8 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Dick Dale
Dick Dale, the undisputed “King of the Surf Guitar,” among other things, is coming back to Philly this August. Dale has achieved cult-like status from surf and rock aficionados alike, but there still is an air of mystery surrounding this musician. Dale has accomplished so much in his nearly 60-year career that it’s hard to keep up! Below are some facts about him that may surprise you.
The “King of the Surf Guitar” is not originally from California, but rather the Northeast.
Born Richard Anthony Monsour in 1937 in Boston, Massachusetts, Dick Dale moved to California as a teenager with his family. He became an avid surfer, and it was his fellow surfers who crowned him the “King of the Surf Guitar,” not his fellow musicians.
He created surf music in the 50’s, not the 60’s as it is commonly believed.
Dick Dale started playing surf music professionally in the late 50’s. Let’s Go Trippin’ was released in 1961 and is widely regarded as the first surf instrumental record. During this time he became a sensation in the Southern California region for his performances at the Rendezvous Ballroom with his backing band the Del-Tones. The Beach Boys even opened for him!
He plays the guitar upside down.
Dick Dale taught himself how to play guitar, and he learned to play it upside down and backward to accommodate his left-handedness. These techniques helped Dale create a sound uniquely his own that is very hard to copy. He also can play virtually any instrument, including the drums, trumpet, piano, ukulele, accordion, and more.
He created a new sound and new technology with Leo Fender.
Dick Dale was known to play loud, so loud that he regularly blew out his stage equipment. Nothing at the time could handle Dale’s playing!
Dick Dale served as co-designer to Leo Fender, the guitar and amplifier guru, and helped create and build the super-powered electronics and equipment that would revolutionize musical instruments in the 50’s and 60’s. Their partnership and efforts were responsible for performance volume growing from a mere 15 watts to over 180 watts, as well as the signature “wet” sound of the Fender Tank Reverb.
It is for these achievements that Guitar Player Magazine dubbed Dick Dale the “Father of Heavy Metal.” Without Dick Dale, there might have been no Black Sabbath!
His music has appeared everywhere in pop culture.
One of Dick Dale’s biggest claims to fame is having his iconic song “Miserlou” as the title track to the equally iconic Pulp Fiction film by Quentin Tarantino. However, Dick Dale’s music has been omnipresent in our culture for some time. His music has appeared in other movies such as Space Jam, Beach Party, Muscle Beach Party, Back to the Beach, and others.
Dale also has recorded original material for Disneyland’s Space Mountain roller coaster ride, and the soundtrack for the History of NASA video shown in Space Mountain. He was chosen to be the person to highlight the grand opening of Tomorrowland by performing on top of Space Mountain – without any safety harness!
Like many performers of his era, Dick Dale appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1963 for a legendary performance of his hit “Miserlou.” Check out the video below!
He was a friend of Jimi Hendrix.
Dick Dale frequently claims that Jimi Hendrix was a major fan of his, and that he taught Hendrix slide guitar. When Hendrix heard of Dale’s cancer diagnosis he responded with “Then you’ll never hear surf music again” (this can be heard on Hendrix’s song “Third Stone from the Sun”). Once Dale was in remission, he covered “Third Stone from the Sun” as a tribute to Hendrix.
His philosophy on life is truly inspiring.
Dick Dale suffered from rectal cancer when he was still in his 20’s, and battles colon cancer today. He has experienced great success, but also significant losses, and at one point he was evicted from his home.
Despite his health obstacles and career ups and downs, Dick Dale has a remarkably resilient attitude towards his life. He is quoted as saying, “It’s not wrong to become broke, but it’s a real bad thing if you become poor. The difference between being broke and being poor is that when you’re poor, you don’t have the mental ability to want something and work hard enough to get it.”
He is candid about his health concerns with the public, even making jokes on stage! He and his wife Lana share their healthy lifestyle tips with his fans and fight against the stigma of illness. He often claims that he tours to survive. Dale epitomizes the resilient artist in the music industry.
He is playing the Ardmore Music Hall on Monday, August 22nd.
Dick Dale is coming to the Ardmore Music Hall for the first time this summer with the Billy Walton Band. Don’t miss your chance to see this guitar legend in person for an intimate, unforgettable performance! Tickets are only $30 in advance. The show is 21+ unless if a minor is accompanied by a legal guardian. You can find more information and tickets at ArdmoreMusic.com.
