Dick Dale

Born: May 4, 1937

Dick Dale has been called many things. To some, he is the King of the Surf Guitar. To others, he is known as the Godfather of Heavy Metal. He is definitely the man who invented the twangy, West coast-style guitar sound that made surf music a nationwide phenomenon. And his sound is no accident. He grew up in California, on the beaches, surfing with the best of them. He played guitar, but he played in an unorthodox manner that gave him a different sort of guitar sound. His friends and Leo Fender heard him play, and began helping him create an amplifier that could actually carry his sound above the screaming teenagers that were now coming to hear him jam! Together, Dale and Fender created and amp and speaker that would carry his surf rock out so that even the largest crowds could hear it. Dick Dale was the first guitar player ever to crank the amp all the way up to 10. Dale not only wrote and performed famous songs, but other surf rock bands such as the Beach Boys would record his songs later for even more hits. Recently, Dale has enjoyed a resurgence, largely due to the use of his hit song “Miserlou” in the Tarantino classic Pulp Fiction. He has received much adoration and accolades throughout his 40-year career.

Instruments Played / Skills: Guitar Accordion Banjo Bass Guitar Drums Harmonica Harpsichord Organ Saxophone Trombone Trumpet Ukulele Xylophone Genres: Surf Music

Bands That Dick Dale Has Played For: Dick Dale & the Del-Tones

Dick Dale Has Worked With: Stevie Ray Vaughan Keith Moon

Artists That Were Influenced By Dick Dale: Billy Gibbons