Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray, Jr. (May 2, 1929 – November 5, 2005) was a Native… Read Full Bio ↴Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray, Jr. (May 2, 1929 – November 5, 2005) was a Native American rock and roll guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist who became popular in the late 1950s.
Building on the distorted electric guitar sound of early records, his 1958 instrumental hit "Rumble" by Link Wray and his Ray Men popularized "the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarists", facilitating the emergence of "punk and heavy rock". Rolling Stone placed Wray at No. 45 of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. In 2013 he was a nominee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Though he began in country music, his musical style went on to consist primarily of rock and roll, rockabilly, and instrumental rock.
Wray was born on May 2, 1929 in Dunn, North Carolina, to Fred Lincoln Wray, Sr. and his wife, Lillian M. Wray (née Coats). They were Shawnee Native Americans. Three songs he performed were named for American Indian tribes: "Shawnee", "Apache", and "Comanche". "Apache" was an instrumental composed by Jerry Lordan; it was originally a hit in the United Kingdom for The Shadows in 1960. Wray recorded a cover version 30 years later, when it was also associated with The Ventures and the Incredible Bongo Band.
Wray served in the US Army during the Korean War, and contracted tuberculosis, which laid him up in a hospital for a year. His stay concluded with the removal of a lung, which doctors predicted would mean he would never be able to sing again.
In 1958, Wray's first hit, "Rumble", was banned in New York and Boston for fear it would incite teenage gang violence. The record was first released on Cadence Records as Cat # 1347 (as Link Wray and the Ray-Men). Before, during, and after his stints with major labels Epic and Swan, Wray released 45's under many names. Tiring of the corporate music machine, he began recording albums using a three-track studio he converted from an outbuilding on his brother's property that his father used to raise chickens.
While living in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1970s, Wray was introduced to Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina by bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson. He subsequently formed a band initially featuring special guest Cipollina along with the rhythm section from Cipollina's band Copperhead, bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson, and drummer David Weber. They opened for the band Lighthouse at The Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles from May 15–19, 1974. He later did numerous concerts and radio broadcasts in the Bay Area including KSAN (FM) and the Bill Graham venue Winterland Ballroom, with Les Lizama later replacing Hutchinson on bass. He toured and recorded two albums with retro-rockabilly artist Robert Gordon in the late 1970s. The 1980s to the present day saw a large number of reissues as well as new material. One member of his band in the 1980s, drummer Anton Fig, later became drummer in the CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman. In 1994, he played on four songs of the album Chatterton by French rocker Alain Bashung.
Wray's first three marriages—to Elizabeth Canady Wray, Katherine Tidwell Wray, and Sharon Wray—each ended in divorce. Although Wray had eight children with his first three wives, he had little contact with any of them after relocating to Denmark in the early 1980s.
Wray died of heart failure at his home in Copenhagen, at the age of 76. Survivors included his fourth wife, Olive Julie Povlsen Wray, and their son. He was buried in the crypt of the Christian's Church, Copenhagen.
Jack Rose cited Wray as an influence, as did Iggy Pop and Neil Young. Jimmy Page says that Link Wray had a "real rebel attitude" and credits him in It Might Get Loud as a major influence in his early career. According to Rolling Stone, Pete Townshend of The Who once said, "If it hadn't been for Link Wray and 'Rumble,' I never would have picked up a guitar." "The only people I ever really looked up to were Link Wray and Iggy Pop," said Mark E. Smith of The Fall. "Guys like…Link Wray… are very special to me.
Building on the distorted electric guitar sound of early records, his 1958 instrumental hit "Rumble" by Link Wray and his Ray Men popularized "the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarists", facilitating the emergence of "punk and heavy rock". Rolling Stone placed Wray at No. 45 of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. In 2013 he was a nominee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Though he began in country music, his musical style went on to consist primarily of rock and roll, rockabilly, and instrumental rock.
Wray was born on May 2, 1929 in Dunn, North Carolina, to Fred Lincoln Wray, Sr. and his wife, Lillian M. Wray (née Coats). They were Shawnee Native Americans. Three songs he performed were named for American Indian tribes: "Shawnee", "Apache", and "Comanche". "Apache" was an instrumental composed by Jerry Lordan; it was originally a hit in the United Kingdom for The Shadows in 1960. Wray recorded a cover version 30 years later, when it was also associated with The Ventures and the Incredible Bongo Band.
Wray served in the US Army during the Korean War, and contracted tuberculosis, which laid him up in a hospital for a year. His stay concluded with the removal of a lung, which doctors predicted would mean he would never be able to sing again.
In 1958, Wray's first hit, "Rumble", was banned in New York and Boston for fear it would incite teenage gang violence. The record was first released on Cadence Records as Cat # 1347 (as Link Wray and the Ray-Men). Before, during, and after his stints with major labels Epic and Swan, Wray released 45's under many names. Tiring of the corporate music machine, he began recording albums using a three-track studio he converted from an outbuilding on his brother's property that his father used to raise chickens.
