Doyle Dykes
Encyclopedia
Doyle Dykes is an American
country
acoustic guitarist
from Jacksonville, Florida
. He is influenced by a wide variety of musical styles and musicians such as Chet Atkins
, the Allman Brothers, to the Beatles and U2
. Cited along with guitarists such as Tommy Emmanuel
as one of the best finger-style guitarists in the world, he is also known for his capability of playing proficiently with a wide range of different guitar tunings. Some of his best-known works and interpretations are "Wabash Canonball", "Country Fried Pickin", "Tricky Pickin", "Chet Stuff", "Be Still", "Amazing Grace
" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps
". Dykes is a devout Baptist and has served as a minister in a small church in Florida; the influence of Christianity is present in much of his work. He is a major endorser of Taylor Guitars
and Rivera Sedona amplifiers, with his own signature models of each.
and Merle Travis
, Doyle's heroes. Lackey was then invited to his house one day and showed him a right-hand picking pattern that "got his fingers working together in the right way, where the thumb played the bass and after-beat rhythm, and the three fingers took care of the rest." He later reunited with Lackey at a Taylor Guitars event in Detroit in 2002, and claims that if it wasn't for him he'd never have become a successful guitarist.
Dykes' early years as a guitarist took him around the world as he toured with The Stamps Quartet
and later with Grand Ole Opry star Grandpa Jones
. Dykes has since returned to the Grand Ole Opry
for numerous performances. Although a world-renowned guitarist, Dykes frequently still plays church venues with small audiences, stating, “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to play music for people.
Dykes is a long-time endorser of Taylor Guitars
. According to owner Bob Taylor, "If I had to pick the artist who most represented the Taylor Guitars brand and who has done the most for us, I would say Doyle Dykes. Doyle has represented Taylor Guitars to more players for more years than anyone." The Doyle Dykes Signature Model Taylor guitar (“DDSM”) features an amplification system by L.R. Baggs.
On December 23, 2004, Dykes had an operation on a brain tumor in which the surgeon compressed his brain. The operation left him with a temporary loss of balance (meaning he had to learn to walk again) and suffered from extreme headaches and nausea for several years afterwards and ultimately left him deaf in his right ear. He and his wife, Rita, a childhood sweetheart, have been married for at least 37 years and have four children, including daughters named Heidi and Hayley and a son named Caleb, also an accomplished guitarist. He has resided for many years in the Nashville area and is a close friend of Duane Eddy
. Dykes is an avid collector of old Western movies, including the films of John Wayne
, Gene Autry
, Roy Rogers
and Steve McQueen
. In 2011 he released a book The Lights of Marfa, a semi-autobiographical book documenting his encounters with God, with numerous Christian references to events in his own life.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
acoustic guitarist
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
from Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. He is influenced by a wide variety of musical styles and musicians such as Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
, the Allman Brothers, to the Beatles and U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
. Cited along with guitarists such as Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Emmanuel
William Thomas "Tommy" Emmanuel AM is an Australian guitarist, best known for his complex fingerpicking style, energetic performances and the use of percussive effects on the guitar. In the May 2008 and 2010 issues of Guitar Player Magazine, he was named as "Best Acoustic Guitarist" in their...
as one of the best finger-style guitarists in the world, he is also known for his capability of playing proficiently with a wide range of different guitar tunings. Some of his best-known works and interpretations are "Wabash Canonball", "Country Fried Pickin", "Tricky Pickin", "Chet Stuff", "Be Still", "Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is a song by George Harrison, first recorded by The Beatles in 1968 for their eponymous double album...
". Dykes is a devout Baptist and has served as a minister in a small church in Florida; the influence of Christianity is present in much of his work. He is a major endorser of Taylor Guitars
Taylor Guitars
Taylor Guitars is an El Cajon, California‐based luthier, specializing in acoustic guitars, as well as semi-hollow and solidbody electric guitars. It was established in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug.- History :...
and Rivera Sedona amplifiers, with his own signature models of each.
