Artist Dick Dale

Guitarist Dick Dale, whom many (including himself) credit as the inventor of surf rock, rose to fame in 1962 with a rendition of “Misirlou” off his debut album, Surfer’s Choice. The song was an instrumental rock version of a traditional folk song that remains instantly recognizable today, particularly because of Tarantino’s prominent use of it in Pulp Fiction. It was also anything but a novelty: Dale really was a surfer, and his innovative, Middle Eastern-influenced sound made his self-proclaimed title of “King Of The Surf Guitar” stick. The now-septuagenarian rocker is currently on tour with his drummer, and 19-year-old son, Jimmy Dale.

Updated 10/04/2011