While living in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1970s, Wray was introduced to Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina by bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson. He subsequently formed a band initially featuring special guest Cipollina along with the rhythm section from Cipollina's band Copperhead, bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson, and drummer David Weber. They opened for the band Lighthouse at The Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles from May 15–19, 1974. He later did numerous concerts and radio broadcasts in the Bay Area including KSAN (FM) and the Bill Graham venue Winterland Ballroom, with Les Lizama later replacing Hutchinson on bass. He toured and recorded two albums with retro-rockabilly artist Robert Gordon in the late 1970s. The 1980s to the present day saw a large number of reissues as well as new material. One member of his band in the 1980s, drummer Anton Fig, later became drummer in the CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman. In 1994, he played on four songs of the album Chatterton by French rocker Alain Bashung.
Wray's first three marriages—to Elizabeth Canady Wray, Katherine Tidwell Wray, and Sharon Wray—each ended in divorce. Although Wray had eight children with his first three wives, he had little contact with any of them after relocating to Denmark in the early 1980s.
Wray died of heart failure at his home in Copenhagen, at the age of 76. Survivors included his fourth wife, Olive Julie Povlsen Wray, and their son. He was buried in the crypt of the Christian's Church, Copenhagen.
Jack Rose cited Wray as an influence, as did Iggy Pop and Neil Young. Jimmy Page says that Link Wray had a "real rebel attitude" and credits him in It Might Get Loud as a major influence in his early career. According to Rolling Stone, Pete Townshend of The Who once said, "If it hadn't been for Link Wray and 'Rumble,' I never would have picked up a guitar." "The only people I ever really looked up to were Link Wray and Iggy Pop," said Mark E. Smith of The Fall. "Guys like…Link Wray… are very special to me.
Ace of Spades
Link Wray Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Ace of Spades' by these artists:
3.8 Ay 911 Porsche Block White car yeah On that red dot Twin glo…
@ Жива Версія: Motorhead If you like to gamble, I tell you I´m you´re…
Aardvarks If you like to gamble, i tell you i'm your…
Abattoir If you like to gamble I'll tell you I'm the man You…
Abattoir (Motorhead) If you like to gamble I'll tell you I'm your man You…
Acid Drinkers If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Alltheniko [Bonus Track] (Motörhead Cover) If you like to gamble,…
Aman Yaar Big byrd Yeah Big byrd Aman yaar ਅੱਮਾ ਅਮਾ bad boy ਸਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ …
Amatory If you like to gamble I'll tell you I'm your man You…
Assert If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Bathory If you like to gamble I tell you I'm your man You…
Batmobile If you like to gamble I tell you I'm your…
Beck Your silver blade, your ace of spade Ain't gonna help you…
Blackness If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
D-Attack This is a story about the first time I had…
December If you like to gamble I tell you I'm your man You…
Drain If you like to gamble, I tell you, I'm your…
Fast Eddie Clarke/Lemmy/Phil Taylor If you like to gamble I tell you, I'm your man You…
Gods and Aliens If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Hawkwind - Motörhead If you like to gamble I tell you, I'm your man You…
Hayseed Dixie If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
J.B.O. Ace of spades Ace of spades Ace of spades Ace of spades Why …
J.B.O. featuring Eddie Clarke If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Jack O'Connell (Cook:) If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm…
Jacob Bellens Count down from three to one A new year has just…
Jesse Ruben You laugh at all my jokes Even after they get old Drink…
Jon Cougar Concentration Camp If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Kobra and the Lotus If you like to gamble, I tell you I′m your…
Leshak If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Lisa LeBlanc If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Motörhead If you like to gamble I tell you, I'm your man You…
Motörhead (Motorhead) If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Motörhead - 1980 - Ace Of Spades If you like to gamble I tell you, I'm your man You…
Motorhead - www.musicasparabaixar.org If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Motörhead Motörhead If you like to gamble I tell you, I'm your man You…
Motorhead(by forsaken) If you like to gamble, I tell you I´m you´re…
Motörhead_(p) If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Motorhead渀 If you like to gamble, I tell you I´m you´re…
Motörhead猀 If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Moto¶rhead If you like to gamble, I tell you I´m you´re…
Motˆrhead If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Mylestone Better gon watch what you say Better gon talk my wrist Bette…
O.V. Wright Hey, that game you were playing Been played on me before B…
O.V.ライト If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
S.U.M.P Ay 911 Porsche Block White car yeah On that red dot Twin glo…
S.U.M.P. Ive been oK But You still stuck in ya past ways Honestly…
Sodom If you like to gamble I tell you I'm your…
sr-o Chorus Your hiding in the dark I feel your Soft skin I sme…
Storyteller If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Sumit Hey come and play for the winning team Put you…
