Dick Dale talks story

[@rdpurdom]

I knew Dick. He used to live just a few blocks from my house in Costa Mesa. I used to walk by his house everyday on the way to Rae Jr. High. At this time it was acrptually tge end of tge surf sound, 1964. In 76 I got married and moved to Oklahoma. Somehow in the early 80’s I became pen pals with Dick. We exchanged letters for years. My older brother and sister both were regulars at tge Rendezvous Ballroom, in his hey day and he loved swapping stories about those days. Dick really was a great innovator and quite tge genius. Dick was my friend and I miss him.

[@enriquerodriguezjr4466]

Is he a human with kindness?

[@yucatansuckaman5726]

He's a hero and a legend.

[@sharonpeterson6861]

I was at the Rendezvous Ballroom for a dance in 1960 while on vacation in Huntington Beach that summer. I still remember how great his band was and never forgot them.

[@beameup64]

I went to the Rendezvous Ballroom and heard Dick Dale in the early '60s. Lived on Balboa Island. It was a great time.

[@balsamfir1688]

Dick Dale was no joke - an honest guy and a man who stuck to his convictions. He helped me become a better musician, a gracious dude he was

[@lowlifeangler]

Nicest guy in the world, he sat at the end of the stage signed autographs after the show. Signed the headstock of my Telecaster neatly. THANK YOU Dick Dale

[@vinceleone3952]

Just incredible to hear the history of rock and roll from the man that made it happen.what a complete travesty that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame let him die without inducting him.Shame on them.Rest in Peace Dick Dale.

[@mikerca]

Yep. The rock and roll hall of fools.

[@rayhothan1720]

What an inspiration Dick Dale was for me and my high school buddies growing up in Anaheim in the 60"s!! We were surfing the beaches in SoCal and we used to go dancing at Harmony Park Ballroom in Anaheim and Retail Clerks Union Hall in Buena Park where Dick Dale an the Deltones were often playing! We started a garage band and we just "had to have" Fender Stratocaster guitars and a Fender reverb...just like Dick Dale!. We started by playing about 10 surf songs over and over again including Miserlou, Pipeline, the Wedge and, of course, Outer Limits! We kept the band together about 5 years! Best times of my life!! RIP Dick Dale!! You were the "King"!

[@windsurfer49]

"What a"Man, Music maker" "Guitar hero" all of todays fantastic surf bands" owe it all to him"""and so do "FENDER"

[@TheMyndsurfer]

We didn't seem to get Miserlou played on radio down here in Australia but the Stations did pick up on 'Secret Surfin' Spot" which totally blew me away. For some reason not a huge hit but what a track!! And the solo!!!!! Still, today, and I am 71 years old, and I have every album he ever recorded, 'Secret Surfin' Spot' takes me back, blows me away and is the epitomy of Surf Music back then!

[@alexhage8092]

Because Dick is Lebanese and australia is racist

[@siddthekid5046]

Man, what an absolute legend!

[@esvn1967]

Thank you. It is very sad to think of Dick being gone. I was impacted by his sound after seeing 'Beach Party'. I saw him play live in Alexandria, VA, and received autographs on original albums and sheet music. It is a pleasure to hear him speak in the video. They talked their way into the ballroom and the rest is history. He gave happy moments to millions through his music. RIP Dick. Ride the Wild Surf into the sunset. You will always be remembered.

[@guitargrader9094]

Met his old band mate Marcus today. Great guy, we had the honor to make a live video of him.

[@cartermartin2887]

Glad that I got to see one of his shows right before he died.

[@kiwiduncan]

I exchanged emails with DD in the 90s and he was very gracious in answering my questions. What a legend.

[@V8Deuce]

His last live performance was at The Rhythm Collision music festival & Car Show in Riverside - last January. he did an amazing job! RIP

[@cynthianaslim]

Just getting into Dick Dale. Been playing music and rock all my life, various bands, drums, piano. I find his story incredible. -moves to California at 17 -Middle Eastern musical background, which introduced middle eastern scales to rock -the most awkward, unorthodox guitar setup I've ever heard- Heavy "coathanger" strings plucked repeatedly furiously on an upside down guitar because he was left-handed. Now, you hear this about Hendrix, but Hendrix would restring the strings in the correct order. Dale...did not. -Worked with THE Leo Fender in coming up with louder sounding amps. -Reading between the lines- the blown amps, the wildly popular "stomps" they held, it must've been an explosion. "I wanted to convey the power I felt surfing through the music I played." I'd say mission accomplished, Dale. I've never been on a board, but your songs impart real, creative energy. Thank you!

