LINK WRAY AND HIS RAY MEN
Link Wray (born Fred Lincoln Wray, Jr. May 2, 1929 – November 5, 2005) was an American rock and roll guitarist, songwriter and vocalist who first came to popularity in the late 1950's. Building on distorted electric guitar sound of early electric blues records, his 1958 instrumental hit "Rumble" by Link Wray and his Ray Men invented "the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarists", making possible "punk and heavy rock". Rolling Stone placed Wray at No. 45 of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. In 2013 he was announced as a nominee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (More from Wikipedia)
As a side project for the Rudi Protrudi band the Fuzztones that has been one of the leading lights of the Sixties Revival that is well into its fourth decade, Link Protrudi and the Jaymen were formed as a tribute to Link Wray and His Ray Men, one of the finest instrumental outfits in history. I just wish I had more of their music; I have three, maybe four Fuzztones CD's, but only the one Jaymen album.
(February 2015)
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To my mind, the musical form that became psychedelic rock was built on the growing availability of gimmicks and gizmos that could greatly affect the sound of musical instruments and vocals. I have already written of the 1956 rockabilly recording of "Train Kept A-Rollin'" by the Johnny Burnette Trio and the 1958 instrumental "Rumble" by Link Wray and His Ray Men that both used distortion to great effect.
(July 2015)
