Duane Eddy, pioneering rock’n’roll guitarist, dies at 86
Duane Eddy, the renowned rock-n-roll musician who made a name for himself with a series of instrumental hits in the late 50s and early 60s, such as Rebel Rouser and the theme song for Peter Gunn, has passed away at the mature age of 86.
The performer who won a Grammy passed away due to cancer while being surrounded by his family at Williamson Health hospital, situated close to his residence in Franklin, Tennessee. His wife, Deed Abbate, confirmed the news to the Associated Press.
According to a statement by a spokesperson, Duane motivated many guitar players worldwide with his distinct ‘Twang’ sound. He was the initial rock and roll guitar deity, an extremely modest and exceptional individual. His absence will be deeply felt.
Eddy was known for his unique rhythmic style, shouts and clapping of hands. He strongly believed that the low strings on the guitar had a better sound quality when recorded on tape as compared to the high strings. His contribution established a distinctive rock'n'roll sound that featured a "twangy" style and has inspired future generations of guitarists such as George Harrison and Bruce Springsteen.
Between 1958 and 1963, he achieved 16 top 40 singles, which solidified his role as the primary rock'n'roll guitar icon.
According to Kyle Young, the head of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, it's not common for instrumentalists to become famous. However, Duane Eddy's electric guitar playing was so unique that it stood out on its own. His sound was strong and masculine, with a distinctive twang. He had over 30 hits on the pop charts and inspired countless musicians, both in country and rock music. Some of these musicians include the Ventures, George Harrison, Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, and Marty Stuart. Duane Eddy's impact on music is undeniable and his sound will always be remembered as a key part of country and rock & roll.
Eddy, who was born in Corning, New York, on the 26th of April, started playing the guitar at just five years of age. He kicked off his performance career as a child by appearing on regional radio programs. The way Eddy plays the guitar was molded by popular cowboys who would also sing like Roy Rodgers and Gene Autry, together with renowned artists like Les Paul, Chet Atkins, and Merle Travis.
When Eddy was 13 years old, he relocated to Arizona and teamed up with his pal Jimmy Delbridge to put on shows in their area. Soon, they caught the attention of a hopeful producer named Lee Hazlewood, who recorded Eddy's first solo track, "Movin' n' Groovin'", in 1957, when Eddy was 19 years old. Hazlewood and Eddy worked together to create the unique "twang" sound, which Hazlewood later utilized for Nancy Sinatra's hit song "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" in 1965.
Even though Eddy's popularity in the music industry declined during the rise of British bands in the 1960s, his unique style influenced many emerging musicians such as Harrison and Hank Marvin of the Shadows. Despite this setback, his music continued to be relevant and was used in over 30 different movies and television shows over time. Shockingly, he even made it back to the charts in 1986 with a new version of his 1960 hit song Peter Gunn by the Art of Noise, a UK band.
Throughout his life, Eddy managed to produce more than fifty collections of music, which included reissued ones. He completed the majority of these albums before retiring during the mid-1980s. In 1994, he was given the prestigious honor of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
