Duane Eddy
Encyclopedia
Duane Eddy is a Grammy Award
-winning American
guitarist
. In the late 1950s and early 1960s he had a string of hit record
s, produced by Lee Hazlewood
, which were noted for their characteristically "twangy" sound, including "Rebel Rouser", "Peter Gunn", and "Because They're Young". He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 1994.
, he began playing the guitar at the age of five. In 1951 his family moved to Tucson
, and then to Coolidge, Arizona
. At the age of 16 he obtained a Chet Atkins
model Gretsch
guitar, and formed a duo, Jimmy and Duane, with his friend Jimmy Delbridge (who later recorded as Jimmy Dell). While performing at local radio station KCKY
they met disc jockey
Lee Hazlewood, who produced the duo's single, "Soda Fountain Girl", recorded and released in 1955 in Phoenix
. Hazlewood then produced Sanford Clark
's 1956 hit, "The Fool", featuring guitarist Al Casey
, while Eddy and Delbridge performed and appeared on radio stations in Phoenix before joining Buddy Long's Western Melody Boys, playing country music
in and around the city.
Eddy devised a technique of playing lead on his guitar's bass strings to produce a low, reverberant "twangy" sound. In November 1957, Eddy recorded an instrumental, "Moovin' n' Groovin'", co-written by Eddy and Hazlewood. As the Phoenix studio had no echo chamber, Hazlewood bought a 2,000 gallon water storage tank which he used as an echo chamber
to accentuate the "twangy" guitar sound. Eddy signed a contract with Philadelphia-based Jamie Records
. "Moovin' n' Groovin'" reached #72 on the Hot 100 in early 1958; the opening riff was copied a few years later by The Beach Boys
on "Surfin' U.S.A.". For the follow-up, "Rebel-'Rouser", the record featured overdubbed saxophone by Los Angeles
session musician Gil Bernal and yells and handclaps by doo-wop
group The Rivingtons
. The tune became Eddy's big, breakthrough hit, reaching #6 on the chart.
Eddy had a succession of hit records over the next few years, and his band members, including Steve Douglas
, saxophonist Jim Horn
and keyboard player Larry Knechtel
would go on to work as part of Phil Spector
's Wrecking Crew
. According to writer Richie Unterberger
, "The singles - 'Peter Gunn,' 'Cannonball,' 'Shazam,' and 'Forty Miles of Bad Road' were probably the best - also did their part to help keep the raunchy spirit of rock & roll alive, during a time in which it was in danger of being watered down." On January 9, 1959, Eddy’s debut album, Have Twangy Guitar Will Travel, was released, reaching #5, and remaining on the album charts for 82 weeks. Eddy's biggest hit came with the theme to the movie
Because They're Young
in 1960, which featured a string arrangement, and reached a chart peak of #4 in America and #2 in the UK in September 1960. Eddy's records were equally successful in the UK, and in 1960, readers of the UK's New Musical Express voted him World's Number One Musical Personality, ousting Elvis Presley
.
He gained a well earned reputation in the industry for identifying and grooming musical talent and encouraging his band members to secure regular studio work. Those who benefited from this philanthropic approach included Steve Douglas, Jim Horn and Larry Knechtel who all went on to achieve great success as studio musicians.
, The Wild Westerners, Kona Coast, The Savage Seven, and two appearances on the television series Have Gun–Will Travel. He was married to singer Jessi Colter
from 1962 to 1968.
In the 1970s, he produced album projects for Phil Everly and Waylon Jennings
. In 1975, a collaboration with hit songwriter Tony Macaulay
and former founding member of The Seekers
, Keith Potger
, led to a worldwide top ten record, "Play Me Like You Play Your Guitar". The single, "You Are My Sunshine", featuring Willie Nelson
and Waylon Jennings
, hit the country charts in 1977. He also recorded an album of completely acoustic music, Songs of Our Heritage.
