Profile via TMDB · Courtesy of TMDB
Link Wray
Sign in to saveAlso known as Frederick Lincoln "Link" Wray Jr
American guitarist (1929–2005)
Film & TV
Dunn, North Carolina, USA
Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray Jr. was an American rock and roll guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist who became popular in the late 1950s. Rolling Stone placed Wray at No. 45 of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. In 2013 and 2017 he was a nominee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Known for
- The Rock Prophet: The Story of Link Wray — Self2025
- Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World — Self2017
- The Joy of the Guitar Riff — Self (archive footage)2014
- It Might Get Loud — Self (archive footage)2008
- Link Wray: The Rumble Man2003
- The Dick Clark Show — Self1958
via TMDB
Key facts
- Born
- Fred Lincoln Wray Jr. , ( 1929-05-02 ) May 2, 1929, Dunn, North Carolina , U.S.
- Origin
- Portsmouth, Virginia , U.S.
- Died
- November 5, 2005 (2005-11-05) (aged 76), Copenhagen , Denmark
- Genres
- Rock and roll country rockabilly surf garage rock country rock swamp rock hard rock Instrumental rock
- Occupations
- Musician songwriter
- Instruments
- Guitar vocals steel guitar bass guitar
- Years active
- 1955–2005
- Website
- www .linkwray .com
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- United States
- Place of birth
- Dunn
- Place of death
- Copenhagen
- Occupation
- musician
- Languages spoken
- English language
- Field of work
- music
- Genre
- rock and roll
- Instrument
- voice
- Conflict
- Korean War
- Military branch
- United States Army
- Official website
- www.linkwray.com
- Image
- Link Wray - 3-8-03 Photo by Anthony Pepitone.jpg
- Voice type
- baritone
Show 6 more facts
- Commons category
- Link Wray
- date of birth
- 1929-05-02
- date of death
- 2005-11-05
- birth name
- Fred Lincoln Wray, Jr.
- start of work period
- 1956-00-00
- pseudonym
- Link Wray
via Wikidata · CC0
~8 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray Jr. (May 2, 1929 – November 5, 2005) was an American guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist who became popular in the late 1950s. His 1958 instrumental single "Rumble" reached the top 20 in the United States, and was one of the earliest songs in rock music to use distortion and tremolo.
Rolling Stone ranked Wray at No. 45 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. He received two nominations for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, prior to being inducted in the Musical Influence category in 2023.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Link Wray” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.