Link Wray & His Raymen

The Profile

Link Wray (Fred Lincoln Wray, 1929–2005) was an American guitarist from North Carolina who rose to fame in the late 1950s with instrumental hits such as "Rumble". He is credited with pioneering distorted, aggressive guitar tones and influenced garage rock, punk and hard rock. 'Mr. Guitar' is a commonly cited anthology of his classics.

Born in North Carolina; contracted tuberculosis during military service and had a lung removed; formed Link Wray & The Raymen in 1958; recorded the influential instrumental "Rumble" (1958), which was banned from some radio stations and sold widely; cited as an influence by later rock, punk and garage acts; died November 5, 2005.

The available review praises Link Wray as a pioneering guitarist whose 1958 instrumental "Rumble" helped define fuzz-driven rock. The 'Mr. Guitar' anthology collects his classics like "Rumble," "Rawhide," and "Jack the Ripper." Reviewers credit Wray with influencing garage, punk, hard rock and later bands; his death in 2005 is noted.