In 1986, Eddy recorded with Art of Noise, remaking his 1960 version of Henry Mancini
's "Peter Gunn
". The song was a Top Ten hit around the world, ranking #1 on Rolling Stone Magazine's dance chart for six weeks that summer. "Peter Gunn" won the Grammy
for Best Rock Instrumental
of 1986. It also gave Eddy the distinction of being the only instrumentalist to have had Top 10 hit singles in four different decades in Great Britain
. (although his 1970's top 10 hit featured a female vocal group).
The following year, a new album, the self-titled Duane Eddy, was released on Capitol
. Several of the tracks were produced by Paul McCartney
, Jeff Lynne
, Ry Cooder
, and Art of Noise. Guest artists and musicians included John Fogerty
, George Harrison
, Paul McCartney, Ry Cooder, James Burton
, David Lindley
, Steve Cropper
, and original Rebels, Larry Knechtel
and Jim Horn
. The album included a cover of Paul McCartney's 1979 instrumental, "Rockestra Theme
". In 1992 Duane did a duet with Hank Marvin
on Hank's album Into the Light, with a cover version of The Chantays
' 1963 hit "Pipeline".
In the spring of 1994, Eddy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
. Eddy's "Rebel-Rouser" was featured that same year in Forrest Gump
. Oliver Stone
's Natural Born Killers
used "The Trembler", a track written by Eddy and Ravi Shankar
. Also in 1994, Eddy teamed up with Carl Perkins
and The Mavericks
to contribute "Matchbox" to the AIDS
benefit album Red Hot + Country
produced by the Red Hot Organization
. Eddy was the lead guitarist on Foreigner
's 1995 hit "Until the End of Time", which reached the top ten on the Billboard Adult Contemporary
chart. In 1996, Eddy joined Hans Zimmer
on the soundtrack of Broken Arrow
.
On 5 April 2000, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, the title "Titan of Twang" was bestowed upon Eddy by the mayor.
In 2004, Eddy was presented with the Guitar Player Magazine "Legend Award". Eddy was the second recipient of the award, the first having been presented to Les Paul
. Among those who have openly acknowledged his influence are George Harrison
, Dave Davies
(of the Kinks
), Hank Marvin
(of the Shadows
), the Ventures
, John Entwistle
(of the Who
), Bruce Springsteen
, Adrian Belew
, Bill Nelson
(of Be-Bop Deluxe), and Mark Knopfler
.
October 2010 witnessed a return to the UK at a sold out Royal Festival Hall, London at which he was given a 10 minute standing ovation before he had played a note or spoken a word. Following the concert an equally appreciative ovation was warmly bestowed upon him cementing his affection and appreciation of his UK and European audiences.
This success promulgated the subsequent album for Mad Monkey/EMI produced by UK band Pulp
Guitarist Richard Hawley
in Sheffield UK. The album, Road Trip, was released on 20 June 2011, and was well received by music trades and the UK national press critics alike.
He appeared at the world famous Glastonbury Festival
on 26 June 2011.
The Gretsch "Chet Atkins 6120" model has long been associated with Eddy. In 1997, Gretsch Guitars started production of the Duane Eddy Signature Model, the Gretsch 6120-DE. In 2004, The Gibson Custom Art and Historic Division introduced the new Duane Eddy Signature Gibson guitar.
A new Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature model was released Spring 2011.
Plus Two Episodes of the "Have Gun - Will Travel" TV series
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. In the late 1950s and early 1960s he had a string of hit record
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
s, produced by Lee Hazlewood
Lee Hazlewood
Lee Hazlewood , born Barton Lee Hazlewood was an American country and pop singer, songwriter, and record producer, most widely known for his work with guitarist Duane Eddy during the late 1950s and singer Nancy Sinatra in the 1960s.Hazlewood had a distinctive baritone voice that added an ominous...
, which were noted for their characteristically "twangy" sound, including "Rebel Rouser", "Peter Gunn", and "Because They're Young". He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
in 1994.
Early life and career
Born in Corning, New YorkCorning (city), New York
Corning is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States, on the Chemung River. The population was 10,842 at the 2000 census. It is named for Erastus Corning, an Albany financier and railroad executive who was an investor in the company that developed the community.- Overview :The city of...