Biography
Dykes grew up in Jacksonville, Florida in a Christian Community. His father is referred to as "Bubba Dykes" and he has a brother named Aubrey. He cites June 1965 during his church's "summer revival" as the moment he became a lifelong Christian as an 11 year-old boy, seeing "the lights of salvation and a new purpose and desire for my life and since that day, I've never been the same". His first guitar was a $30 Sears Roebuck Silvertone acoustic. Dykes claims a sailor named Barry Lackey was the most important influence in his development as a guitarist. Lackey attended his church one day and using a thumb pick from his pocket "completely blew him away" with his "spider picking", playing just like Chet AtkinsChet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
and Merle Travis
Merle Travis
Merle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
, Doyle's heroes. Lackey was then invited to his house one day and showed him a right-hand picking pattern that "got his fingers working together in the right way, where the thumb played the bass and after-beat rhythm, and the three fingers took care of the rest." He later reunited with Lackey at a Taylor Guitars event in Detroit in 2002, and claims that if it wasn't for him he'd never have become a successful guitarist.
Dykes' early years as a guitarist took him around the world as he toured with The Stamps Quartet
J. D. Sumner
John Daniel "J. D." Sumner was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and music promoter noted for his extremely deep bass voice, his use of the vocal technique known as vocal fry, and his associations with Elvis Presley....
and later with Grand Ole Opry star Grandpa Jones
Grandpa Jones
Louis Marshall Jones , known professionally as Grandpa Jones, was an American banjo player and "old time" country and gospel music singer...
. Dykes has since returned to the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
for numerous performances. Although a world-renowned guitarist, Dykes frequently still plays church venues with small audiences, stating, “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to play music for people.
Dykes is a long-time endorser of Taylor Guitars
Taylor Guitars
Taylor Guitars is an El Cajon, California‐based luthier, specializing in acoustic guitars, as well as semi-hollow and solidbody electric guitars. It was established in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug.- History :...
. According to owner Bob Taylor, "If I had to pick the artist who most represented the Taylor Guitars brand and who has done the most for us, I would say Doyle Dykes. Doyle has represented Taylor Guitars to more players for more years than anyone." The Doyle Dykes Signature Model Taylor guitar (“DDSM”) features an amplification system by L.R. Baggs.
On December 23, 2004, Dykes had an operation on a brain tumor in which the surgeon compressed his brain. The operation left him with a temporary loss of balance (meaning he had to learn to walk again) and suffered from extreme headaches and nausea for several years afterwards and ultimately left him deaf in his right ear. He and his wife, Rita, a childhood sweetheart, have been married for at least 37 years and have four children, including daughters named Heidi and Hayley and a son named Caleb, also an accomplished guitarist. He has resided for many years in the Nashville area and is a close friend of Duane Eddy
Duane Eddy
Duane Eddy is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist. In the late 1950s and early 1960s he had a string of hit records, produced by Lee Hazlewood, which were noted for their characteristically "twangy" sound, including "Rebel Rouser", "Peter Gunn", and "Because They're Young"...
. Dykes is an avid collector of old Western movies, including the films of John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
, Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
, Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
and Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen
Terrence Steven "Steve" McQueen was an American movie actor. He was nicknamed "The King of Cool." His "anti-hero" persona, which he developed at the height of the Vietnam counterculture, made him one of the top box-office draws of the 1960s and 1970s. McQueen received an Academy Award nomination...
. In 2011 he released a book The Lights of Marfa, a semi-autobiographical book documenting his encounters with God, with numerous Christian references to events in his own life.
Discography
- 1996: Fingerstyle Guitar
- 1997: H.E.A.T
- 1998: Gitarre 2000
- 2000: Zelf: A Self Portrait on Guitar
- 2001: Country Fried Pickin'
- 2003: Songs of Faith and Freedom
- 2004: Chameleon
- 2008: Bridging the Gap