Sun Eats Hours If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
The Mighty Ski-King Ive been oK But You still stuck in ya past ways Honestly…
The Twistin' Tarantulas If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your…
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater-3 Ay 911 Porsche Block White car yeah On that red dot Twin glo…
WOHNZIMMER - Motörhead If you like to gamble I tell you, I'm your man You…
X-Ray Vision Få se alle henda opp Vi lever lavish Få se alle henda…
Yugo Fuck it it up james Haha we fucking get it yugo Haha Yeah…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Link Wray:
Ain Listen to me baby, I'll tell ya how I love you Well…
Ain't That Lovin You Baby Listen to me, baby I'll tell ya how I love you Well,…
Ain't That Lovin' You Babe Listen to me baby, I'll tell ya how I love you Well…
Ain't That Lovin' You Baby Listen to me, baby I'll tell ya how I love you Well,…
And I Love Her I give her all my love That's all I do And if…
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Batman Batman, Batman, Batman Batman, Batman, Batman, Batman Batm…
Begin the Beguine When they begin the beguine It brings back the sound of…
Black River Swamp I was born down in the country Down where the cotton…
Blue Eyes Blue eyes, where are you going? Don't run away You know that…
Born To Be Wild Get your motor runnin' Head out on the highway Lookin' for a…
Don't Blue eyes, where are you going? Don't run away You know that…
Fallin' Rain i hear a sound, its ' going through my brain i…
Fever You'll never know how much I love you Never know how…
Fire I'm drivin' in my car, you turn on the radio I'm…
Fire and Brimstone I had a dream last night While I was layin' in…
Genocide Could it be that it didn't happen? Could it be that…
Girl From the North Country If you go in the north country far Where the winds…
Good Good Lovin' Red ... Alert Red ... Alert When I'm with you baby I feel…
I'm Counting On You Yeah I'm gonna sit right down and cry over you I'm gonna…
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry Over You Yeah I'm gonna sit right down and cry over you I'm gonna…
I'm So Glad I'm So Proud (Yeah) I'm so proud I'm so proud I'm so proud pretty baby I…
It's All over Now Baby Blue You must leave now Take what you need, you think will…
Juke Box Mama Jukebox Mama Dancing all alone Shaking up everything A real …
La De Da There's going to be a revival tonight Everybody gonna jump a…
Lover Come Back To Me You went away I let you We broke the ties that bind I…
My Baby Left Me Since my baby left me, never said a word Was it…
Please Please Me Last night I said these words to my girl I know…
Pretty Blue Eyes Blue eyes, where are you going? Don't run away You know that…
Rise And Fall Of Jimmy Stokes Jimmy Stokes came from Alabam' with just the shirt on…
Rumble Tsutaetai koto ga mou omosugite, kono mama tsuburechaisou de…
Run Boy Run Blue eyes, where are you going? Don't run away You know that…
Soul Train Get on that soul train Down there in New Orleans Goes 'cross…
Tail Dragger I'm a tail dragger I wipe out my tracks I'm a…
Tiger Man Train I ride, sixteen coaches long Train I ride, sixteen co…
What a Price Oh what a price I had to pay For loving you,…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@Mr60smusicman
No one could make a guitar "growl" like Link, thanks for posting this gem!!
@robertorick6383
Cadence Records' Archie Bleyer was constantly scared of this guy, thinking he was a real greaser who did rumbles in the back alleys and rode a badass motorcycle. He actually recorded a full album with Link & his Ray Men, then quietly dropped him from the label, and shelved the album (until 2013, when it was finally issued on CD.) It was Bleyer's rock & roll loving daughter who thought "Rumble' could be a hit, and persuaded Bleyer to issue it, despite his reluctance. Dick Clark didn't even wanted to have Link say the word "Rumble" on American Bandstand, instead introducing the instrumental as "The Guitar Stroll." Like Elvis, Link was once considered that dangerous to middle America.
@kenlieberman4215
He did have him back with Rawhide so it couldn't have been that bad.
@robertorick6383
@KEN LIEBERMAN By the time "Rawhide" came out, the controversy over "Rumble" had settled down a bit, and Dick Clark was more courageous to have Link Wray on his show. The term "rumble' was still considered taboo until the middle 1960's. The association with gang rumbles and movies such as Marlon Brando's "Wild One" had an influence over middle America, who considered delinquents in black greaser jackets to be considered dangerous. Even Henry Winkler playing The Fonz as late as 1974 had to give in the first season of "Happy Days" by wearing a windbreaker instead of a leather jacket to satisfy nervous ABC executives. By the second season, Winkler was allowed to finally wear a leather jacket.
@danugo6742
Funny now it's middle America that are the Real Danger Danger Will Robinson 😁🤘🏻
@robertorick6383
@@danugo6742 Indeed. Nobody was expecting an obnoxious middle-aged revolution with Donald Trump back in those days. He was just a millionaire with hardly any political interests during the 70's and 80's. Nobody knew yet what was going to hit them until 1988, when he half-seriously attempted to run for president. Back in 1988, 2008, and in 2012 they didn't take Donny Boy seriously as a candidate at the time. Then middle-America shocked everyone in 2016.
@tsunchoo
@@robertorick6383 excellent - thank you
@Samantha-lg1bw
Saw Link Wray in Vancouver in ‘98. Actually got his autograph. Awesome show!
@mickjaguar242
That show kicked ass !!
@edreisman9800
I can see why pete townshend liked him. Great power rhythm player