, he began playing the guitar at the age of five. In 1951 his family moved to Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, and then to Coolidge, Arizona
Coolidge, Arizona
Coolidge is a city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 8,154.Arizona Highway 87 and Arizona Highway 287 pass through the town. Coolidge is 56 miles southeast of Phoenix, and 69 miles northwest of Tucson. It is 21 miles...
. At the age of 16 he obtained a 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...
model Gretsch
Gretsch
The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...
guitar, and formed a duo, Jimmy and Duane, with his friend Jimmy Delbridge (who later recorded as Jimmy Dell). While performing at local radio station KCKY
KCKY
KCKY is a radio station in Pinal County, Arizona. The station is licensed to the city of Coolidge and is owned by the Cortaro Broadcasting Corporation....
they met disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
Lee Hazlewood, who produced the duo's single, "Soda Fountain Girl", recorded and released in 1955 in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. Hazlewood then produced Sanford Clark
Sanford Clark
Sanford Clark is an American country-rockabilly singer and guitarist best known for his 1956 hit "The Fool".-Biography:...
's 1956 hit, "The Fool", featuring guitarist Al Casey
Al Casey (rock & roll guitarist)
Alvin W. Casey was an American guitarist. He was mainly noted for his work as a session musician, but also released records and scored three Billboard Hot 100 hits in the United States...
, while Eddy and Delbridge performed and appeared on radio stations in Phoenix before joining Buddy Long's Western Melody Boys, playing country music
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...
in and around the city.
Eddy devised a technique of playing lead on his guitar's bass strings to produce a low, reverberant "twangy" sound. In November 1957, Eddy recorded an instrumental, "Moovin' n' Groovin'", co-written by Eddy and Hazlewood. As the Phoenix studio had no echo chamber, Hazlewood bought a 2,000 gallon water storage tank which he used as an echo chamber
Echo chamber
thumb|right|Echo chamber of the Dresden University of Technologythumb|right|Hamilton Mausoleum has a spectacularly long lasting unplanned echoAn echo chamber is a hollow enclosure used to produce echoing sounds, usually for recording purposes...
to accentuate the "twangy" guitar sound. Eddy signed a contract with Philadelphia-based Jamie Records
Jamie Records
Jamie Records was a record label founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1957 by Harold Lipsius.Their first 45rpm single, "It's Great To Fall In Love"/"Truly" by Marian Caruso , was issued in 1957. However, they really hit the big-time in 1958 with the release of Duane Eddy's "Rebel...
. "Moovin' n' Groovin'" reached #72 on the Hot 100 in early 1958; the opening riff was copied a few years later by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
on "Surfin' U.S.A.". For the follow-up, "Rebel-'Rouser", the record featured overdubbed saxophone by Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
session musician Gil Bernal and yells and handclaps by doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
group The Rivingtons
The Rivingtons
The Rivingtons were a 1960s doo-wop group. The group members were:lead vocalist Carl White , tenor Al Frazier , baritone Sonny Harris, and bass singer Turner "Rocky" Wilson Jr.. Frazier was replaced by Madero White for a period in the late 1970s.-History:Their first hit was "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow"...
. The tune became Eddy's big, breakthrough hit, reaching #6 on the chart.
Eddy had a succession of hit records over the next few years, and his band members, including Steve Douglas
Steve Douglas (saxophonist)
Steven Douglas Kreisman , better known as Steve Douglas, was an American saxophonist, flautist and clarinetist. Douglas is best known as a Los Angeles session musician, a member of The Wrecking Crew, who worked with Phil Spector, Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys...
, saxophonist Jim Horn
Jim Horn
Jim Horn is an American saxophonist and woodwind player. He was born in Los Angeles, and after replacing saxophonist Steve Douglas in 1959, he toured with member Duane Eddy for five years, playing sax and flute on the road, and in the recording studio...
and keyboard player Larry Knechtel
Larry Knechtel
Lawrence William "Larry" Knechtel was an American keyboard player and bassist, best known for his work as a session musician with such artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & the Papas, The Partridge Family, The Doors, and Elvis Presley, and as a member of the 1970s...
would go on to work as part of Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
's Wrecking Crew
The Wrecking Crew (music)
The Wrecking Crew was a nickname coined by the drummer Hal Blaine after the fact for a group of session musicians in Los Angeles, California, who earned wide acclaim in the 1960s. They backed dozens of popular singers, and were one of the most successful "groups" of studio musicians in music history...
