2013 Coolidge High Hall of Fame

https://www.coolidgeschools.org/Page/152

Biography of Duane Eddy

CHS Hall of Fame Class of 2013

Duane Eddy, the most successful and influential instrumentalist in Rock and Roll history, is the man who added a new term to the American music dictionary-Twang. The sound he created was easily identifiable and uniquely his own. Strong, dramatic, single-note melodies, the bending of the low strings, and a combination of echo, vibrato, and tremolo, produced a signature sound that was unlike anything heard yet, a sound that would be featured on an unprecedented string of thirty-four chart singles and sales of over 100 million worldwide.

In the early days of Rock and Roll, the notion of the lead guitarist as the charismatic figure in the spotlight was completely novel. Duane Eddy moved the guitar player front and center. Quiet and unassuming offstage, he cut an indelible figure with an electric guitar in his hands. It was a classic pose that defined the cool iconography of what it means to be a Rock and Roller.

Born in Corning, New York, in 1938, he began playing at age five, emulating his cowboy hero, Gene Autry. The family moved west to Arizona, in the early fifties, where Duane met his longtime partner, co-writer, and producer, Lee Hazlewood. Together, they created a successful formula based upon Duane’s unique approach to his instrument, and Lee’s experimental vision in the recording studio, and have been referred to as “one of the greatest hit-making machines of the Rock and Roll era.” His first album, Have Twangy Guitar Will Travel, contained six hit singles and remained on the charts for an astounding 82 weeks.

Elements of country, blues, jazz, and gospel-infused his instrumentals. They had evocative titles like Rebel Rouser, Forty Miles of Bad Road, Cannonball, The Lonely One, Shazam, and Some Kinda Earthquake. They were filled with rebel yells and brilliant sax breaks. The worldwide popularity of these records, beginning with Moovin and Groovin in 1958, broke open the doors for Rock and Roll instrumental music. His band, The Rebels, featured musicians who were to become some of the world’s best-known session players. Sax players Steve Douglas and Jim Horn, pianist Larry Knechtel, and guitarist Al Casey have been heard on hundreds of hit records, becoming members of the famous “Wrecking Crew” in the sixties, and touring with a very elite group of artists through the years.

The following decade was a blur of touring and recording, with an astonishing amount of work being released. Duane constantly broke new ground, producing over 25 albums spanning a broad range of themes. At the height of the Rock and roll era, he recorded an album of completely acoustic folk music, Songs of Our Heritage, the first “unplugged” project, so to speak. There were orchestral albums, Big Band sounds of the Forties, and an album of songs written by Bob Dylan, who, years later, would write, “For sure my lyrics had struck nerves that had never been struck before, but if my sons were just about words then what was Duane Eddy, the great rock and roll guitarist, doing recording an album full of instrumental melodies of my songs?”

The seventies were equally busy for Duane. He produced album projects for Phil Everly and Waylon Jennings. A collaboration with hit songwriter Tony Macaulay led to a worldwide top ten record, Play Me Like you Play Your Guitar. The single, You Are My Sunshine, featuring Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, hit the country charts in 1977.

An amazing group of legendary players hit the road in early 1983, showing up at small, intimate clubs. Friends of Duane’s, some old, some new, had put his band together wanting to give the fans a chance to hear him in a unique setting-Don Randi on keyboards, Hal Blaine, on drums, Steve Douglas on sax, and Ry Cooder, on guitar. Needless to say, this group rocked, and the lines around the blocks and the superb reviews said it all. Duane Eddy was back, and a whole new generation of fans was listening.

In 1986, Duane recorded with the British avant-garde group Art of Noise; a collaboration that brought a new twist to his 1960 bestseller, Peter Gunn won The Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental of 1986.

The following year, a new album, the self-titled Duane Eddy, was released on Capitol. As a tribute to his influence and inspiration, a number of amazing artists came along to be a part of this project. Tracks were produced by Paul McCartney, Jeff Lynne, Ry Cooder, Art of Noise, and Duane. The “band” included John Fogerty, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ry Cooder, James Burton, David Lindley, Steve Cropper, and original Rebels, Larry Knechtel, and Jim Horn.

In the spring of 1994, Duane Eddy’s place in our musical history was etched in store at his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame, alongside fellow artists Elton John, Rod Steward, John Lennon, Bob Marley, and The Grateful Dead. Later that year, film soundtracks introduced Duane Eddy’s music to millions as they watched Forrest Gump being chased by a pickup truck full of rednecks, running into his football career to the sound of Rebel Rouser. Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers used The Trembler, a track written by Duane and Ravi Shankar, to help create a spine-chilling scene set against a violent thunderstorm in the desert.

In 1196, Duane was asked by Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer to work with him on the soundtrack of the film Broken Arrow, starring John Travolta. Duane’s unique guitar sound was the first choice to be the “voice” for the villain’s theme. To quote Mr. Zimmer, “I always thought that Duane’s style was being ripped off by the spaghetti westerns. This time I got the real thing.” The appeal of this theme, a dark moody piece, caused it to be used, once again, in an altogether different kind of film-director Wes Craven’s Scream 2.

Duane was the first rock and roll guitarist to have his own signature model guitar. In 1962, the Guild DE-500 was released. In 1997, Gretsch Guitars began production on the Duane Eddy Signature model DE-6120. 2004 began on a high note with the introduction of the Gibson Duane Eddy Signature Model guitar, built to Duane’s specifications by the Gibson Custom Shop. Later that year, he was presented with the Guitar Player Magazine Legend Award, having the distinction of being only the second recipient, the first having been presented to Duane’s own guitar hero, Les Paul. In 2010 Duane renewed his relationship with Gretsch Guitars and they began manufacturing an identical copy of his original hit-making 1957 6120, which is truly an amazing guitar.

In June 2008, Duane was invited to appear at the Gala Opening Night to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rock and Roll at the Hollywood Bowl. In 1958, Duane was the first Rock and Roll artist to step out onto the stage. In his introduction, Rainn Wilson said, “Tonight, he returns, to perform Rebel Rouser, the song that shook the place fifty years ago. A groundbreaker who paved the way for so many great rockers to give The Hollywood Bowl a whole new spin.”