Iconic American guitarist Duane Eddy, often revered as one of the founding figures of rock and roll has passed away at the age of 86.
The beloved musician breathed his last on Tuesday, April 30, at Williamson Health hospital in Franklin, Tennessee, after battling with cancer.
Eddy's death was announced on Thursday, May 2, leaving fans across the globe mourning the loss of a musical pioneer.
The Grammy-winning artist had a run of instrumental hits in the 1950s and 60s. He reached the charts again in 1986 with a remake of his song Peter Gunn.
In 1994, Eddy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2008, he was also honored by the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
Eddy, born in Corning, New York state, in 1936, began playing guitar when he was very young.
Throughout his remarkable seven-decade career, he sold over 100 million records.
While, echoes of his distinctive slow twang can be heard prominently in songs like on The Beatles' Day Tripper, Bruce Springsteen's Born To Run and Blondie's Atomic.
Reflecting on his influence, Eddy once remarked, "When people come right out, like Bruce Springsteen or John Fogerty, and say: 'Duane was a big influence,' that's just one of the perks and rewards of what I did."