. According to writer Richie Unterberger
Richie Unterberger
Richie Unterberger is a US author and journalist whose focus is popular music and travel writing.-Life and writing:Having worked as a DJ at WXPN in Philadelphia, he started reviewing records for Op magazine in 1983...
, "The singles - 'Peter Gunn,' 'Cannonball,' 'Shazam,' and 'Forty Miles of Bad Road' were probably the best - also did their part to help keep the raunchy spirit of rock & roll alive, during a time in which it was in danger of being watered down." On January 9, 1959, Eddy’s debut album, Have Twangy Guitar Will Travel, was released, reaching #5, and remaining on the album charts for 82 weeks. Eddy's biggest hit came with the theme to the movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Because They're Young
Because They're Young
Because They're Young is a 1960 film from Columbia Pictures, starring Dick Clark as Neil Hendry, an American high school teacher who tries to make a difference in the lives of his students. The film co-starred Tuesday Weld, Warren Berlinger, Roberta Shore, Doug McClure, and Victoria Shaw. It was...
in 1960, which featured a string arrangement, and reached a chart peak of #4 in America and #2 in the UK in September 1960. Eddy's records were equally successful in the UK, and in 1960, readers of the UK's New Musical Express voted him World's Number One Musical Personality, ousting Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
.
He gained a well earned reputation in the industry for identifying and grooming musical talent and encouraging his band members to secure regular studio work. Those who benefited from this philanthropic approach included Steve Douglas, Jim Horn and Larry Knechtel who all went on to achieve great success as studio musicians.
Later career
During the 1960s Eddy launched an acting career, appearing in such films as A Thunder of DrumsA Thunder of Drums
A Thunder of Drums is a 1961 Western directed by Joseph M. Newman, starring Richard Boone, George Hamilton and Luana Patten.-Plot:1st Lieutenant Curtis McQuade , a cavalry officer without field experience, is assigned to a remote, understaffed post where he attempts to adjust to this new life...
, The Wild Westerners, Kona Coast, The Savage Seven, and two appearances on the television series Have Gun–Will Travel. He was married to singer Jessi Colter
Jessi Colter
Jessi Colter is an American country music artist who is best known for her collaboration with her husband, country singer and songwriter Waylon Jennings and for her 1975 country-pop crossover hit "I'm Not Lisa"....
from 1962 to 1968.
In the 1970s, he produced album projects for Phil Everly and Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
. In 1975, a collaboration with hit songwriter Tony Macaulay
Tony Macaulay
Tony Macaulay is a British author, composer for musical theatre, and songwriter, though it was the latter that made him a household name early in his career...
and former founding member of The Seekers
The Seekers
The Seekers are an Australian folk-influenced pop music group which were originally formed in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States...
, Keith Potger
Keith Potger
Keith Potger is one of the founding members of the Australian pop-folk group The Seekers. He was born in Ceylon and is of Burgher descent. In the Seekers, he played twelve string guitar and banjo, and sang...
, led to a worldwide top ten record, "Play Me Like You Play Your Guitar". The single, "You Are My Sunshine", featuring Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
and Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, hit the country charts in 1977. He also recorded an album of completely acoustic music, Songs of Our Heritage.
In 1986, Eddy recorded with Art of Noise, remaking his 1960 version of Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
's "Peter Gunn
Peter Gunn
Peter Gunn is an American private eye television series which aired on the NBC and later ABC television networks from 1958 to 1961. The show's creator was Blake Edwards...
". The song was a Top Ten hit around the world, ranking #1 on Rolling Stone Magazine's dance chart for six weeks that summer. "Peter Gunn" won the Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Rock Instrumental
Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance was an honor presented to recording artists for quality instrumental rock performances at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
of 1986. It also gave Eddy the distinction of being the only instrumentalist to have had Top 10 hit singles in four different decades in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. (although his 1970's top 10 hit featured a female vocal group).
