Link Wray: The First Man in Black

"Rumble," released in 1958 by Link Wray and his Raymen, was an instrumental once considered so dangerous and subversive that it was banned on American radio, a tune so influential that it’s been credited with birthing both heavy metal AND punk rock.

The man behind this seminal blast of noise—a black-haired, leather-clad guitarist of American Indian origin—spent his formative years in and around Hampton Roads and came up with his most famous song at a Virginia sock hop.

"His rebellious look was functional," says Dana Raidt, the author of a new biography, "Link Wray: The First Man in Black," set for release in August from Bazillion Points Books. "He wore dark sunglasses because the light bothered his eyes ... he had really bad vision. And he wore the leather jacket so he wouldn't catch cold."

My article on the new Link biography is now up at the Coastal Virginia Magazine website, one of the many articles I penned for the mag's special May-June music issue.

Get the rumble by clicking this spot. 

And for more on "Link Wray: The First Man in Black," go here.