Rock Music Wiki
Register
Advertisement


Duane Eddy (born April 26, 1938)[1] 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".[2] He had sold 12 million records by 1963.[1]

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994,[3] and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2008.[4]

Contents[]

 [hide*1 Early life and career

Early life and career[edit][]

Born in Corning, New York, he began playing the guitar at the age of five. In 1951 his family moved to Tucson, and then to Coolidge, Arizona.[1] At the age of 16 he obtained a Chet Atkinsmodel Gretsch guitar, and formed a duo, Jimmy and Duane, with his friend Jimmy Delbridge (who later recorded as Jimmy Dell).[5] 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.[6][7][8]

External video
Oral History, Duane Eddy shares early moments of his life story. interview date July 19, 2009, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library

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, "Movin' n' Groovin'", co-written by Eddy and Hazlewood.[2] 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.[citation needed] In 1958, Eddy signed a recording contract with Lester Sill and Lee Hazlewood to record in Phoenix at the Audio Recorders studio. Sill and Hazlewood leased the tapes of all the singles and albums to the Philadelphia-based Jamie Records.

"Movin' n' Groovin'" reached number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1958; the opening riff, borrowed from Chuck Berry's "Brown Eyed Handsome Man," was itself copied a few years later by The Beach Boys on "Surfin' U.S.A.".[2] 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.[6][9] The tune became Eddy's breakthrough hit, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It sold over one million copies, earning Eddy his first gold disc.[1]

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.[10] 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."[2] On January 9, 1959, Eddy’s debut album, Have 'Twangy' Guitar Will Travel, was released, reaching number 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,[1] which featured a string arrangement, and reached a chart peak of number 4 in America and number 2 in the UK in September 1960.[2][11] It became his second million selling disc.[1] Eddy's records were equally successful in the UK, and in 1960, readers of the UK's NME voted him World's Number One Musical Personality, ousting Elvis Presley.

In 1960 Eddy signed a contract directly with Jamie Records, bypassing Sill and Hazlewood. This caused a temporary rift between Eddy and Hazlewood. The result was that for the duration of his contract with Jamie, Eddy produced his own singles and albums.

"Duane Eddy and the Rebels" became a frequent act on The Dick Clark Show.

Later career[edit][]

During the 1960s Eddy launched an acting career, appearing in such films as A Thunder of DrumsThe Wild WesternersKona CoastThe Savage Seven, and two appearances on the television series Have Gun–Will Travel.[1] He married singer Jessi Colter in 1962 and that same year he signed a three-year contract with Paul Anka's production company, Camy, whose recordings were issued on the RCA Victor label.[2] It was in the early days of recording in RCA's studios that he renewed contact with Lee Hazlewood, who became involved in a number of his RCA released singles and albums. Eddy's 1962 single release, "(Dance With) The Guitar Man", co-written with Hazlewood, earned his third gold disc by selling a million records.[1]

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 SeekersKeith Potger, led to another UK top ten record, "Play Me Like You Play Your Guitar".[12] The single, "You Are My Sunshine", featuring Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, hit the country charts in 1977.[citation needed] 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".[2] The song was a Top Ten hit around the world, ranking number 1 on Rolling Stone'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 the UK.[citation needed] (Although his 1975 top 10 hit featured a female vocal group).

The following year, Duane Eddy was released on Capitol. Several of the tracks were produced by Paul McCartneyJeff LynneRy Cooder, and Art of Noise.[2] Guest artists and musicians included John FogertyGeorge Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ry Cooder, James BurtonDavid LindleyPhil PickettSteve Cropper, and original Rebels, Larry Knechtel and Jim Horn. The album included a cover of Paul McCartney's 1979 instrumental, "Rockestra Theme". In 1992 Eddy recorded a duet with Hank Marvin on Marvin'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 GumpOliver Stone's Natural Born Killers used "The Trembler", a track written by Eddy andRavi 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 played guitar on Hans Zimmer's soundtrack for the film Broken Arrow.[13]

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 being presented to Les Paul. Among those who have acknowledged his influence are George Harrison,[2] Dave DaviesHank Marvin,[2] the Ventures,[14] John Entwistle,[14] Bruce SpringsteenAdrian BelewBill Nelson, and Mark Knopfler.