The following year, a new album, the self-titled Duane Eddy, was released on Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. Several of the tracks were produced by Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Jeff Lynne
Jeff Lynne
Jeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
, Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder
Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
, and Art of Noise. Guest artists and musicians included John Fogerty
John Fogerty
John Cameron Fogerty is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his time with the swamp rock/roots rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a #1 solo recording artist. Fogerty has a rare distinction of being named on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest...
, George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
, Paul McCartney, Ry Cooder, James Burton
James Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
, David Lindley
David Lindley (musician)
David Perry Lindley is an American musician who is notable for his work with Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, and other rock musicians. He has worked extensively in other genres as well, performing with artists as varied as Curtis Mayfield and Dolly Parton...
, Steve Cropper
Steve Cropper
Steve Cropper , also known as Steve "The Colonel" Cropper, is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist of the Stax Records house band, Booker T...
, and original Rebels, Larry Knechtel
Larry Knechtel
Lawrence William "Larry" Knechtel was an American keyboard player and bassist, best known for his work as a session musician with such artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & the Papas, The Partridge Family, The Doors, and Elvis Presley, and as a member of the 1970s...
and Jim Horn
Jim Horn
Jim Horn is an American saxophonist and woodwind player. He was born in Los Angeles, and after replacing saxophonist Steve Douglas in 1959, he toured with member Duane Eddy for five years, playing sax and flute on the road, and in the recording studio...
. The album included a cover of Paul McCartney's 1979 instrumental, "Rockestra Theme
Rockestra Theme
"Rockestra Theme", one of Paul McCartney's harder-rocking songs, was recorded on October 3, 1978, at Abbey Road Studios by an all-star collection of musicians dubbed "Rockestra", although the song is technically credited to Wings...
". In 1992 Duane did a duet with Hank Marvin
Hank Marvin
Hank Brian Marvin is an English guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for vocalist Cliff Richard...
on Hank's album Into the Light, with a cover version of The Chantays
The Chantays
The Chantays are an American surf rock band from the early 1960s, known for the hit instrumental, "Pipeline" . Their music combined electronic keyboards and surf guitar, creating a unique ghostly sound.-History:...
' 1963 hit "Pipeline".
In the spring of 1994, Eddy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
. Eddy's "Rebel-Rouser" was featured that same year in Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise...
. Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
's Natural Born Killers
Natural Born Killers
Natural Born Killers is a 1994 crime/black comedy film directed by Oliver Stone about two victims of traumatic childhoods who became lovers and psychopathic serial killers, and are irresponsibly glorified by the mass media...
used "The Trembler", a track written by Eddy and Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar , often referred to by the title Pandit, is an Indian musician and composer who plays the plucked string instrument sitar. He has been described as the best known contemporary Indian musician by Hans Neuhoff in Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.Shankar was born in Varanasi and spent...
. Also in 1994, Eddy teamed up with Carl Perkins
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
and The Mavericks
The Mavericks
The Mavericks is a country music band founded in 1989 in Miami, Florida, United States. Between 1991 and 2003 they recorded six studio albums, in addition to charting 14 singles on the Billboard country charts...
to contribute "Matchbox" to the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
benefit album Red Hot + Country
Red Hot + Country
Red Hot + Country was the follow-up to No Alternative in the Red Hot Series of compilation albums, a series produced to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues...
produced by the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
. Eddy was the lead guitarist on Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
's 1995 hit "Until the End of Time", which reached the top ten on the Billboard Adult Contemporary
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart. In 1996, Eddy joined Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer is a German film composer and music producer. He has composed music for over 100 films, including critically acclaimed film scores for The Lion King , Crimson Tide , The Thin Red Line , Gladiator , The Dark Knight and Inception .Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the...
on the soundtrack of Broken Arrow
Broken Arrow (1996 film)
Broken Arrow is a 1996 American action film directed by John Woo, written by Graham Yost, and starring John Travolta and Christian Slater. The original music score was composed by Hans Zimmer, and features guitarist Duane Eddy. It deals with the theft of an American nuclear weapon.The film received...
