Dale, Dick
Rockin' Rollin Vol. 1
Dick Dales first recording came two years before he formed the Del-Tones and was crowned King of The Surf Guitar. That record was "Ooh Whee Marie," released on his fathers fledging Del-Tone label in the summer of 1958. Dale was 21 years old at the time and encouraged by his father to learn guitar and trumpet. His musical hero was Hank Williams and other country stars he heard on the radio, including Buddy Holly, whose influence is apparent on "Marie." He soon developed an impression of Elvis that he took to various talent shows around the Los Angeles area. He won enough of these shows to bring him to the Town Hall Party stage, a three-hour live Saturday night viewing staple broadcast from Compton. Dale played trumpet in the backing band that accompanied various guest stars. There was also plenty of rockabilly music from the younger artists on that show, which influenced Dales third outing on record, "Jessie Pearl" and "St. Louis Blues," recorded earlier, but released in the summer of 1960. "Jessie Pearl" was Dales first self-penned song. "St. Louis Blues," an old W.C. Handy jazz number, was a song Dale had picked up learning how to play trumpet. Around July, 1960, Dick Dale formed the Del-Tones and began playing to capacity crowds at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Newport Beach. His next release was "Lets Go Trippin." He had single-handedly launched the surf music genre. --John Blair