Hank Marvin's metallic, echoed picking and generous tremolo use on a Fiesta Red Fender Stratocaster® guitar in the Shadows inspired a whole generation of guitarists, including Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore and many others. In his black, horn-rimmed glasses, Marvin was the epitome of cool guitar in late '50s-early '60s Britain.

Born Brian Rankin on Oct. 28, 1941, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, Marvin taught himself guitar, banjo and boogie-woogie piano at school before receiving a guitar from his father for his sixteenth birthday. When his Crescent City skiffle group won a South Shields Jazz Club talent contest, he was invited to join Bruce Welch's Railroaders. On moving to London, Marvin and Welch operated briefly as the Geordie Boys before enlisting in an outfit called the Drifters, which evolved into the Shadows. While backing Cliff Richard, the quartet recorded independently and became Britain's top instrumental act.

The Shadows disbanded in 1968; Marvin's solo career commenced with Goodnight Dick, and 1969's Hank Marvin reached number 14 in the U.K. album charts. His association with Richard continued with their hit duets "Throw Down A Line" and "Joy Of Living," as well as Marvin's residency as instrumentalist and comedian on Richard's BBC television series.

Marvin joined Bruce Welch and John Farrar in the early '70s for two albums (Marvin, Welch & Farrar and Second Opinion) and another with Farrar (Marvin & Farrar) before the gradual reformation of the Shadows. Marvin moved to Australia and took part in the Shadow' annual tour and studio album. He also recorded albums such as The Hank Marvin Guitar Syndicate, on which he led nine famous session guitarists. In 1982, he hit the charts with "Don't Talk" from Words & Music.

Marvin recorded prolifically during the '90s. The Shadows re-formed once again in 2004, undertaking an enormous farewell tour that ended with a sensational appearance by Marvin and his son, Ben, at the Strat Pack concert at Wembley Stadium on 24 September. The Shadows also released a new single, "Life Story," and continued playing the U.K. and Europe on the Shadows' "Encore" tour.

Equipment

Marvin plays a Fiesta Red Custom Shop Stratocaster with a birdseye maple neck and gold hardware.