Surf rock pioneer Dick Dale has died at the age of 81 years old, according to reports.
Affectionally known by many as “The King of the Surf Guitar,” Dale is credited as the originator of surf-style music. The son of a Lebanese immigrant, Dale’s guitar playing incorporated Middle Eastern music scales and a rapid alternate picking technique derived from tarabaki drumming. He also played a left-handed guitar, but did so without restringing the instrument, which made for a more high-end bite on bass strings and warmer treble tones. He was also one of the first guitarists to use reverb.
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I saw him preform about 20 years ago so he had to be in his 60's. Great ! I thought something was going to catch fire.
ReplyDelete"Walk, Don't Run" to his funeral.
ReplyDeleteHe was an amazing artist and started an entire genre of music.
The last of his disciples, The Ventures, continued to perform that type of music and I followed them all over. I watched their drummer play Wipe-out on the strings of the bassist guitar strings, while the bassist played the notes. The most amazing solo I ever saw.
This guy was bigger than Jimmy Buffet for the beach crowd.
I mean, what beach party would it be without surf music.
10:33 is right
ReplyDeleteThis was never Beach Blanket Bingo,Buffet or Giget beach music. This was the stuff of outsider surfers of the Endless Summer and the early Kustom car Kulture like Big Daddy Roth and Von Dutch and the Barris Bros. It's the soundtrack of a lifestyle not a movie.
I'll never forget his dueling duet with Liberace on the Lawrence Welch show.
ReplyDelete