.
On 5 April 2000, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, the title "Titan of Twang" was bestowed upon Eddy by the mayor.
In 2004, Eddy was presented with the Guitar Player Magazine "Legend Award". Eddy was the second recipient of the award, the first having been presented to Les Paul
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
. Among those who have openly acknowledged his influence are George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
, Dave Davies
Dave Davies
David Russell Gordon "Dave" Davies is an English rock musician best known for his role as lead guitarist and vocalist for the English rock band The Kinks....
(of the Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
), Hank Marvin
Hank Marvin
Hank Brian Marvin is an English guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for vocalist Cliff Richard...
(of the Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
), the Ventures
The Ventures
The Ventures is an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling...
, John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
(of the Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
), Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
, Adrian Belew
Adrian Belew
Adrian Belew is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer...
, Bill Nelson
Bill Nelson
Clarence William "Bill" Nelson is the senior United States Senator from the state of Florida and a member of the Democratic Party. He is a former U.S. Representative and former Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida...
(of Be-Bop Deluxe), and Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
.
October 2010 witnessed a return to the UK at a sold out Royal Festival Hall, London at which he was given a 10 minute standing ovation before he had played a note or spoken a word. Following the concert an equally appreciative ovation was warmly bestowed upon him cementing his affection and appreciation of his UK and European audiences.
This success promulgated the subsequent album for Mad Monkey/EMI produced by UK band Pulp
Pulp (band)
Pulp are an English alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. Their lineup consists of Jarvis Cocker , Russell Senior , Candida Doyle , Mark Webber , Steve Mackey and Nick Banks ....
Guitarist Richard Hawley
Richard Hawley
Richard Hawley is a guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer. After his first band Treebound Story broke up, Hawley found success as a member of Britpop band Longpigs in the 1990s. He later joined the band Pulp, led by his friend Jarvis Cocker...
in Sheffield UK. The album, Road Trip, was released on 20 June 2011, and was well received by music trades and the UK national press critics alike.
He appeared at the world famous Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
on 26 June 2011.
Signature guitars
Duane Eddy was the first rock and roll guitarist to have a signature model guitar. In 1960, Guild Guitars introduced the Duane Eddy Models DE-400 and the deluxe DE-500. A limited edition of the DE-500 model was reissued briefly in 1983 to mark Eddy's 25th anniversary in the recording industry.The Gretsch "Chet Atkins 6120" model has long been associated with Eddy. In 1997, Gretsch Guitars started production of the Duane Eddy Signature Model, the Gretsch 6120-DE. In 2004, The Gibson Custom Art and Historic Division introduced the new Duane Eddy Signature Gibson guitar.
A new Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature model was released Spring 2011.
Awards
- Number One World Musical Personality in the NME Poll (UK; 1960)
- Grammy Winner Best Rock Instrumental Peter Gunn (1986)
- Grammy Nomination Best Country Instrumental (Doc Watson album) (1992)
- Rock and Roll Hall of FameRock and Roll Hall of FameThe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
Member (1994) - Rockwalk Induction (1997)
- Presented with "Chetty" award by Chet AtkinsChet AtkinsChester 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...