[@EuroYank]

It's true, he had a middle eastern complexion, slicked back hair and did not look like a typical surfer but when we heard him play songs like Miserlou and Hava Nagila, it cemented his reputation as the King of amazing surf music.

[@Breakbeats92.5]

If this was my grampa I could listen to stories like this all day long.

[@V8Deuce]

Thank you for posting this.

[@DB66788]

i say thank you as well for posting this ❤❤

[@inafloor]

J.C. Agajanian & I had the pleasure of talking with Dick for about 45 minutes before his show at Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernardino in the mid nineties (?). Dick was to be presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by J.C. once he took the stage. He told us his life story from getting his first guitar up to playing at the Rendezvous Ballroom. Then a pesky roadie came in to say he was on in 5 minutes. He asked for the "Beast" & began tuning, all the while carrying on the conversation. The second call was to tell Dick he had to go NOW. He continued talking, while turning the volume up on his guitar, to the cheers of the audience, who must have thought he was climbing the stairs to the stage. Quite a memorable night. J.C.'s & my band, Glass, had the honor to open for Dick a few years later at the Pitcher House in Redondo Beach & a second time about 10 years ago at Brixton South Bay, also in Redondo Beach. In 1964, our name was originally The Eliminators, a tip of the hat to Dick's Mr. Eliminator. We played surf music almost exclusively at the time, including a handful of Dick's tunes. He was quite an inspiration to us. We, as well as anyone who has listened to, or played, surf music, miss him deeply.

[@georgefeist8190]

GREAT TO SEE AND HERE THIS...THANKS...

[@zazoomatt]

You bring peace to the world, it lives on forever !

[@G.O.P.]

In his later years. Who would thought he had medical issues but he kept at it. Surf Rock could not be denied. Saw his shows at BBKings three years in a row, every spring or fall. Listened to when his says he was playing Rockabilly but with a Stratocaster through Fender amplifiers. I guess that when Surf was born. It started at the Rendezvous Ballroom!.

[@Flyboymitchell0917]

I was lucky enough to see him live at Newport Beach in 2006 right next to where the original ballroom was.

[@bluepil123]

Dear Dale, my Crash Fire Air force buddy. Dick had a Harley and I had a Triumph 500. Remember Bosie Idaho RIP Rich Selfridge.

[@siddthekid5046]

I live in Boise! You were in the Air Force with Dick Dale in Mountain Home or something? Cool!

[@V8Deuce]

Dick Dales last performance was at The Rhythm Collision - a yearly music festival in downtown Riverside. Coincidentally, its a block away from the Riverside Armory where he regularly performed in the early 1960s. @soundofthesurf - there were a lot of Inland Empire Surf bands in the pioneering years, and I hope you rightfully showcase them in your documentary .

[@johnschick97]

Damn right we do! One of a kind!!

[@thesurfmist3435]

"they gotta wear ties" ... classic!

[@uvuvwevwevweonyetenyevweug9184]

Legend

[@billthomas56]

RIP Dick Dale.

[@jakelang4387]

I remember my gramps bitchin about the devil sound of a 80s lead guitar..lol I loved it when old folks said it was evil

[@profile2047]

I feel like it’s not surprising that the bands drummer was down to play with Dick.

[@avpandora]

Does anyone remember that Dickie owned The Rendezvous in Garden Grove in about 1980? I loved it. His wife at the time also performed there. She was very talented but had nowhere near the warmth of Dick

[@alexhage8092]

🇱🇧💜

[@KyZhoül]

Excuse me is this documentary available to watch in Any Format? I can't find it anywhere

[@EnergizedGamingGuy]

🇱🇧

[@fleadoggreen9062]

What peninsula is he talking about?

[@jimshewes2698]

Balboa Peninsula, Newport Beach

[@fleadoggreen9062]

@@jimshewes2698 thanks, must’ve been a great place to grow up

[@dustra5000]

Where is this from?

[@soundofthesurf]

Interview at DD's ranch December 2011, for the forthcoming documentary film "Sound Of The Surf"

[@HugoPosses]

@@soundofthesurf date? 😞