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A major influence on British guitar heroes
of the '70s such as Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, Hank Marvin played
lead guitar for the Shadows, one of the U.K.'s top instrumental
outfits and backing band for Cliff Richard on most of his hits.
Born Brian Robson Rankin on October 28, 1941, Marvin grew up in
Newcastle learning guitar, banjo and piano. He played in various
skiffle groups around the area, and met up with rhythm guitarist
Bruce Welch.
After moving to London in 1958, the two were recruited to serve
in Cliff Richard's backing band, the Drifters, with Ian Samwell
and Terry Smart. Richard's first single "Move It" hit number two
on the British charts, and two other singles — "Living Doll" and
"Travellin' Light" — hit number one the following year. Samwell
and Smart left the band — now called the Shadows, to avoid confusion
with the American vocal group — and were replaced by bassist Jet
Harris and drummer Tony Meehan.
The Shadows recorded several sides as an instrumental act in late
1959; one called "Apache" hit number one in the British charts.
From 1960-63, the band racked up four number ones and seven Top
Ten hits before disbanding in 1968. Marvin, while continuing to
appear and record with Cliff Richard, began a solo career with
a self-titled album in 1969; it reached number 14 in the album
charts. In the early '70s, he reunited with Welch and also John
Farrar as Marvin, Welch and Farrar. The trio recorded both an
eponymous LP and Second Opinion, and then Marvin and Farrar recorded
an additional album as a duo. Marvin moved to Australia and became
a Jehovah's Witness in 1973, but later joined a re-formed Shadows.
The group resumed recording, and hit the Top Ten in 1978-79 with
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" and "Theme from 'The Deerhunter'."
Hank Marvin's only chart success as a solo act was 1982's Words
and Music, which featured the U.K. hit "Don't Talk." He recorded
All Alone with Friends in 1983, and then re-appeared in the '90s
with four albums — Into the Light, Heartbeat, Hank Plays Cliff
and Hank Plays Holly.
This bio courtesy www.allmusic.com
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