Surf music - Definition and Overview

In the early 1960s, one of the most popular forms of rock and roll was surf rock. It is characterized by being nearly entirely instrumental and by heavy use of reverb on the guitars. The spring reverb featured in Fender amplifiers of the day, cranked to its maximum volume, produced a guitar tone shimmering with sustain and evoking surf and ocean imagery.

Duane Eddy's "Movin' and Groovin" is thought by many to be the main contender for laying the groundwork as the first surf rock record, while others claim the genre was invented by Dick Dale on "Let's Go Trippin'", which became a hit throughout California.

Dale's influence on the surf genre was profound. He often drew on his Lebanese heritage, incorporating modal tonalities and instruments such as finger cymbals and reeds. Many surf bands that followed him incorporated Eastern influences, as well as Dale's generous use of reverb.

Instrumental rock band The Ventures also had a number of surf hits, their most widely known being "Walk Don't Run '64". The Chantays recorded a top single with "Pipeline".

During the mid- to late 1990s, surf rock experienced a revival in the works of such artists as The Blue Stingrays, Bomboras, Man... or Astro-Man?, and The Aqua Velvets.

See also: Surf pop

Example surf rock artists and groups

• The Aqua Velvets
• The Astronauts
• The Atlantics
• The Blue Stingrays
• Bruce & Terry
• Al Casey
• The Challengers
• The Chantays
• Clee-Shays
• Jerry Cole
• Dick Dale
• Duane Eddy
• Eddie & the Showmen
• The Fantastic Baggys
• The Honeys
• Jan & Dean
• Bruce Johnston
• Langhorns
• The Lively Ones
• Man... or Astro-Man?
• The Rip-Chords
• The Sentinals
• The Shadows
• Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet
• Los Straitjackets
• The Surfaris
• The Tornadoes
• The Trashmen
• The Treble Spankers
• Gary Usher
• The Ventures
• The Wipeouters
• another List of surf rock musicians