The Late Great Duane Eddy

Legendary guitarist Duane Eddy died on April 30 2024 at the age of 86. The cause was cancer. He was known for such hits as "Rebel Rouser" and "Peter Gunn."

Duane Eddy was born on April 26 1938 in Corning, New York. He grew up in Phoenix. He started playing guitar by the time he was five years old. It was while he was playing at Arizona radio station KCKY that he met disc jockey Lee Hazlewood. Lee Hazlewood produced Duane Eddy's first single, "I Want Some Lovin'"/"Soda Fountain Girl," which was released locally in Phoenix.

It was in 1958 that Duane Eddy signed with Jamie Records. His first single on the label, "Movin' and Groovin'," reached no. 72 on the Billboard chart. His second single on the label, "Rebel Rouser," proved to be a hit. It reached no. 6 on the Billboard chart. His success with "Rebel Rouser" would be followed by several hit singles, including "Ramrod," "Cannonball," "The Lonely One," "Forty Miles of Bad Road," and "Because They're Young." His albums also did well. His debut album, Have "Twangy" Guitar Will Travel, went to no. 5 on the Billboard album chart. His second album, Especially for You, peaked at no. 18. In the course of his career, Duane Eddy recorded more than 50 albums.

Duane Eddy's stream of hits ceased in 1964 with the British Invasion. Despite this, he continued to release singles and albums throughout the Sixties. He released only a few records in the Seventies, although he produced records for such artists as Phil Everly and Waylon Jennings. He also played guitar on records from P.F. Sloan and Phil Everly. In the Eighties he recorded a new version of "Peter Gunn" with The Art of Noise" that reached no. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. His first album since the Sixties, Duane Eddy & The Rebels, was released in 1987. His last album, Road Trip, was released in 2011.

Duane Eddy dabbled in acting. He appeared in the movies A Thunder of Drums (1961), The Wild Westerners (1962), Savage Seven (1968), and Kona Coast (1968). He guest starred on two episodes of Have Gun--Will Travel. He also wrote the themes for such movies as  Because They’re Young (1960), Pepe (1960) and Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961)

In 1986 Duane Eddy told the Associated Press, "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." While there are many who disagree with Mr. Eddy about his technical skill as a guitarist, there can be no doubt that he was a great stylist. Duane Eddy created his "twangy" sound by playing lead on the bass strings of his guitar.The sound was further developed by Mr. Eddy and producer Lee Hazlewood (who would later use it on his song "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" by Nancy Sinstra). The "twang" gave Duane Eddy an utterly unique sound that was both highly appealing and highly adaptable. He could use it on a jazz composition such as "Peter Gunn," a traditional song such as "The House of the Rising Sun," or outright rock 'n' roll compositions such as "Rebel Rouser." He would certainly have lasting impact, influencing artists from The Ventures to The Beatles to Jimi Hendrix to John Fogerty.