Dick Dale can probably be credited with creating surf music. His guitar tone combined with heavy reverb defined the sound. His technique of playing leads on the bass stings (probably because he was left handed and didn't reverse the strings on his guitar) was also highly influential..
One wouldn't normally think of Orange County, California as a hotbed of any music scene. Dick Dale held court at a ballroom in Newport Beach where he became a big hit with the local surfers. Word of mouth spread and he routinely packed the place. Add to this synergy the close proximity to the Fender Guitar headquarters in Fullerton. What better advertisement could a company get than to place it in front of a genuine innovator.
This is the album that was a huge hit
Dick Dale and His Del-Tones - Surfer's Choice (Del-Tone 1962)
Recorded live with overdubs. It includes Dick's hits Peppermint Man, Miserlou and Let's Go Trippin'.
A very fine record indeed. Deltone records was setup my Dick's father to showcase his son. It was initially sold at gigs. This was the only album released on the label. Shortly thereafter, he was signed to Capitol and the company no longer had a reason to exist.
Some of Dale's later records, most notably 1993's Tribal Thunder, are pretty incredible. He never stopped playing and gigged constantly up and down the California Coast with chops firmly intact.
And as a side note - Rickenbacher Guitars also came from Orange County.
Rock on Dick Dale
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