Biography of The Ventures

From Tacoma, Washington, the Ventures were formed in 1959 originally named the Versatones. The early lineup consisted of Don Wilson (b 1937), rhythm guitar; Bob Bogle (b 1937), lead guitar; Nokie Edwards (b 1939), bass; and Howie Johnson, drums. They pressed a twangy, rocked-up version of Johnny Smith's "Walk Don't Run" on their own Blue Horizon label, which was later picked up by Dolton Records. It became a #2 hit in 1960. Bogle and Edwards switched instruments and Mel Taylor replaced Johnson on drums in 1963. More hit singles featuring their cleanly played but rockin' style followed, but the band wisely entered the album market early on, and it was there they found their true format placing 37 chart entries and more than 50 albums between 1960 and the mid '70s. The Ventures are the biggest-selling instrumental group of all time, but their influence extends far beyond mere record sales. With their solid-body Fender guitars (later switching to Mosrite Ventures models) and matching suits, their album covers defined what a rock & roll combo should look like. Likewise, their sound was so popular that they released several successful instructional albums in the Play with the Ventures series that many later rock stars cut their teeth on. Because they played instrumentals, they were among the first American bands to break big in Japan (no language barrier), eventually honored as the first foreign members of that country's Conservatory of Music for selling over 40 million records. Edwards left and was replaced for a while by Gerry McGee, but he returned in 1972, restoring the early '60s lineup, which endured into the early '80s, when Gerry McGee became the group's lead guitarist. They continued to tour and record, sounding better than ever, their place in rock & roll guitar history assured. ~ Cub Koda