Rock ‘n’ Roll legend and Grammy award-winner Duane Eddy has sadly died at the age of 86.
The iconic guitarist, known for his trailblazing work on TV theme songs such as Rebel Rouser and Peter Gunn in the late 1950s and early 1960s, died of cancer at Williamson Health hospital in Franklin, Tennessee.
Eddy’s representative confirmed that he was surrounded by his family, including wife Deed Abbate, at the time of his passing.
Speaking to Variety, the rep said: “Duane inspired a generation of guitarists the world over with his unmistakable signature ‘Twang’ sound.
“He was the first rock and roll guitar god, a truly humble and incredible human being. He will be sorely missed.”
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John Fogerty, the founding lead singer and guitarist of Creedence Clearwater Revival, paid tribute to Eddy on the Rhino Records website, referring to him as the “guitar god”.
He said: “Duane Eddy was the front guy, the first rock and roll guitar god.”
Born in Corning, New York on April 26, 1938, Eddy began playing guitar at just five years old.
By the age of 16, he had formed a duo with his friend Jimmy Delbridge, known as Jimmy and Duane.
Duane Eddy never received any formal musical instruction, though he possessed an adept understanding of popular genres including jazz, rhythm and blues, and country.
Throughout his career, he sold more than 100 million records internationally.
Eddy remarked to the Associate Press in 1986: “I had a distinctive sound that people could recognize and I stuck pretty much with that. I’m not one of the best technical players by any means; I just sell the best.”
He elaborated: “A lot of guys are more skillful than I am with the guitar. A lot of it is over my head. But some of it is not what I want to hear out of the guitar.”
Acknowledging his unique talent, Eddy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
He garnered two Grammy nominations, securing his first win at the 29th annual ceremony in 1987.
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