TESLA’s Frank Hannon Honors Dickey Betts with 'Reflections'

Frank Hannon Unveils Reflections:
A Soulful, Western-Inspired, Instrumental-Guitar AlbumArriving September 12th, 2025Latest single “One More Time” OUT NOW
Pre-save Reflections HERE

Multi-platinum guitarist and songwriter Frank Hannon has announced the upcoming release of Reflections, a new solo instrumental album arriving September 12th. Written and recorded in the wake of personal loss and life upheaval, Reflections is Hannon’s most intimate and revealing work to date – a 13-song collection of cinematic, Western-influenced guitar instrumentals tracked as raw first takes on his cell phone. Marked by intricate fingerpicking, soulful slide, and deeply felt melodies, the album captures Hannon reconnecting with his roots – musically, emotionally, and spiritually – while offering a rare, unfiltered look into the heart of a guitarist who has helped shape American rock music for more than four decades.

Rooted in soulful bottleneck slide guitar and inspired by Hannon’s late father-in-law, Allman Brothers Band legend Dickey Betts, the album’s latest single “One More Time” is out today; a melodic, blues-infused shuffle that captures the upbeat side of the record. The accompanying video offers a personal glimpse into Hannon’s home life with horses and features him playing a rare Gibson SG once owned by Betts himself.

“This song is a tip of the hat to melodic slide guitar–the kind Dickey played so beautifully on songs like ‘Pony Boy’ and ‘Crazy Love,’” Hannon shares. “I feel blessed to have spent the past 24 years learning from him and hearing his stories. I really miss him.”

Watch the music video for “One More Time” by Frank Hannon

Reflections came to life during a period of grief and dislocation. The Hannons had been away from home for three years, staying by Betts’ side during his final battle with cancer. After Betts’ passing, Hannon and his wife evacuated during back-to-back hurricanes, traveling cross-country with a trailer full of horses–one of which later had to be put down. When they finally returned to California, Hannon climbed to his attic, picked up one of his most sentimental guitars, and began to play. “Someone once told me, ‘play guitar like you’ll never be able to play again,’” he says. “That’s what I did on this album–it’s all from the heart.”

Photo credit: Brandon Gullion

The album’s sound is just as honest as its origins. Using an Audigo wireless mic and mobile app, Hannon recorded and mixed every track directly on his cell phone–layering guitar parts, adjusting EQ, adding reverb and delay, and building fully realized recordings from first-take ideas. “I was blown away by the sound quality and ease of use,” Hannon says. Even mastering engineer Kevin Reeves, whose credits include The Beatles and John Coltrane, noted how little processing the mixes required due to the warmth and fidelity captured by the Audigo mic.

While best known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of TESLA – whose hits like “Modern Day Cowboy,” “Little Suzi,” and “Love Song” helped define a generation – Hannon has always stood out for his melodic instincts, expressive tone, and acoustic virtuosity. His signature intro to “Love Song,” inspired by Bach, remains one of the most iconic moments in ’80s rock guitar. In 1990, TESLA’s Five Man Acoustical Jam helped usher in the unplugged era, further cementing Hannon’s legacy as a versatile and soul-driven player.

Outside TESLA, Hannon has released three solo albums, including the LA Music Awards-nominated Six String Soldiers, and collaborated with artists like Rick Derringer, Dave Meniketti, Pat Travers, and Dickey Betts. In 2020, Gibson honored him with a signature model: the Frank Hannon “Love Dove” acoustic guitar.

Photo credit: Brandon Gullion

Reflections represents a new chapter. Its sound is steeped in the Western world Hannon grew up in – raised among horses, chickens, and goats in rural Sacramento, with a soundtrack of Johnny Cash and John Denver. That Americana spirit winds through the album and carries through to its quiet tributes, including a nod to cowboy legend Bill Riddle, who mentored Hannon in Western horseback riding and enlisted him to score music for his instructional DVD True Grit.

Reflections is an album that stands on its own, yet remains rooted in the legacy of a guitarist whose heart has always been on his sleeve–and in his strings. “Reflections is a defining moment for me as an artist,” Hannon says. “It came together so naturally, and it reminded me how much I love the guitar.”

To celebrate the release of Reflections, Hannon will embark on a limited solo tour this September. The run includes a special performance at Daryl’s House in Pawling, NY on September 10, followed by a featured set at Duane Betts’ annual Horseshoe Festival in Jackson Hole, WY, where Hannon will join the lineup on September 12–13. Additional solo dates will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information and to purchase tickets, video https://frankhannon.com/.