Duane Eddy - Later Career

Later Career

During the 1960s Eddy launched an acting career, appearing in such films as A Thunder of Drums, The Wild Westerners, Kona Coast, The Savage Seven, and two appearances on the television series Have Gun–Will Travel. He was married to singer Jessi Colter from 1962 to 1968.

In the 1970s, he produced album projects for Phil Everly and Waylon Jennings. In 1975, a collaboration with hit songwriter Tony Macaulay and former founding member of The Seekers, Keith Potger, led to a worldwide top ten record, "Play Me Like You Play Your Guitar". The single, "You Are My Sunshine", featuring Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, hit the country charts in 1977. He also recorded an album of completely acoustic music, Songs of Our Heritage.

In 1986, Eddy recorded with Art of Noise, remaking his 1960 version of Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn". The song was a Top Ten hit around the world, ranking #1 on Rolling Stone Magazine's dance chart for six weeks that summer. "Peter Gunn" won the Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental of 1986. It also gave Eddy the distinction of being the only instrumentalist to have had Top 10 hit singles in four different decades in Great Britain. (although his 1970's top 10 hit featured a female vocal group).

The following year, a new album, the self-titled Duane Eddy, was released on Capitol. Several of the tracks were produced by Paul McCartney, Jeff Lynne, Ry Cooder, and Art of Noise. Guest artists and musicians included John Fogerty, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ry Cooder, James Burton, David Lindley, Steve Cropper, and original Rebels, Larry Knechtel and Jim Horn. The album included a cover of Paul McCartney's 1979 instrumental, "Rockestra Theme". In 1992 Duane did a duet with Hank Marvin on Hank's album Into the Light, with a cover version of The Chantays' 1963 hit "Pipeline".

In the spring of 1994, Eddy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Eddy's "Rebel-Rouser" was featured that same year in Forrest Gump. Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers used "The Trembler", a track written by Eddy and Ravi Shankar. Also in 1994, Eddy teamed up with Carl Perkins and The Mavericks to contribute "Matchbox" to the AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Country produced by the Red Hot Organization. Eddy was the lead guitarist on Foreigner's 1995 hit "Until the End of Time", which reached the top ten on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. In 1996, Eddy joined Hans Zimmer on the soundtrack of Broken Arrow.

On 5 April 2000, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, the title "Titan of Twang" was bestowed upon Eddy by the mayor.

In 2004, Eddy was presented with the Guitar Player Magazine "Legend Award". Eddy was the second recipient of the award, the first having been presented to Les Paul. Among those who have openly acknowledged his influence are George Harrison, Dave Davies (of the Kinks), Hank Marvin (of the Shadows), the Ventures, John Entwistle (of the Who), Bruce Springsteen, Adrian Belew, Bill Nelson (of Be-Bop Deluxe), and Mark Knopfler.

October 2010 witnessed a return to the UK at a sold out Royal Festival Hall, London at which he was given a 10 minute standing ovation before he had played a note or spoken a word. Following the concert an equally appreciative ovation was bestowed upon him.

This success promulgated the subsequent album for Mad Monkey/EMI produced by UK band Pulp Guitarist Richard Hawley in Sheffield UK. The album, Road Trip, was released on 20 June 2011, and was well received by music trades and the UK national press critics alike.

He appeared at the world famous Glastonbury Festival on 26 June 2011.