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Legendary guitarist Duane Eddy celebrates his 75th Birthday today.

Born in Corning, New York, Eddy took up guitar at the age of five and by his mid-teens had formed a duo, Jimmy and Duane, with his friend Jimmy Delbridge, who would go on to record as Jimmy Dell. Their first single, “Soda Fountain Girl,” didn’t trouble the charts, but did begin an association with DJ and record producer Lee Hazlewood, who would produce a string of classic hits for Duane Eddy in the coming years.

Duane Eddy is best known for his trademark twangy guitar sound, with plenty of reverb and strong, catchy melodies played on the bass strings of his guitar. His first big hit was the classic, million-selling “Rebel Rouser” in 1958, which also featured a great prominent sax part from session musician Gil Bernal.

“Rebel Rouser” – Duane Eddy

Eddy’s debut album, “Have ‘Twangy’ Guitar Will Travel,” was released in January 1959 and spent 82 weeks on the Billboard album chart, peaking at number five.

The guitarist was just as popular in the UK, if not more so. In 1959 he scored his third of 21 Top 40 hits in the UK when the great “Peter Gunn” peaked at number six.

“Peter Gunn” – Duane Eddy

The following year was also good to Eddy, with “Bonnie Came Back,” “Shazam!” and the theme to the movie “Because They’re Young” giving him hits on both sides of the Atlantic. The latter was his second million-seller.

The hits dried up in the mid-’60s but Eddy kept busy with live performances, as well as acting roles and record producing. He would also make the UK Top 10 twice more with “Play Me Like You Play Your Guitar” in 1975, and a re-working of “Peter Gunn” with the Art of Noise in 1986. The latter was a hit around the world and earned Eddy a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

Duane Eddy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. In 2011 he made a recording comeback with the well-received album “Road Trip,” which he promoted with a tour that included a popular appearance at the Glastonbury Festival.

Happy Birthday to one of the guitar world’s great pioneers.