RIP Bob Bogle

Sad news today as the Tacoma News Tribune reports that guitarist Bob Bogle died Sunday at age 75. Bogle had been suffering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma and became very ill over the weekend. Don't know who he is? He was co-founder of instrumental rock pioneers The Ventures, best known for their 1960 smash hit Walk, Don't Run. Bob Bogle was born Jan. 14, 1934 in Portland, OR. Bogle and Don Wilson were hobby guitarists in Tacoma, WA and decided to start a band. They were called The Impacts and then The Versatones. They released a couple of unsuccessful vocal singles in 1959. But Bogle & Wilson were more interested in the sound of the guitar anyway and decided to ditch the vocals. They recruited bassist Nokie Edwards and drummer Skip Moore. Walk, Don't Run was written and originally recorded in 1955 by jazz guitarist Johnny Smith. Bogle heard Chet Atkins' version of the song and based his arrangement on it. After being rejected by all the record labels, they released it themselves and it started to get a lot of local airplay. Dolton Records owner Bob Reisdorf heard it on the radio and signed The Ventures. Walk, Don't Run reached #2 on the pop singles chart. The Ventures had several more hits including Walk Don't Run '64 and Hawaii Five-O. Their sound was very influential on other instrumental rock groups and their guitar sound is still copied today. Even when The Ventures popularity waned in the US, they became huge stars in Japan and even outsold The Beatles there. The Ventures continued to tour there for years. Don Wilson told the Tacoma News Tribune that Bob Bogle was the brother he never had and they never argued in their 52 year partnership. The Ventures continued to perform until Bogle became ill and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2008. Bob Bogle was a guitar legend and pioneer and he will be missed. Here are The Ventures performing Walk Don't Run '64 in Japan 1965. RIP Bob Bogle.