Dick Dale (born Richard Anthony Monsour on 4 May 1937 in Boston, Massachuse… Read Full Bio ↴Dick Dale (born Richard Anthony Monsour on 4 May 1937 in Boston, Massachusetts; died 16 March 2019) was an American rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar.
Dale is revered as one of the pioneers of surf rock and one of the most influential guitarists of the early 1960s. His technique influenced future guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom-made Fender amplifiers. Among Dale's most well-known songs are "Misirlou", "Surf Beat", and "Let's Go Trippin'". He also released music under Dick Dale & His Del-Tones.
Born Richard Anthony Mansour to a Lebanese father and a Polish mother, he soon learned to play the drums, the ukulele, and finally the guitar. Among his early musical influences was his uncle, an oud player performing belly dance music. A plethora of Dale's early material contains middle eastern musical influences. Dale's professional career began in 1959, playing with his band The Del-Tones for surfers at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa, California. With authorities concerned about the mix of young people and guitars, one of the requirements at the Ballroom was that every male patron wear a tie, so the audience was often made up of barefooted guys in surfer garb wearing ties that were handed out at the door.
Dale is often credited as one of the first electric guitarist to employ exotic scales in his playing. When Dale started surfing he became so fascinated that he began seeking ways of channeling the energy and power of the sport through his guitar playing. While he is primarily known for introducing the use of guitar reverberation, which has since become a staple of the surf sound, it was Dale's fast staccato picking that was his trademark. Due to his left-handedness, Dale was initially forced to play a right-handed model. However, he did so without restringing the guitar, leading him to effectively play the guitar upside-down (while Hendrix would restring his guitar). Even after he acquired a proper left-handed guitar, Dale continued to use his reverse stringing.
Discography:
Albums:
1962 - Surfer's Choice (Deltone)
1963 - King of the Surf Guitar (Capitol)
1963 - Checkered Flag (Capitol)
1964 - Mr. Eliminator (Capitol)
1964 - Summer Surf (Capitol)
1965 - Rock Out With Dick Dale & His DelTones: Live At Ciro's (Capitol)
1983 - The Tigers Loose (Balboa)
1993 - Tribal Thunder (HighTone)
1994 - Unknown Territory
1996 - Calling Up Spirits (Beggars Banquet)
2001 - Spacial Disorientation
Dale is revered as one of the pioneers of surf rock and one of the most influential guitarists of the early 1960s. His technique influenced future guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom-made Fender amplifiers. Among Dale's most well-known songs are "Misirlou", "Surf Beat", and "Let's Go Trippin'". He also released music under Dick Dale & His Del-Tones.
Born Richard Anthony Mansour to a Lebanese father and a Polish mother, he soon learned to play the drums, the ukulele, and finally the guitar. Among his early musical influences was his uncle, an oud player performing belly dance music. A plethora of Dale's early material contains middle eastern musical influences. Dale's professional career began in 1959, playing with his band The Del-Tones for surfers at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa, California. With authorities concerned about the mix of young people and guitars, one of the requirements at the Ballroom was that every male patron wear a tie, so the audience was often made up of barefooted guys in surfer garb wearing ties that were handed out at the door.
Dale is often credited as one of the first electric guitarist to employ exotic scales in his playing. When Dale started surfing he became so fascinated that he began seeking ways of channeling the energy and power of the sport through his guitar playing. While he is primarily known for introducing the use of guitar reverberation, which has since become a staple of the surf sound, it was Dale's fast staccato picking that was his trademark. Due to his left-handedness, Dale was initially forced to play a right-handed model. However, he did so without restringing the guitar, leading him to effectively play the guitar upside-down (while Hendrix would restring his guitar). Even after he acquired a proper left-handed guitar, Dale continued to use his reverse stringing.
Discography:
Albums:
1962 - Surfer's Choice (Deltone)
1963 - King of the Surf Guitar (Capitol)
1963 - Checkered Flag (Capitol)
1964 - Mr. Eliminator (Capitol)
1964 - Summer Surf (Capitol)
1965 - Rock Out With Dick Dale & His DelTones: Live At Ciro's (Capitol)
1983 - The Tigers Loose (Balboa)
1993 - Tribal Thunder (HighTone)
1994 - Unknown Territory
1996 - Calling Up Spirits (Beggars Banquet)
2001 - Spacial Disorientation
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@greystep6520
yeah!
Elvis Presley was in the army from 1958 to 1960 and started singing only simple pop after that
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper died in 1959
Eddie Cochran died in 1960
Little Richard went to church in 1958 (until '65, I guess)
Chuck Berry went to jail in 1959
Alan Freed got the scandal in 1958
Jerry Lee Lewis also got the scandal in 1958
Johnny Burnette from distortion rockabilly in 1956 moved into pop music because of the success of his 1960 hit, died in 1964
Gene Vincent was devastated by the death of his friend Eddie Cochran and suffered a second leg injury that put him completely on crutches, he began drinking heavily and died in 1971
@billybob5337
This song basically saved Rock and Roll music in 1961. By the end of 60, every major rock star from the 50's was either side-lined or outright dead. The genre was in danger of completely going underground and leaving radio stations altogether. Even Elvis jumped ship when he returned. This song launched the Surf Rock craze and ensured that Rock music, in some form, was going to remain on the charts, at least for the moment. Surf Rock held down the fort until the Beatles arrived, and then everyone else started coming through the woodworks. But lets give Surf Rock credit for keeping the patient alive during those uncertain 2 years.
@davegeisler7802
Exactly , well said ! and between 1960 to 1963 we had Doo Wop sliding Rock out of the picture also. Btw , I loved Doo Wop !
@tommielemke5635
Was I high school in California. He was great
@toddshearer7780
Chuck Berry was in federal prison in Springfield Missouri for almost two years during this time too.
@bethconfer8099
LOVE IT!!
@greystep6520
yeah!
Elvis Presley was in the army from 1958 to 1960 and started singing only simple pop after that
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper died in 1959
Eddie Cochran died in 1960
Little Richard went to church in 1958 (until '65, I guess)
Chuck Berry went to jail in 1959
Alan Freed got the scandal in 1958
Jerry Lee Lewis also got the scandal in 1958
Johnny Burnette from distortion rockabilly in 1956 moved into pop music because of the success of his 1960 hit, died in 1964
Gene Vincent was devastated by the death of his friend Eddie Cochran and suffered a second leg injury that put him completely on crutches, he began drinking heavily and died in 1971
@essenlame
Rest in peace, dear friend. Your music always inspired me, as it did an entire generation of aspiring guitarists, surfers, and beach bums alike. You're riding that big pipeline in the sky now. I hope the waves never cease to break your way.
@user-yy4uf5jr7e
shit its still does even in 2021
@philipconboy6108
Great comment man 👌
@nippypinto
Sounds like rhythm and blues with a twist. Rest In Peace! 🌺