[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CELEBRATING DICK DALE, KING OF THE SURF GUITAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 13, 2000

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, today I celebrate the 
achievements of Dick Dale, a resident of Twentynine Palms, California, 
in the heart of the 40th district. Better known as the King of Surf 
Guitar, Dick Dale is a gifted musician who defined a music style in the 
early 1960s that is still enjoyed by millions of music-lovers the world 
over.
  Surf music, which attempts to capture the feeling of riding the waves 
on a surfboard, was a uniquely American style of music known as the 
``California Sound.'' Along with his group, the Del-Tones, Dale 
composed and recorded the first surf record, which lit the fuse in 1961 
for the national explosion of the surf music craze. He also helped 
pioneer the development of electronic reverberation and concert-quality 
amplifiers and speakers. Dale has recorded for NASA, Disneyland, and a 
multitude of commercials, television shows, and movies. The recipient 
of countless awards, Dale has been nominated for a Grammy and is 
enshrined in the Surfing Hall of Fame.
  Beyond his musical talent, Dale is an accomplished horseman, exotic 
animal trainer, surfer, martial arts expert, archer, and pilot. In 
addition to his recording and performing career, Dale has worked 
tirelessly to clean up the world's oceans and protect endangered wild 
animals. He has donated the proceeds of some recordings to the Burn 
Treatment Center at the University of California.
  Dick Dale has not been content to sit back as a legend. This superb 
musician and innovator is still performing and has won over a whole new 
generation of fans as well as maintained his legion of long time 
admirers. He always has time for his devoted fans, often signing 
autographs and swapping stories for hours after his concerts. Dick Dale 
is an American original and will forever be the King of Surf Guitar.

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