AND FOUNDER
WITH
T H E
V E N T U R E S
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER
D O N W I L S O N
(February 10th 1933 - January 22nd 2022)
'THE LOST INTERVIEWS'
EPISODE 14
WITH RAY SHASHO
CLICK BELOW
TO LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW
-Interviewed June 10th, 2014
Don Wilson and The Ventures have inspired thousands of
promising musicians and enthusiasts across the globe for over five decades, and
many of their pupils became legendary in the music world. Ventures alumni
include… Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jimmy Page, Stephen Stills,
Joe Walsh, Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Elton John, John Bonham, Mick
Fleetwood, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Gene Simmons, and many-many more.
The Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 2008. That same year also marked The Ventures 50th Anniversary.
Here’s a list of incredible accomplishments by The Ventures …
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Class of 2008
Ranked #4 among all-time instrumental artists on Billboard's
Single Charts
Ranked #6 among all 1960s artists on Billboard's Album Charts
Ranked #26 among all-time artists on Billboard's Album Charts
Ranked #20 in most albums on Billboard's Album Charts with 37
“Walk, Don't Run” is one of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Top
500 Hits of all time
1960 to 1969 - Placed
14 singles on Billboard's Single Charts
Gold singles:
“Walk, Don't Run (1960), “Walk Don't Run '64” (1964), “Hawaii
Five-0” (1969),
1960 to 1972 - Placed
37 albums on Billboard's Album Charts with 5 on the charts simultaneously
during 1963.
Gold albums:
Telstar and the Lonely Bull (1963), Golden Greats (1967),
Hawaii Five-0 (1969)
To date, more than 450 LP and CD albums released worldwide
(and still counting)
1960 to 1973 - Sold nearly 1,000,000 albums per year in the
U.S.
Japan sales approaching
40,000,000 units (and still counting)
Collective worldwide sales approaching 100,000,000 units (and
still counting)
1964 - Popularized Mosrite Guitars with introduction of The
Ventures Model. Today these are among the most sought-after guitars, known for
their tone and playability.
Successfully adapted their unique guitar style to countless
changes in musical trends
Released an acclaimed set of instructional records with the
Play Guitar with The Ventures series
Cited affectionately as "the group that launched a
thousand bands"
Credited with popularizing rock and roll and the electric
guitar in Japan
1971 - First non-Japanese artists elected to the Japanese
Conservatory of Music
Jan 1987, Guitar Player magazine 20 Anniversary Issue cited
Walk Don't Run as one of "20 Essential Rock Albums"
1990 - Inducted into the Washington State Music Hall of Fame
Feb 1996, Guitar magazine identified “Walk Don't Run” as one
of ten 1960's albums included in “The Fifty Greatest Rock Guitar Records"
(albums)
Inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk
Invited to participate in the Smithsonian Institution's
celebration of the development of the electric guitar
Honored by Fender Guitars with a limited-edition line of
Ventures Model Jazzmaster, Telecaster and Jazz Bass signature guitars
2001 - Honored by Aria Guitars with limited-edition Ventures
Model guitars
2004 - Award by Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for
contributing to friendly relations between Japan and US. No other artists in
modern music share this honor
2005 – Washington State Senate Resolution 8645 to honor The
Ventures, to "recognize the contributions of those who have had a
significant impact over the evolution, development and perpetuation of rock and
roll"
2006 – “Walk, Don't Run” is inducted into The Grammy Hall of
Fame
Numerous contributions to movie and commercial soundtracks, including ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘Madagascar’
The Ventures have reached over 100- Million in record sales,
14-songs that hit the singles chart, and 37 albums that charted.
The band continues to record and tour with their current lineup of …Don Wilson (rhythm guitar- co-founder 1958), Nokie Edwards (lead guitar -joined 1960), Gerry McGee (lead guitar –joined 1968), Bob Spalding (lead and bass guitar –joined 1981), Leon Taylor (drums – joined 1996 after the passing of his father Mel Taylor).
Co-founder, lead and bass guitarist Bob Bogle passed away in
2009.
Drummer Mel Taylor passed away in 1996.
I had the rare privilege of chatting with Don Wilson back in
June about … The Walk, Don’t Run legacy … The early days of The Ventures …
Their devoted Japanese fans … My infamous ‘Field of Dreams’ question …The
inception of “Hawaii Five-O”… And much-much more!
Here’s my interview with The Ventures legendary guitarist,
co-founder, pioneer …DON WILSON.
THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES
BOOK TRAILER
BOOK REVIEW
-By Literary Titan (5) STARS
The Rock Star Chronicles by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show.
The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan.
Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives.
The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music. The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.
I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.
https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/
Gold Award Winner
