Bob Bogle, lead guitarist of The Ventures, dies at 75; known for hits like 'Walk, Don't Run'

baltimoresun ^ | June 16, 2009

[JoeProBono]

Bob Bogle, lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band The Ventures, known for 1960s instrumental hits including "Walk, Don't Run," has died at age 75. Don Wilson, the band's other co-founder, told The News Tribune of Tacoma that Bogle became ill over the weekend and died Sunday.

The band sold millions of albums and heavily influenced other rock guitarists. It was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. The hall's Web site hailed The Ventures as "the most successful instrumental combo in rock and roll history."

"Walk, Don't Run" reached No. 2 on the Billboard chart in 1960, and a revised version, "Walk, Don't Run '64," reached No. 8 in 1964. Among the band's other hits were "Perfidia" and the theme from "Hawaii Five-O." The band got its start in 1958 in Tacoma. Bogle initiall

y played lead and bass and Wilson played rhythm guitar. They were soon joined by Nokie Edwards, another guitarist, and drummer Howie Johnson, later replaced by Mel Taylor.

[a fool in paradise]

Catch Dick Dale if you get a chance, he’s no fuddy duddy either.

Also look for Deke Dickerson’s officially released DVD of the 2007 Guitar Geek Festival where he got members of a lot of the surf originator bands to play some of their hits (Mr. Moto, Penetration, Walk Don’t Run, Squad Car, Wipe Out, and more).

Yep Members of the Chantays, Pyramids, Ventures, Sufaris, and more. Nokie’s played the Guitar Geek fest several times (including a first ever jam together with Dick Dale).