<back - LINK 'MR. GUITAR' WRAY - Link Wray is the original, one-of-a-kind revolutionary who forever altered the way we now think of the guitar: meaning the fleetest fingered string wiz on down to your typical three-chord punker is forever indebted to him. Nobody ever culled as tough and dirty a sound out of six-strings. As that instrument snowballed into R&R dominance, so too would Link Wray's influence. Considered a demi-god within Punk, Rockabilly, and Psychobilly circles, Bluesophiles also honor 'Mr. Guitar' as an exemplar of the brilliant combination of rawness with soulful firepower.

Gene Vincent, Billy Lee Riley, and Eddie Cochran would set the rebellious tone that captivated a burgeoning 50's teen market, yet a full-blooded Cherokee--born Frederick Lincoln Wray Jr., would up the danger factor to the 9th degree. Rumble, Raw-Hide, Jack The Ripper, Deuces Wild, and many other greasy sides, became rites of passage for those who savored the elemental thrill derived from a cheap electric guitar's ability to create primitive sounds bristling with tension and evil intent. It starts in 1955, as a dark-skinned serviceman heads home to join brothers Vernon (vocals) and Doug (drums), plus Shorty Horton (bass), to play the Portsmouth/Norfolk area clubs. In late 1955 they relocated to Washington and started getting serious attention. The trio of Link, Doug, and Shorty, known as Link Wray and the Raymen released Rumble, their debut release on Cadence It hit #16 nationally, eventually selling 4 million copies. The intensity Rumble generated was so menacing, that several radio stations deleted it from their playlists: the first instrumental ever banned. In 1962, the Epic label tried softening his sound, prompting Wray to suggest they do physically impossible things with their anatomy. The switch to the Swan label allowed Link full rein to 'wreak havoc', yielding a body of work that's become a veritable spring source from which future generations of guitarists have quenched their thirst. The titles themselves wonderfully convey a sense of delinquency, toughness, and adventure: Black Widow, Branded, Rumble, Law Of The Jungle, The Fuzz, Cross Ties, Ace Of Spades, Steel Trap, The Swag, Scatter, Run Chicken Run. Link Wray always did his own thing, but versatility was always part of the package. From 1977-1978, Link Wray toured with Rockabilly revivalist Robert Gordon. Essential recordings from that span include Red Hot and Flyin' Saucers Rock n' Roll--the Billy Lee Riley classics. An inductee to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Link Wray continues to pack venues worldwide, as three generations pay homage and marvel how this icon generates such fire, gusto, and passion. -Gary Tate/ MP3 - Rumble