Duane Eddy, Rock 'n' Roll Pioneer Known For His 'Twangy' Guitar Style, Dies - Best Classic Bands (2024)

Duane Eddy, whose use of dramatic single-note melodies on the lower strings of his guitar, pronounced tremolo and vibrato, and liberal doses of echo produced a signature “twangy” sound, died of cancer on April 30, 2024, just days after his 86th birthday. News of his death, surrounded by family members in Franklin, Tenn., was announced on May 1 by Jay McDowell, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Education Department, in a Facebook post. Eddy is said to be the most successful solo instrumentalist in rock history, charting 16 Top 40 singles from 1958 through 1963, with one estimate of his selling more than 100 million records worldwide during his career.

Eddy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2013, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist from the Americana Music Association. His 1958 debut album Have ‘Twangy’ Guitar Will Travel was an early rock ‘n’ roll milestone. It charted for 82 weeks, contained six instrumental hits and was the start of a trend in which Eddy’s album titles often punned on the word twang, such as The Twang’s the Thang (1960), Twistin’ ‘n’ Twangin’ (1962) and Twangin’ Up a Storm! (1963).

Many of his hits bore evocative titles such as “Rebel-‘Rouser,” “Forty Miles of Bad Road,” “Cannonball,” “The Lonely One,” “Shazam” and “Some Kinda Earthquake.”

The singles started in 1958 with “Moovin’ and Groovin,’” and all were filled with rousing rebel yells and brilliant saxophone breaks by Steve Douglas. He recorded a collection of instrumental Bob Dylan songs in 1965; produced albums for Phil Everly and Waylon Jennings in the 1970s; and had a 1977 hit country single “You Are My Sunshine” featuring Jennings and Willie Nelson.

Duane Eddy was born on April 26, 1938, in Corning, New York. The guitar hero began playing at age five, emulating his cowboy hero Gene Autry. His family moved to Arizona when he was in his teens and he teamed with a friend to form a duo. The pair met Lee Hazlewood, then a disc jockey, who later became a prominent songwriter and producer, notably for Nancy Sinatra’s #1 single, “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.”

Not long after meeting, Eddy and Hazlewood teamed to write many songs including “Movin’ n’ Groovin'” and “Rebel-‘Rouser,” all of which were produced by Hazlewood. The latter became Eddy’s breakthrough hit, reaching #6 on Billboard, and selling over one million copies. The band members on his follow-up hits included many future members of the Los Angeles-based collective known as the Wrecking Crew.

Eddy’s music was frequently used in feature films, most notably “Rebel-‘Rouser” in Forrest Gump and “The Trembler” in Natural Born Killers. His 1960 #4 single “Because They’re Young” was the theme song from the film of the same title. His final charting single was a remake of the “Peter Gunn” theme, recorded with the synth-pop group Art of Noise in 1986.

The Kinks’ Dave Davies wrote, in tribute, “I’m in shock. Duane Eddy was one of my most important influences. He was so important in so many ways. What did he die of? He wasn’t that old. Not Duane. I thought he’d live forever.”

Rest in Peace Duane Eddy…. A true pioneer and bona fide legend. pic.twitter.com/xmMAqsKZBe

— Joe Bonamassa (Official) (@JBONAMASSA) May 1, 2024

Duane Eddy and I were friends for nearly 60 years and I am heartbroken over his passing. Sending love and condolences to Deed and the family and their friends. Farewell, old friend, godspeed and stay cool. pic.twitter.com/IiqPk4abL9

— Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) May 2, 2024

The Stray Cats’ Slim Jim Phantom wrote, “RIP to my long time true pal & rockabilly buddy, The King of Twang. I loved the guy.”

Randy Bachman wrote, “One of my guitar heroes has passed away. I remember learning every note in every song from every Duane Eddy album. I can still play them all. I bought my Gretsch 6120 to be like him. The Shadows and Duane were my instrumental idols. I used to play 3 hr dances with no singer. Just one amp, my guitar, a drummer, a piano player and sometimes a sax.

“I loved that era of music with The Champs, Ventures, Johnny & The Hurricanes, Fireballs, Santo & Johnny, Duane and the Shadows.

“I met Duane several years ago when l was inducted into the Nashville Music Hall of Fame. It was phenomenal to meet someone who had inspired me so much.

“Long live the TWANG!”