Duane Eddy, a legendary guitarist known for his innovative twangy style of playing, passed away at the age of 86 due to complications from cancer. He achieved great success in the late 1950s and ’60s with hit songs like “Rebel Rouser” and “Forty Miles of Bad Road,” which helped establish the electric guitar as a dominant instrument in rock ‘n’ roll. Eddy’s unique playing style influenced several prominent guitarists, including George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, and Bruce Springsteen.
Eddy, a self-taught musician, created his distinctive sound by playing lead lines on his guitar’s bass strings and experimenting with the vibrato bar. He had a keen ear for various music genres and utilized studio experimentation, such as simulating echo chamber effects with a water tank. Throughout his career, Eddy focused on creating a cohesive sound that tied together different elements of his music, emphasizing the importance of both playing the instrument and making records.
Recognizable for his guitar twang, Eddy produced 15 Top 40 hits from 1958 to 1963, including “Because They’re Young” and “Cannonball.” Most of his early recordings were made with Lee Hazlewood and released on Jamie Records. Eddy’s band, The Rebels, featured members of the Wrecking Crew, a renowned West Coast studio collective. The guitarist’s albums often incorporated the word “twang” in their titles, reflecting his signature style.
Born in Corning, New York, Eddy learned to play the guitar at a young age and began performing in his teens. He started his musical career touring with Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars and released solo recordings shortly after. Despite a hiatus in hit singles in the mid-1960s, Eddy continued to release instrumental albums, such as “Duane Does Dylan.” He also worked as a producer for artists like Phil Everly and Waylon Jennings.
Eddy’s music experienced a resurgence in the 1970s due to the rockabilly revival, and he gained new fans in the 1980s when Art of Noise released a reworked version of his hit song “Peter Gunn.” Eddy’s influence was acknowledged with inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2008. He also contributed to several movie soundtracks, including appearances in “Forrest Gump” and “Natural Born Killers.”
Remembered for his instrumental contributions to music, Eddy is survived by his wife Deed, three children from previous marriages, a sister, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Despite being known for his guitar prowess, Eddy admitted he never considered adding vocals to his repertoire, emphasizing that his greatest contribution to music was not singing. His legacy as a pioneer of the twangy guitar sound remains influential in the world of rock ‘n’ roll and beyond.
