The music world mourns the loss of rock’n’roll guitar maestro Duane Eddy, whose instrumental hits from the late 1950s and early 1960s catapulted him to fame. Famed for his iconic numbers such as “Rebel Rouser” and the theme for the television show “Peter Gunn”, Eddy passed away at 86.
The iconic Grammy-winning musician succumbed after a battle with cancer in Williamson Health hospital, near his residence in Franklin, Tennessee, as confirmed by his wife Deed Abbate to the Associated Press.
His representative highlighted the impact Eddy had on a generation of guitarists across the globe with his unique ‘twang’ sound. He was eulogised as the inaugural rock’n’roll guitar deity, praised for his humility and extraordinary talent. His absence will be profoundly felt.
His distinctive musical style, marked by rhythm, shouts and handclaps, and a belief in the superior sound of a guitar’s bass strings on recording, catapulted the ‘twangy’ rock’n’roll sound which would inspire future generations of musicians, from George Harrison to Bruce Springsteen.
With 16 top 40 singles between 1958 and 1963, Eddy singlehandedly bolstered the status of the rock’n’roll guitarist.
Kyle Young, chief executive of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, in a statement to Variety complimented Eddy’s unique electric guitar voice. He touched upon Eddy’s robust, manly sound that inspired a myriad of musicians, from rural folks to urban rockers. Eddy’s influence on genres from country to rock & roll is indelible.
The Corning, New York-born Eddy discovered his passion for guitar at just five years of age. He honed his skills on local radio shows throughout his childhood, with influences ranging from singing cowboys Roy Rodgers and Gene Autry, to celebrated musicians Les Paul, Chet Atkins and Merle Travis. His innovative guitar style was a vital ingredient in his recipe for success in the music industry.
Upon relocating to Arizona at 13, Eddy formed a partnership with a mate, Jimmy Delbridge, to entertain at local events. They caught the attention of budding producer Lee Hazelwood, who subsequently produced Eddy’s debut single, ‘Movin’ n’ Groovin’, when Eddy was only 19 in 1957. Together, Hazelwood and Eddy crafted the distinct “twang” style that Hazelwood would later utilise for Nancy Sinatra’s 1960’s track ‘These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ that became wildly popular.
Eddy’s chart prominence declined amidst the British musical revolution in the mid-60s, but his innovative style profoundly influenced emerging artists like Harrison and Hank Marvin from the Shadows. Despite the relative fade from mainstream, his music continued to feature in over 30 films and TV series over a span of many years which kept it alive. He even managed to rank on the charts as late as 1986, when UK band the Art of Noise redid his 1960 track, ‘Peter Gunn’.
Throughout his career, Eddy made more than 50 albums, majority of which were recorded before he decided to hang his boots in the mid-80s. His contributions to music were recognised when he was honoured with inclusion into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.