Talk:Dick Dale/Archive 1

Possible Errors
This article has soooo many little mistakes from the normal story.


 * Dick Dale played a Stratocaster, but saying the Stratocaster's amp is confusing because the amp has nothing to do with the guitar.
 * He played loud and that is why the amps caught on fire.
 * I've heard that the reverb was developed for Dick's voice, but never have heard that it was actually built into a microphone itself. They got the reverb from Hammond organs. Nothing new, they were just the first to use it for guitars.
 * Misirlou is a traditional Greek song. 67.121.201.211 07:30, 17 August 2004 (UTC)


 * I thought Misirlou was a belly dance standard all over the Middle East? however this page says the dance is based on the Greek Syrtos, so you probably are sort of right.
 * why not be bold and fix the mistakes yourself? reagards, High on a tree 23:46, 24 Aug 2004 (UTC)
 * Also, the JBL D130 was introduced in 1948 and Bob Crooks used it in his first Standel amplifiers years before anyone heard of Dick Dale. The whole amplifier section of "Career" is pretty bad. Ampwright (talk) 23:00, 19 September 2011 (UTC)

If you can find well sourced references to correct what is "bad" then do so.  — DocOfSoc • Talk  •  11:47, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

O.K. How about Harvey Gerst? Harvey's alive (and at my last conversation in 2009) and well in Texas and he is the JBL employee most directly responsible for the design modifications of the JBL-D130F, as well as other JBL loudspeakers intended for musical instrument reproduction. He was there, and he says Dick Dale had NOTHING to do with the design of the JBL D-130F, or the JBL musical instrument speaker product line. Is that good enough? DIck Dale is a great self-promoter, but he had no direct input on the design of the JBL D-130F. — Preceding unsigned comment added by CoolBlueGlow (talk • contribs) 14:03, 31 January 2012 (UTC)

I Can Help
My father is good friends with Dick. If anyone needs information for this article, contact me. Thank you.

--BleachInjected 07:52, 13 September 2005 (UTC)

Credit For Advances
there should also be note made that Dick Dale has gotten the credit for the advances in music that were actually made by Link Wray. Dale has gotten the credit based mainly on his rise to popularity on the "Pulp Fiction" soundtrack. 152.163.100.204 20 November 2005 (UTC)
 * What advances are you reffering to? Link Wray is mainly attributed the fuzz sound and the use of power chords, whereas Dick Dale is credited with his staccato playing and later use of reverb. 83.92.19.175 22 February 2006 (UTC)

Interesting?
How is a Black Eyed Peas song using Dale's samples remotely interesting? Thousands of other tracks did that. 62.194.46.42 17 May 2006 (UTC)
 * What other tracks are you speaking of? 83.92.19.175 21 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I personally DO think it's interesting. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Thhhh (talk • contribs) 00:32, 26 September 2008 (UTC)

Added to article
Sad news: Dick Dale has cancer again. See: http://www.surferspath.com/news/category/industry/play-one-for-dick-dale/. I have added this to the article.. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kdrive (talk • contribs) 15:39, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

Place of Birth
In [this interview], Dick Dale makes a point of saying that be was born not in Beirut, but Boston. Some reliable sources on the web say the same, while other, seemingly reliable sources say he was born in Beirut. While I realize that musicians sometimes lie and interviewers sometimes get things wrong, I couldn't find a more credible link stating he was born in Beirut and so I changed the info accordingly.Fullobeans (talk) 05:55, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
 * I guess we would look at his pre-school pictures and see if he is the whitest looking one in the class. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.19.7.158 (talk) 04:36, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

This man discovered that a guitar could scream
Dick Dale is much more than surf rock. Years before Hendrix and Duane Allman, he discovered the raunchy power of the electric guitar, the paradigmatic American sound of the second half of the 20th century. Listen to him play with Stevie Ray Vaughn. Heavy metal, electric blues, the sound of the Jefferson Airplane, more: I say it all began in Dick Dale's head. And to top it off, people: he plays like that at age 71!!132.181.160.42 (talk) 02:49, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

Del-Tone Line Up
I removed the names of the Del-Tones from the article because it was not really correct. There were frequent line up changes in the Del-Tones and I haven't been able to find a source that lists who the original Del-Tones were. Ron Eglit didn't start playing with Dick until 1979, so he was definitely not one of them. The Civilized Worm (talk) 20:15, 10 June 2008 (UTC)


 * I saw Dick Dale and the Del Tones play in 1963. Try an old album cover for verification.  — DocOfSoc • Talk  •  11:47, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

Who said this?
In the large quote from the Dick Dale website in the Biography section, it never said who actually said it. Its wording makes it sound like something someone would say casually, so it was definitely not written specifically for the site. There should definitely be a name at the bottom of the quote. Thhhh (talk) 00:28, 26 September 2008 (UTC)

