The Ventures | |
|---|---|
 Classic lineup of the Ventures, 1967 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Versatones The New Ventures |
| Origin | Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Labels | Dolton, Liberty, United Artists, Capitol, GNP Crescendo, Blue Horizon, Hi-Tide Recordings |
| Members | Bob Spalding Leon Taylor Ian Spalding Luke Griffin |
| Past members | Nokie Edwards Don Wilson Bob Bogle Gerry McGee Howie Johnson Mel Taylor John Durrill Joe Barile David Carr Biff Vincent Leisha Soukary Jonell Calendar George T. Babbitt Jr. Paul Warren JD Hoag Harvey Wicklund Gary Woods |
The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band formed in Tacoma, Washington, in 1958, by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. The band, which was a quartet for most of its existence, helped to popularize the electric guitar across the world during the 1960s.[1] While their popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group remains especially revered in Japan, where they have toured regularly.[2] The classic lineup of the band consisted of Wilson (rhythm guitar), Bogle (initially lead guitar, later bass), Nokie Edwards[3] (initially bass, later lead guitar), and Mel Taylor (drums).
Their first wide-release single, "Walk, Don't Run" (1960), brought international fame to the group, and is often cited as one of the top songs ever recorded for guitar.[4][5][6][7] In the 1960s and early 1970s, 38 of the band's albums charted in the US, ranking them as the 6th best album chart performer during the 1960s,[8] and the band had 14 singles in the Billboard Hot 100.[9] With over 100 million records sold,[2] the Ventures are the best-selling instrumental band of all time.[10][1]
The Ventures have had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. The band was among the first to employ and popularize fuzz and flanging guitar effects, concept albums, and twelve-string guitars in rock music. Their instrumental virtuosity, innovation, and unique sound influenced many musicians and bands, earning the group the moniker "The Band that Launched a Thousand Bands".[11] Their recording of "Walk, Don't Run" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its lasting impact,[12] and in 2008 the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[1]
- ^ a b c "The Ventures". Rockhall.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
- ^ a b "The Ventures: still rocking after 50 years". The Japan Times. August 7, 2008. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ "Nokie Edwards' Grammy Nominations". Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ "Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs Of All Time". Stereogum. May 30, 2008. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ "101 Greatest Guitar Songs by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees". cleveland.com. January 11, 2018. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ "50 Greatest Guitar Solos". Guitar World. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ "Top 50 Guitar Songs of the '60s". Vintage Guitar Magazine. May 25, 2015. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Joel Whitburn Presents Top Pop Albums: 1955–2009 (7th ed.). Record Research. ISBN 978-0898201833.
- ^ "The Ventures Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ Abjorensen, Norman (2017). Historical Dictionary of Popular Music. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 526. ISBN 9781538102152. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ "Hall of Fame Petition 06/15/2000". Sandcastle V.I. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
- ^ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame". Grammy.com. October 18, 2010. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2018.