LINK WRAY

Biography

Link Wray, born Fred Lincoln Wray Jr. on May 2, 1929, in Dunn, North Carolina, emerged as one of the most influential guitarists in the history of rock music. Raised in a musical family, Wray learned bottleneck guitar as a youth after his family moved to Arizona, and by his late teens, he was performing with his brothers in country bands such as Lucky Wray and the Lazy Pine Wrangers. His early career was interrupted by military service during the Korean War, where he contracted tuberculosis and lost a lung, which limited his ability to sing but did not diminish his passion for music.

Wray's breakthrough came in 1958 with the instrumental hit "Rumble," performed by Link Wray & His Ray Men. The song's raw, distorted sound—achieved by puncturing his amplifier's speaker with a pencil—introduced the world to power chords and fuzz tone, laying the groundwork for genres like surf rock, garage, punk, and heavy metal. Despite being banned in some cities for its perceived association with juvenile delinquency, "Rumble" became a touchstone for generations of guitarists. Throughout his career, Wray experimented with styles ranging from rockabilly and surf to swamp rock and hard rock, recording prolifically both with bands and as a solo artist.

Wray's legacy is immense: he is credited with inventing the power chord and is cited as a foundational influence by artists such as Pete Townshend, Jimmy Page, Iggy Pop, and Neil Young. His innovative approach to guitar tone and recording techniques continues to inspire musicians across genres, and his work has been honored by multiple halls of fame and featured in iconic film and television soundtracks.

Fun Facts

• "Rumble" is the only instrumental song ever banned from radio in New York and Boston, due to fears it would incite gang violence.
• Wray created his signature distorted guitar sound by puncturing his amplifier's speaker with a pencil.
• He lost a lung to tuberculosis contracted during military service, which limited his singing but not his guitar playing.
• His music has been featured in major films and TV shows, including 'Pulp Fiction' and 'The Sopranos.'

Associated Acts

• Link Wray & His Raymen - eponymous
• The Ponies
• Bert & Ray
• Wray Brothers

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Hank Williams (indirect influence) - Wray's family was connected to Hank Williams' mother through church, and Wray performed at Williams' memorial, reflecting the influence of early country music on his style. (Early country band performances) [Early 1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Doug Wray - Brother and drummer in multiple bands, including The Palomino Ranch Hands and Link Wray & His Ray Men. (Rumble, early recordings) [1950s–1970s]
• Vernon Wray - Brother, producer, and occasional rhythm guitarist/pianist. (Produced early recordings) [1950s–1970s]
• Shorty Horton - Bassist in The Palomino Ranch Hands and other early bands. (Early band recordings) [1950s]
• Robert Gordon - Collaborated on two albums and toured together during the late 1970s. (Fresh Fish Special, Robert Gordon with Link Wray) [Late 1970s]
• John Cipollina - Formed a band together in the early 1970s, performing live and recording. (Live performances, Bay Area concerts) [Early 1970s]
• Anton Fig - Session drummer in Wray's band during the 1980s. (Live and studio recordings) [1980s]

Artists Influenced

• Pete Townshend (The Who) - Cited Wray and 'Rumble' as the reason he picked up a guitar. (The Who's guitar-driven sound) [1960s–present]
• Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) - Described Wray as a major influence, especially for his 'rebel attitude' and guitar tone. (Led Zeppelin's early work) [1960s–1970s]
• Iggy Pop - Cited Wray as a key influence on his approach to rock music. (The Stooges) [1970s–present]
• Neil Young - Acknowledged Wray's influence on his guitar style. (Neil Young's electric work) [1970s–present]
• Dave Davies (The Kinks) - Emulated Wray's distortion techniques, notably on 'You Really Got Me.' (You Really Got Me) [1964]
• Mark E. Smith (The Fall) - Named Wray as one of his only musical heroes. (The Fall's post-punk catalog) [1970s–2000s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Fallin' Rain (Link Wray)
2. Fire And Brimstone (Link Wray)
3. Rumble (The Shadow Knows)
4. Rumble (Link, Vernon and Doug)
5. Black River Swamp (Link Wray)
6. Rumble
7. Rumble (Link Wray)
8. La De Da (Link Wray)
9. Juke Box Mama (Link Wray)
10. Rise And Fall Of Jimmy Stokes (Link Wray)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #power-chord, #rock, #rock-and-roll