R.I.P. Don Wilson

JohnnyMosrite

Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 904
New York City area

Posted on Jan 22 2022 06:31 PM

Sad news.. Don Wilson of The Ventures passed away of natural causes at age 88. That guy had one real good sense of rhythm guitar.
He's the last of the original members to pass on.
Thanks for the guitar lessons early on, Don, Bob, and Nokie.
Rest in peace, Don
J Mo'

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wfoguy

Joined: Dec 11, 2011
Posts: 2133
United States

Posted on Jan 22 2022 08:16 PM

Quite a life. RIP.

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Squid

Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 1018
Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers
18 News Pins

Posted on Jan 22 2022 08:59 PM

Link to obit in Rolling Stone (magazine) online
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/don-wilson-the-ventures-rhythm-guitarist-dead-obit-1289277/

—

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

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eltwang

Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 543
Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark

Posted on Jan 23 2022 03:27 AM

Sad news, yes indeed. RIP Don. The Ventures' music and the excellent rhythm guitar lives on!

—

El Bluesky
El Ray
El Ray on Bandcamp
El Twang on YouTube

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GuitarMuk

Joined: Jun 10, 2015
Posts: 172
Cleveland, Ohio
United States

Posted on Jan 23 2022 08:51 AM

Even a kid growing up in the midwest like me could appreciate the Ventures rockin' surf style music. I remember those times fondly. Who didn't 'sidewalk surf' on his skateboard with 'Walk Don't Run' playing in his head? Part of the sound track of my life!

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4462
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Jan 23 2022 10:34 AM

I guess that it had to happen sooner or later, but it’s a sad day, nonetheless. The Ventures were a part of my youth and certainly a musical influence. The original members have all passed-on now, but their legacy remains.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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Sonichris

Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 1898
Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies
United States

Posted on Jan 23 2022 10:55 AM

my Don Wilson story.....

5 years ago, almost to the day (facebook reminded me) I was in Anaheim at the NAMM show. Hanging out at Brian Nutter's booth in the basement, I look across the aisle, and there's the Wilson Bros booth, with Don Wilson himself standing there. I think to myself "I got to go shake his hand, and tell him how much I love The Ventures!" Right about the time I start to make my way, I see him start to eat a hard boiled egg, and man, he's REALLY enjoying that egg....and it's taking him forever to eat it, like a really long time. As I wait for Don to finish the worlds longest hard boiled egg eat, I decide that I can come back later when he not so occupied. Of course that didn't happen. Shut down by a hard boiled egg.

RIP Don Wilson, and the rest of The Ventures.

—

"You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"

Last edited: Jan 23, 2022 10:56:23

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bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25593
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Jan 23 2022 11:19 AM

Who doesn’t just put the whole egg in their mouth?
well maybe only I do.

88 is a good long run.
He had a great career.
R.I.P. Don

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19303
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Jan 23 2022 02:01 PM

RIP Don Wilson and thanks for all the music and inspiration.

—

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

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revmike

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3811
North Atlantic
Canada

Posted on Jan 23 2022 03:48 PM

He certainly had a great run, and left behind so much for us. Thank you Don!

Rev

—

Canadian Surf

http://www.urbansurfkings.com/

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wfoguy

Joined: Dec 11, 2011
Posts: 2133
United States

Posted on Jan 23 2022 06:46 PM

Most of us have watched videos or listened to audio interviews with him describing how the Ventures came about. I think it's safe to say that ambition and a small dream led them to a fabulous career. Another American success story. Such a legacy.

Top

Chuckeds

Joined: Sep 02, 2014
Posts: 18
MA
United States

Posted on Jan 26 2022 09:41 PM

Here's John Fogerty paying tribute to Don & The Ventures from just a few days ago. There are comments from Don's daughter Staci too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3eLNdxHN4I

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Sonichris

Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 1898
Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies
United States

Posted on Jan 26 2022 10:22 PM

well, that was really cool - the audience didn't seem to care, but I still liked it.

—

"You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"

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DrakeSequation

Joined: Nov 22, 2016
Posts: 79
PNW

Posted on Apr 20 2022 06:20 PM

I saw Don with The Ventures in 2006. Nokie and Bob Bogle were there too. They were very tight. My first son was just a few months old and it was his first concert. Hopefully that will mean something to him one day. Luckily it was outdoors. I have pictures of him on my chest in a Bjorn with my hands over his ears.

—

Makai

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dragonsurfer

Joined: Apr 17, 2008
Posts: 128

Posted on Sep 13 2022 11:16 PM

Godspeed Don.

What a role model you and the band were when things were young.

I worked with you and the original members twice.

