Monday, April 20, 2009

Last.fm Song Of The Day-Duane Eddy

Artist:Duane Eddy
Song:Rebel Rouser
Album:Twang Thang: The Duane Eddy Anthology




Duane Eddy is probably the most successful instrumental artist in pop music history and along with Chuck Berry was very influential on future guitarists. Rebel Rouser was his biggest hit. He was born Apr. 26, 1938 in Corning, NY and his family moved to Arizona in 1951. Eddy was inspired to play guitar by Gene Autry. The key figure in Eddy's career was a Phoenix DJ named Lee Hazlewood. By 1958, Hazlewood had branched into production and suggested that Eddy play guitar in the lower register. The first single Movin' And Groovin' did well enough that Hazlewood knew he had something. Rebel Rouser was the second single. Hazlewood added the sax break by Los Angeles session man Gil Bernal and the yells by doo wop group The Sharps. Rebel Rouser reached #6 on the pop singles chart and the 1958 album Have "Twangy" Guitar-Will Travel reached #4 on the album chart. Most of the singles that followed were variations on Rebel Rouser. Eddy had several hits on Jamie Records. Things went downhill when Eddy moved to RCA in 1962 and he eventually transitioned to the country market. He did have a revival in 1984 when he recorded Peter Gunn with Art Of Noise. This Rhino 2CD comp is definitive though you might want to get Rebel Rouser on a various artists comp. Duane Eddy was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994. Here's Duane Eddy performing Rebel Rouser on Hullaballoo 1964.

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