(2000) - Guitar Player Magazine Legend Award (2004)
- Musicians Hall of Fame Member (2008)
- Mojo Icon Award (UK: 2010)
Chart singles
| Year | Title | U.S. Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | "Moovin' N' Groovin" | 72 | - |
| "Rebel-'Rouser" | 6 | 19 | |
| "Ramrod" | 27 | - | |
| "Cannonball" | 15 | 22 | |
| 1959 | "The Lonely One" | 23 | - |
| "Peter Gunn" | (see 1960) | 6 | |
| "Yep!" | 30 | 17 | |
| "Forty Miles Of Bad Road" | 9 | 11 | |
| "The Quiet Three" | 46 | - | |
| "Some Kind-A Earthquake" | 37 | 12 | |
| "First Love, First Tears" | 59 | - | |
| 1960 | "Bonnie Came Back" | 26 | 12 |
| "Shazam!" | 45 | 4 | |
| "Because They're Young" | 4 | 2 | |
| "Kommotion" | 78 | 13 | |
| "Peter Gunn" | 27 | (see 1959) | |
| 1961 | "Pepe" | 18 | 2 |
| "Theme From Dixie" | 39 | 7 | |
| "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" | 101 | - | |
| "Ring Of Fire" | 84 | 17 | |
| "Drivin' Home" | 87 | 30 | |
| "My Blue Heaven" | 50 | - | |
| "Caravan" | - | 42 | |
| 1962 | "The Avenger" | 101 | - |
| "The Battle" | 114 | - | |
| "Deep In The Heart Of Texas" | 78 | 19 | |
| "The Ballad Of Paladin" | 33 | 10 | |
| "Dance With The Guitar Man" | 12 | 4 | |
| 1963 | "Boss Guitar" | 28 | 27 |
| "Lonely Boy, Lonely Guitar" | 82 | 35 | |
| "Your Baby's Gone Surfin" | 93 | 49 | |
| 1964 | "The Son Of Rebel Rouser" | 97 | - |
| 1970 | "Freight Train" | 110 | - |
| 1975 | "Play Me Like You Play Your Guitar" | - | 9 |
| 1986 | "Peter Gunn" (with The Art of Noise The Art of Noise Art of Noise was an avant-garde synthpop group formed in 1983 by engineer/producer Gary Langan, programmer J. J. Jeczalik, along with arranger Anne Dudley, producer Trevor Horn and music journalist Paul Morley. The group's mostly instrumental compositions were novel melodic sound collages based on... ) |
50 | 8 |
Albums
- Have 'Twangy' Guitar Will TravelHave 'Twangy' Guitar Will TravelHave 'Twangy' Guitar Will Travel is the debut album by guitarist Duane Eddy. It was released in 1958.- Track listing :All songs written by Duane Eddy and Lee Hazlewood unless noted#"Lonesome Road" - 3:09...
(#5) – Jamie JLP-3000 (Mono)/JLPS-3000 (Stereo) -- 1958
-
- Original album covers are white with Duane Eddy sitting on guitar case and LP title in white. 2nd pressings show the same cover with LP title in green and red; 3rd pressings are red album covers with Duane Eddy standing Note: It is very likely that so called "original" version white letter covers do not exist.
- Especially for YouEspecially for You (Duane Eddy album)Especially for You is the second album by guitarist Duane Eddy. It was released in 1959.- Track listing :All songs written by Duane Eddy and Lee Hazlewood unless noted#"Peter Gunn" - 2:30 #"Only Child" - 3:34...
(#24) – Jamie JLPM-3006/JLPS-3006—1959 - The "Twangs" the "Thang" (#18) – Jamie JLPM-3009/JLPS-3009—1959
- Songs of Our Heritage – Jamie JLPM-3011/JLPS-3011—1960
- Especially for You
- Original copies feature gatefold covers, later replaced with regular covers. Also pressed in limited quantities of red vinyl and blue vinyl
- $1,000,000.00 Worth of Twang (#10) -- Jamie JLPM-3014/JLPS-3014—1960
- Girls! Girls! Girls! (#93) -- Jamie JLPM-3019/JLPS-3019—1961
- Front cover features photos of Duane with Brenda LeeBrenda LeeBrenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
and Annette FunicelloAnnette FunicelloAnnette Joanne Funicello is an American singer and actress. She was Walt Disney's most popular cast member of the original Mickey Mouse Club, and went on to appear in a series of beach party films.-Early life and early stardom:...