It was a treat seeing you live being raised on your recordings.

Top

JohnnyMosrite Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 904 New York City area	Posted on Jan 22 2022 06:31 PM Sad news.. Don Wilson of The Ventures passed away of natural causes at age 88. That guy had one real good sense of rhythm guitar. He's the last of the original members to pass on. Thanks for the guitar lessons early on, Don, Bob, and Nokie. Rest in peace, Don J Mo' Top
wfoguy Joined: Dec 11, 2011 Posts: 2133	Posted on Jan 22 2022 08:16 PM Quite a life. RIP. Top
Squid Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Posts: 1018 Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers	Posted on Jan 22 2022 08:59 PM Link to obit in Rolling Stone (magazine) online https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/don-wilson-the-ventures-rhythm-guitarist-dead-obit-1289277/ — Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com Top
eltwang Joined: Feb 26, 2008 Posts: 543 Copenhagen, Denmark	Posted on Jan 23 2022 03:27 AM Sad news, yes indeed. RIP Don. The Ventures' music and the excellent rhythm guitar lives on! — El Bluesky El Ray El Ray on Bandcamp El Twang on YouTube Top
GuitarMuk Joined: Jun 10, 2015 Posts: 172 Cleveland, Ohio	Posted on Jan 23 2022 08:51 AM Even a kid growing up in the midwest like me could appreciate the Ventures rockin' surf style music. I remember those times fondly. Who didn't 'sidewalk surf' on his skateboard with 'Walk Don't Run' playing in his head? Part of the sound track of my life! Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4462 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Jan 23 2022 10:34 AM I guess that it had to happen sooner or later, but it’s a sad day, nonetheless. The Ventures were a part of my youth and certainly a musical influence. The original members have all passed-on now, but their legacy remains. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
Sonichris Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 1898 Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies	Posted on Jan 23 2022 10:55 AM my Don Wilson story..... 5 years ago, almost to the day (facebook reminded me) I was in Anaheim at the NAMM show. Hanging out at Brian Nutter's booth in the basement, I look across the aisle, and there's the Wilson Bros booth, with Don Wilson himself standing there. I think to myself "I got to go shake his hand, and tell him how much I love The Ventures!" Right about the time I start to make my way, I see him start to eat a hard boiled egg, and man, he's REALLY enjoying that egg....and it's taking him forever to eat it, like a really long time. As I wait for Don to finish the worlds longest hard boiled egg eat, I decide that I can come back later when he not so occupied. Of course that didn't happen. Shut down by a hard boiled egg. RIP Don Wilson, and the rest of The Ventures. — "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been" Last edited: Jan 23, 2022 10:56:23 Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25593 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Jan 23 2022 11:19 AM Who doesn’t just put the whole egg in their mouth? well maybe only I do. 88 is a good long run. He had a great career. R.I.P. Don — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19303 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Jan 23 2022 02:01 PM RIP Don Wilson and thanks for all the music and inspiration. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
revmike Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3811 North Atlantic	Posted on Jan 23 2022 03:48 PM He certainly had a great run, and left behind so much for us. Thank you Don! Rev — Canadian Surf http://www.urbansurfkings.com/ Top
wfoguy Joined: Dec 11, 2011 Posts: 2133	Posted on Jan 23 2022 06:46 PM Most of us have watched videos or listened to audio interviews with him describing how the Ventures came about. I think it's safe to say that ambition and a small dream led them to a fabulous career. Another American success story. Such a legacy. Top
Chuckeds Joined: Sep 02, 2014 Posts: 18 MA	Posted on Jan 26 2022 09:41 PM Here's John Fogerty paying tribute to Don & The Ventures from just a few days ago. There are comments from Don's daughter Staci too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3eLNdxHN4I Top
Sonichris Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 1898 Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies	Posted on Jan 26 2022 10:22 PM well, that was really cool - the audience didn't seem to care, but I still liked it. — "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been" Top
DrakeSequation Joined: Nov 22, 2016 Posts: 79 PNW	Posted on Apr 20 2022 06:20 PM I saw Don with The Ventures in 2006. Nokie and Bob Bogle were there too. They were very tight. My first son was just a few months old and it was his first concert. Hopefully that will mean something to him one day. Luckily it was outdoors. I have pictures of him on my chest in a Bjorn with my hands over his ears. — Makai Top
dragonsurfer Joined: Apr 17, 2008 Posts: 128	Posted on Sep 13 2022 11:16 PM Godspeed Don. What a role model you and the band were when things were young. I worked with you and the original members twice. It was a treat seeing you live being raised on your recordings. Top

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R.I.P. Don Wilson