Pioneering rock ‘n’ roll star Duane Eddy has died (Picture: Getty/Shutterstock)
Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Duane Eddy has died aged 86.
The Grammy-winning artist died of cancer on Tuesday in hospital in Tennessee, surrounded by his family.
His representative told Variety: ‘Duane inspired a generation of guitarists the world over with his unmistakeable signature ‘Twang’ sound.
‘He was the first rock and roll guitar god, a truly humble and incredible human being. He will be sorely missed.’
The pioneering musician was known for his characteristically ‘twangy’ sound, and rose to fame in the 1950s and 60s.
Eddy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2008.
He died of cancer aged 86 (Picture: AFF-USA/Shutterstock)
The Grammy-winning artist was known for his ‘twangy’ style (Picture: Shutterstock)
He sold more than 100million records over his incredible career, which spanned seven decades.
Eddy’s biggest hits included Cannonball in 1958, Forty Miles of Bad Road in 1959, while several of his albums hit the charts with debut LP Have ‘Twangy’ Guitar Will Travel peaking at the number five spot in 1959.
His 1960 single Peter Gunn returned to the charts in 1986 when it was remade with Art of Noise.
It won the Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental of 1986.
He sold more than 100million records (Picture: Dezo Hoffman/Shutterstock)
His style was echoed on the likes of The Beatles’ Day Tripper, Blondie’s Atomic and Bruce Springsteen hit Born to Run.
Eddy told the BBC in 2011: ‘When people come right out, like Bruce Springsteen or John Fogerty, and say: “Duane was a big influence,” that’s just one of the perks and rewards of what I did.
‘That’s worth more to me than money and the fame. That goes right to the heart.’
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