He was the first rock and roll guitar god: Who is Duane Eddy?

American guitarist Duane Eddy, considered by many to be one of the founding figures of rock and roll, died at the age of 86.

Eddy's wife, Deed, announced that the famous guitarist died of cancer in Tennessee on Tuesday, April 30.

The famous guitarist had many hit songs in the 1950s and 60s. Eddy made a name for himself by climbing the charts again in 1986 with the remake of his song Peter Gunn.

Duane Eddy (April 26, 1938 – April 30, 2024) was an American rock and roll guitarist. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he had a string of hit records produced by Lee Hazlewood, which were noted for their characteristically "twangy" sound, including "Rebel-'Rouser", "Peter Gunn", and "Because They're Young". He had sold 12 million records by 1963.

Because of his unique style, Eddy was called the King of Twang. Eddy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

Who is Duane Eddy?

Born in 1936 in New York, United States of America (USA), Eddy started playing guitar at a young age. Self-taught compared to many artists, Eddy is also known for his distinctive voice.

With a career spanning seven decades, Eddy has sold more than 100 million records throughout his career.

Eddy said in his interview with the BBC in 2011:

“When people like Bruce Springsteen or John Fogerty come and say, 'Duane is a great inspiration to all of us,' I feel proud. To me, this is more important than money and fame. “This is something that touches my heart directly.”

The Grammy-winning artist scored instrumental hits in the 1950s and 60s. He entered the charts again in 1986 with the rearrangement of his song Peter Gunn.

Known as the King of Twang for his distinctive style, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. In 2008, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum also inducted him into membership.

Eddy's representative was quoted on Variety's website as saying, "Duane inspired a generation of guitarists around the world with his unique style. He was the first rock and roll guitar god, a humble and incredible human being. We will miss him greatly."

Eddy was born in 1936 in Corning, New York. He started playing guitar at an early age. Self-taught, Eddy's distinctive sound has inspired artists from The Beatles to Blondie. He has sold more than 100 million albums throughout his illustrious career spanning 70 years.

“When people like Bruce Springsteen or John Fogerty come out and say, 'Duane influenced me a lot,' that's just one of the rewards and rewards of what I do," Eddy told the BBC in 2011. This is more valuable to me than money and fame. This touches directly on the heart.”