If you're old enough to remember the end of steam in revenue service, you'll recall that, besides that ancient technology, the times were an interesting mix of futuristic cars with tail fins, rocket ships to outer space, and wild, rebellious rock and roll music. One of the baddest of the bad was guitarist Link Wray, whose simple, three-chord instrumental song "Rumble" in 1958 was said to incite juvenile delinquency. The song was even banned from the airwaves in some communites. He died a few days ago, at 76. Feeling any older?Copenhagen, Denmark - Guitar player Link Wray, who invented the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarists, has died. He was 76. A native of Dunn, North Carolina, Wray's style is considered the blueprint for heavy metal and punk music.Wray's is best known for his 1958 instrumental Rumble, 1959's Rawhide and 1963's Jack the Ripper. His music has appeared in movies like Pulp Fiction, Independence Day and Desperado.His style is said to have inspired many other rock musicians, including Pete Townsend of the Who. David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Steve Van Zandt and Bruce Springsteen have also been quoted as saying that Wray and Rumble inspired them to become musicians.

I ran across this website devoted (with song clips) to the late Thomas Fraser, a villager in the remote Shetland Islands of the UK, whose style closely imitated the long-departed Jimmie Rodgers, aka The Singin' Brakeman. Amazing how this stuff hangs on and still gets around. If Brittany Spears is your bag, don't bother to click..http://www.thomasfraser.com/

Bob,Thank you for sharing this marvelous link of a fine Scottish singer who left this world much too soon. As an American who cherishes his Scottish heritage, I hope to learn more about this folk singer from God's favorite corner of the Earth.Kevin