| Dick Dale |
|
| Origin |
Quincy, Massachusetts |
| Genres |
Surf Rock |
Dick Dale (born Richard Anthony Mansour on May 4, 1937, in Quincy, Massachusetts) is a pioneer of surf rock and one of the most
influential guitarists of the early 1960s. His technique influenced future guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen. He
experimented with reverb and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers.
Biography
He was born to a Lebanese father and a Polish mother, and soon learned to play the drums, the ukulele, and finally the guitar.
Among his early musical influences was his uncle, an oud player performing belly dance music. Much of his early music shows a
middle eastern influence; Dale is often credited as one of the first electric guitarist to employ exotic scales in his playing.
When Dale started surfing he became so fascinated that he began seeking ways of channeling the energy and power of the sport
through his guitar playing. While he is primarily known for introducing the use of guitar reverb, which has since become a staple
of the surf sound, it was Dale's fast staccato picking that was his trademark. Since Dale was left-handed he was initially forced
to play a right-handed model, much like Jimi Hendrix would do years later. However, he did so without restringing the guitar,
leading him to effectively play the guitar upside-down (while Hendrix would restring his guitar). Even after he acquired a proper
left-handed guitar, Dale continued to use his reverse stringing.
With his backing band, The Del-Tones, Dale's live performances became huge local draws. 1961's "Let's Go Trippin'" is often
regarded as the first surf rock song. This was followed by more locally-released songs, including "Jungle Fever" and "Surf
Beat" on his own Deltone label. His first full-length album was Surfers' Choice (1962 in music). The album was picked
up by Capitol Records and distributed nationally, and Dale soon began appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show and in films.
His second album was named after his performing nickname, King of the Surf Guitar.
Though surf rock became nationally popular in the U.S. briefly, the British Invasion began to overtake the American charts in
1964. Though he continued performing live, Dale was soon set back by rectal cancer. He recovered, though, and retired from music
for a time. In 1979, he almost lost a leg after being injured while swimming; a pollution-related infection made the mild injury
much worse. As a result, Dale became an environmental activist and soon began performing again throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
He recorded a new album in 1986 and was nominated for a Grammy, and the use of "Misirlou" in the Quentin Tarantino film, Pulp
Fiction, earned him a devoted audience. He has released several albums since and continues to actively perform.
In 1993 he recorderd a guitar solo with a Southern California indie band "The Pagodas" released as a 45 single.
In the late 1990s, he recorded a surf-rock version of Camille Saint-Saens's "Aquarium" from The Carnival of the Animals for the
musical score of the indoor roller coaster, Space Mountain at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
Of recent interest, the Black Eyed Peas song "Pump It" (from the 2005 album "Monkey Business") heavily samples Dale's "Misirlou."
Peel Sessions
Dick Dale made four recordings for John Peel's Peel Sessions
1. 30/03/1995 (Maida Vale 4)
2. 10/07/1995 (3 Mcr.)
3. 28/08/2002 (Maida Vale 4)
4. 24/03/2004 (Maida Vale 4)
Discography
Albums
- Surfers' Choice (Deltone 1962)
- King of the Surf Guitar (Capitol 1963)
- Checkered Flag (Capitol 1963)
- Mr. Eliminator (Capitol 1964)
- Summer Surf (Capitol 1964)
- Rock out with Dick Dale and his Del-Tones: Live at Ciro's (Capitol 1965)
- The Tigers Loose (Balboa 1983)
- Tribal Thunder (HighTone 1993)
- Calling Up Spirits (Beggars Banquet 1996)
Singles
- Let's Go Trippin'/Del-Tone Rock (Deltone 1961)
- Jungle Fever/Shake-N-Stomp (Deltone 1961)
- Miserlou/Eight 'Til Midnight (Deltone 1962)
- Secret Surfin Spot/Surfin' and Swingin' (Capitol 1963)
- Let's Go Trippin' '65/Watusi Jo (Capitol 1965)
- "Pipeline" With Stevie Ray Vaughan, Nominated for a Grammy
Compilations/Anthologies/Soundtracks
- Hot Rod Music on Capitol (Capitol 1963)
- The Big Surfin' Sounds on Capitol (Capitol 1964)
- King of the Surf Guitar: The Best of Dick Dale & The Del-Tones (Rhino 1986)
- Pulp Fiction Soundtrack (MCA 1994)
- Cowabunga Surf Box Set (Rhino 1996)
- Better Shred Than Dead: The Dick Dale Anthology (Rhino 1997)
- MOM II Music for our Mother Ocean: (Surf Dog Records 1997)
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