One of the very first to play the Fender Stratocaster (and the King of the Surf Guitar), Dick Dale was a bad ass. I mean, the guy blew up amplifiers...with his ax. Leo Fender once said, "when it can withstand the barrage of punishment from Dick Dale, then it is fit for human consumption."
Learning to play the guitar upside down, he combined Middle Eastern scales and heavy reverb to create a sound that, in 1963, was more innovative than anything around. And, at 81, he was still touring the world, with dates scheduled through this fall.
Unfortunately, Dick finally succumbed to a lifetime of medical issues last weekend...but not before leaving an amazing legacy.
On this Music Friday, we salute a true musical pioneer. This is Dick Dale from 1963 with "Misirlou."
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