customers and many pieces we are offering were originally obtained through us.