Tacoma Stars On Guitars: The Ventures

Ventures: Stars on Guitars (Full Music Documentary)

The Ventures are one of the most influential and longest-running instrumental rock bands in history, formed in Tacoma in 1958 by guitarists Don Wilson (rhythm guitar) and Bob Bogle (initially lead guitar, later bass). They pioneered and helped popularize the surf rock sound in the early 1960s with their clean, twangy electric guitar tones, precise rhythms, and dual-guitar arrangements—often without any vocals. Their music emphasized catchy melodies played on Fender guitars (especially Jaguars and Jazzmasters), reverb-heavy tones, and a tight rhythm section.

They are the best-selling instrumental band of all time, with over 110 million records sold worldwide.
Their breakthrough hit was “Walk, Don’t Run” (1960), originally a cover of a Chet Atkins track, which became a massive international success and is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar instrumentals ever recorded. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Other signature songs include “Hawaii Five-O” (the theme from the TV show, which became a hit in 1969), “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky”, “Perfidia”, “Pipeline” (a cover), and many more.

The band released dozens of albums—often thematic ones covering surf, country, rock classics, TV themes, disco, Latin, even Carpenters and Jim Croce tributes. In the 1960s and early 1970s, they charted 38 albums in the US, making them one of the top album performers of the decade.

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, presented by John Fogerty (of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame).

The most iconic and enduring lineup (often called the “classic” one) was:
Don Wilson – rhythm guitar
Bob Bogle – bass (after switching from lead)
Nokie Edwards – lead guitar (initially bass)
Mel Taylor – drums (joined in 1962; his powerful, precise style defined their sound)

Early drummers included Skip Moore (on the original “Walk, Don’t Run”) and Howie Johnson.
Over the decades, the band saw lineup changes due to retirements, health issues, and passings:

Bob Bogle passed away in 2009.
Don Wilson (a co-founder) passed away in 2022.
Nokie Edwards left and rejoined at times; he passed in 2018.
Mel Taylor passed in 1996; his son Leon Taylor took over on drums and remains in the band.

Current/recent lineup (as of recent years) has included:
Bob Spalding (lead guitar/bass, long-time member since the 1980s)
Leon Taylor (drums)
Ian Spalding (rhythm guitar, Bob’s son)
Luke Griffin (bass)

The Ventures have been especially beloved in Japan, where they’ve toured regularly for decades and maintain huge popularity—even as their US fame dipped after the 1970s. They’ve recorded over 3,000 songs and remain active with tours, new releases, and merch (their official site theventures.com often announces updates).

Their clean, energetic guitar-driven sound influenced countless surf, rock, and instrumental acts, and their music still sounds fresh and timeless today. If you’re new to them, start with “Walk, Don’t Run” or their Hawaii Five-O track—pure classic guitar rock!