Don Wilson (musician)

Wilson was born in Tacoma, Washington and was a middle child. The family heritage is mixed, his mother, Josie, was first-generation Swedish, while his father was of Welsh and Irish descent. His mother would show him how to play chords on the tipple he was around 12 years old.[1]

In 1958, Wilson and Bogle met Nokie Edwards and invited him as a member of the group. Edwards played Guitar and Bogles switched to Bass. In 1960, Wilson's mother, with $100, produced and sold a cover of Chet Atkins instrumental song "Walk, Don't Run".[2] Unable to play the original jazz version, they instead played it in a more calmer and smoother way. This is now recognized as surf music. The line-up at the time consisted of Wilson, Bogle, Edwards and Howie Johnson (drums), before Johnson was replaced with Mel Taylor. "Walk, Don't Run" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The Ventures have since released over 250 studio albums, 150 singles and 80 compilation albums. In 1968, they released a single titled "Hawaii Five-O" and is now known as the theme tune to the show of the same name. Some of the group's other notable songs include "Wipe Out" and "Pipeline". Wilson continued to tour with The Ventures until 2015, when he retired. The band has continued to perform without any original members. Wilson was present when the Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.[3]

Wilson died of natural causes on January 22, 2022 aged 88. He was the last surviving member of his band's classic line up.[4]