In October 2010, Eddy returned to the UK at a sold out Royal Festival Hall in London. This success promulgated the subsequent album for Mad Monkey/EMI, which was produced by Richard Hawley in Sheffield, England.[15] The album,Road Trip, was released on 20 June 2011. Mojo placed the album at number 37 on its list of "Top 50 albums of 2011."[16] Eddy performed at the Glastonbury Festival on 26 June 2011.[15]

Signature guitars[edit][]

Eddy's favoured guitar was a Chet Atkins Gretsch 6120.[17]

Eddy was the first rock and roll guitarist to have a signature model guitar. In 196 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. 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 in spring 2011.

Awards[edit][]

  • 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 Fame Member (1994)
  • Rockwalk Induction (1997)
  • Presented with "Chetty" award by Chet Atkins (2000)
  • Guitar Player Magazine Legend Award (2004)
  • Musicians Hall of Fame Member (2008)
  • Mojo Icon Award (UK: 2010)

Discography[edit][]

Chart singles[edit][]

Year Title U.S. Hot 100[18] UK Singles Chart[19]
1958 "Movin' 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) 50 8

Albums[edit][]

Year Title U.S.Billboard Top 200 UK Albums Chart[20] Label and stereo catalogue reference Notes
1958 Have 'Twangy' Guitar Will Travel[21] 5 6 Jamie JLPS-3000 Original album covers were white with Duane Eddy sitting on guitar case and the LP title in white. Second pressings showed the same cover with the LP title in green and red; third pressings were red album covers with Duane Eddy standing

Note: It is very likely that so called "original" version white letter covers do not exist.

1959 Especially for You 24 6 Jamie JLPS-3006
The "Twangs" the "Thang" 18 2 Jamie JLPS-3009
1960 Songs of Our Heritage - 13 Jamie JLPS-3011 Original copies featured 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 5 Jamie JLPS-3014
1961 Girls! Girls! Girls! 93 - Jamie JLPS-3019 Front cover featured photos of Duane Eddy with Brenda Lee and Annette Funicello
1962 $1,000,000.00 Worth of Twang, Volume 2 - 18 Jamie JLPS-3021
Twistin' With Duane Eddy - - Jamie JLPS-3022
Twistin' 'N' Twangin 82 8 RCA LSP-2525
Twangy Guitar - Silky Strings 72 13 RCA LSP-2576
1963 Surfin' - - Jamie JLPS-3024
Duane Eddy & The Rebels — In Person - - Jamie JLPS-3025
Dance with the Guitar Man 47 14 RCA LSP-2648
"Twang" a Country Song - - RCA LSP-2681
"Twangin'" Up a Storm! 93 - RCA LSP-2700
1964 16 Greatest Hits - - Jamie JLPS-3026
Lonely Guitar 144 - RCA LSP-2798
1965 Water Skiing - - RCA LSP-2918
Twangin' The Golden Hits - - RCA LSP-2993
Twangsville - - RCA LSP-3432
The Best of Duane Eddy - - RCA LSP-3477
Duane-A-Go-Go - - Colpix CPS-490
Duane Eddy Does Bob Dylan - - Colpix CPS-494
1966 The Biggest Twang Of All - - Reprise RS-6218
1967 The Roaring Twangies - - Reprise RS-6240
Tokyo Hits - - Reprise Japan only release
1975 The Vintage Years - - Sire SASH-3707-2
1978 Pure Gold - - RCA ANL1-2671
Twenty Terrific Twangies - - RCA
1987 Duane Eddy - - Capitol ST-12567
1991 Twangy Peaks - - EMI CDP 7965572
1996 Ghostrider - - Curb D2-77801
2011 Road Trip - 116 Mad Monkey/EMI MAD1
2013 Complete UK Hits: 1958-62 - - Peaksoft PEA016

[2]

Film appearances[edit][]

Advertisement