- $1,000,000.00 Worth of Twang, Volume 2 -- Jamie JLPM-3021/JLPS-3021—1962
- Twistin' With Duane Eddy -- Jamie JLPM-3022/JLPS-3022—1962
- Twistin' 'N' Twangin (#82) -- RCA LPM-2525 (Mono)/LSP-2525 (Stereo) -- 1962
- Twangy Guitar - Silky Strings (#72) -- RCA LPM-2576/LSP-2576—1962
- Surfin -- Jamie JLPM-3024/JLPS-3024—1963
- Duane Eddy & The Rebels—In Person -- Jamie JLPM-3025/JLPS-3025—1963
- Dance with the Guitar Man (#47) -- RCA LPM-2648/LSP-2648—1963
- "Twang" a Country Song -- RCA LPM-2681/LSP-2681—1963
- "Twangin'" Up a Storm! (#93) -- RCA LPM-2700/LSP-2700—1963
- 16 Greatest Hits -- Jamie JLPM-3026/JLPS-3026—1964
- Lonely Guitar (#144) -- RCA LPM-2798/LSP-2798—1964
- Water Skiing -- RCA LPM-2918/LSP-2918—1965
- Twangin' The Golden Hits -- RCA LPM-2993/LSP-2993—1965
- Twangsville -- RCA LPM-3432/LSP-3432—1965
- The Best of Duane Eddy -- RCA LPM-3477/LSP-3477—1965
- Duane-A-Go-Go -- Colpix CP-490 (Mono)/CPS-490 (Stereo) -- 1965
- Duane Eddy Does Bob Dylan -- Colpix CPL-494/CPS-494—1965
- The Biggest Twang Of All -- Reprise R-6218 (Mono)/RS-6218 (Stereo) -- 1966
- The Roaring Twangies -- Reprise R-6240/RS-6240—1967
- Tokyo Hits -- Reprise (Japan only)
- The Vintage Years -- Sire SASH-3707-2—1975
- Pure Gold -- RCA ANL1-2671—1978
- Twenty Terrific Twangies RCA
- Duane Eddy -- Capitol ST-12567—1987
- Twangy Peaks -- EMI CDP 7965572 - 1991
- Ghostrider -- Curb D2-77801 1996
- Road Trip -- Mad Monkey Records/EMI MAD1 2011 -- UK #116
- Original album covers are white with Duane Eddy sitting on guitar case and LP title in white. 2nd pressings show the same cover with LP title in green and red; 3rd pressings are red album covers with Duane Eddy standing Note: It is very likely that so called "original" version white letter covers do not exist.
Film appearances
- Because They're YoungBecause They're YoungBecause They're Young is a 1960 film from Columbia Pictures, starring Dick Clark as Neil Hendry, an American high school teacher who tries to make a difference in the lives of his students. The film co-starred Tuesday Weld, Warren Berlinger, Roberta Shore, Doug McClure, and Victoria Shaw. It was...
(1960) - A Thunder of DrumsA Thunder of DrumsA Thunder of Drums is a 1961 Western directed by Joseph M. Newman, starring Richard Boone, George Hamilton and Luana Patten.-Plot:1st Lieutenant Curtis McQuade , a cavalry officer without field experience, is assigned to a remote, understaffed post where he attempts to adjust to this new life...
(1961) - The Wild Westerners (1962)
- The Savage Seven (1968)
- Kona CoastKona Coast (film)Kona Coast is a 1968 film directed by Lamont Johnson. It stars Richard Boone and Vera Miles.-Plot:Sam Moran is a Honolulu charter-boat captain who leads fishing expeditions in the tropical paradise. When his daughter is found murdered at the party of a wealthy young playboy, he seeks the truth...
(1968)
Plus Two Episodes of the "Have Gun - Will Travel" TV series
Books
- Hardy, Phil and Dave Laing, Encyclopedia of Rock, Schrimner Books, 1987.
- Rees, Dafydd,and Luke Crampton, Rock Movers & Shakers, ABC-CLIO, 1991.
- The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll edited by Jon Pareles and Patr Romanowski, Rolling StonePress/Summit Books, 1993.
- Stambler, Irwin, The Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock and Soul, St.
- Martin's, 1989.
- Furek,Maxim, "The Jordan Brothers: A Musical Biography of Rock's Fortunate Sons." Kimberley Press, 1986.
Periodicals
- "Twangsville" produced by the Duane Eddy Circle (Appreciation Society) since 1975
- Detroit Free Press, August28. 1970.
- Detroit News, June 4, 1961.
- Musician, November 1991.
- New Gandy Dancer Quarterly since 1975 (UK)
- Pipeline" Quarterly (UK)