Dale was in the movies
In 1987 for example he made a cameo in the MGM Movie "Back to the Beach" with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. The appearances by Dick Dale and his Del Tones were also in the 1963 Frankie and Annette movie "Beach Party". 70.59.50.1 (talk) 23:01, 25 November 2009 (UTC)

Birthplace
Dick Dale was born in Boston, MA, not Lebanon. (His grandfather was born in the country of Lebanon). Some unregistered user (i.p. 24.121.161.249) keeps reverting it back to the WRONG info. I'm citing Dick Dale, reverter is citing bio that is Wrong. Cite the man, not what people say about him. — Preceding unsigned comment added by ElizaBarrington (talk • contribs) 23:57, 11 October 2012 (UTC)

Thats fine, I was just stating the facts. If Dick Dale wants to change his age, date of birth, place of birth, etc., thats up to him, a lot of musicians do that. Its up to Wikipedia if they want false information on their website. No problem. Dick Dale is now, all the sudden, born in Boston. I heard he was turning 60 this year too.

Has he ever said he was born in Lebanon? I've read lots of interviews with him, never heard that. I think it's something some pundit mistakenly said about him a long time ago and it got re-quoted. He's also not claiming he's 60, someone else must have said that and it got spread around. He doesn't give a lot of interviews these days, but a lot of people write about him. He did say he is 75, and born in Boston, and his grandfather was born in Lebanon, in the 2012 Anarchy Gumbo audio interview at the end of the external links listed on the article. ElizaBarrington (talk) 17:15, 13 October 2012 (UTC)

He has maintained in interviews over the past 40 years (at least 40 years) that not only was he born in Lebanon, but that his early childhood there, before his family moved to the U.S., had a major influence on his music. Thats why the truth is important. Does he really want that ignored? Not only that, but his father lived in Lebanon for many years prior to Dick Dale's birth. His father was married there, according to interviews, and Dick Dale was born there. Its not a big deal really, but for music enthusiasts, its important because of the middle eastern musical influence. Theres no way I could know all this without reading these interviews over the years. Additionally, his father was not Lebanese, according to older interviews, but lived there and met his wife there. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.121.103.74 (talk) 22:56, 13 October 2012 (UTC)

Can you cite an interview that's online where he himself says that he was born in Lebanon? ElizaBarrington (talk) 05:27, 14 October 2012 (UTC)

Actually I was about to post a few links and then I had second thoughts about that. I don't think that is a good idea if there is someone out there like yourself or anyone else that is interested in changing themn all to  Boston! There are some very reliable references, not just online, but in many books written over the last 50 years, one of them is called "The History of Surf Music", where there are quotes from Dick Dale and there are other references which clearly state that he "immigrated to the United States" and that he was born in Lebanon with no exact birthdate. Also the "Illustrated Discography Of Surf Music 1961-1965" has information on Dick Dale, but the later version of the book may have the birthplace changed, i'm not sure. Who knows, maybe Mr. Surf Guitar has forgotten over the years where he was born. I would go with what was stated and reported from 1962 until 2000, not with some changes that were made in recent years, that seems like a scam to me. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.121.103.74 (talk) 20:18, 14 October 2012 (UTC)

I'd go with what he says, in his voice, now. Apparently the wrong (Lebanon) info was from a wrong statement early on, by someone else that got repeated. Do you have some agenda here? Your ONLY edits on Wikipedia are about Dick Dale's birthplace, and you're not even a registered user. I just have to ask why you are so committed to coming on here and changing this? I don't care where he was born, I actually think it would be more interesting if he were born in Lebanon than in Boston, but he says Boston, so why are you so committed to trying to challenge that? Do you know better than him where he was born? Seems odd to me. Arguing with an i.p. address reminds me of that article "The Great Failure of Wikipedia" by Jason Scott, an excellent and early contributor to Wikipedia, who said he gave up because he got sick of being a content defender rather than a content editor. ElizaBarrington (talk) 01:26, 15 October 2012 (UTC)

I think you are well aware of the fact that Dick Dale was born in Lebanon. I also believe that you're more than familiar with the many interviews and reports that state his place of birth. Why are you so committed to changing his birthplace to Boston? Do YOU have an agenda? Sounds like you not only care about insisting that he was born in Boston, but now you're trying to gather information as to why somebody would be attempting to state his REAL place of birth. Hmmm, this not only sounds like an agenda, it sounds like somebody's on a mission to keep his real birthplace a secret. You keep your new Boston, the new home of the middle eastern guitar sound. Actually, I heard surfing originated in Boston, sun, surf, sand, and Booawstin! http://www.oldies.com/artist-view/Dick-Dale.html

The Dick Dale birtherism is back, new edit, can probably stand, "Lebanese American" instead of "American", I didn't revert it, but again, it's from an unregistered i.p. with no other edits. In in this 2012 interview: http://www.kittyfeet.com/2012/10/20/dick-dale-drops-mad-science-about-how-the-universe-works-part-2-of-3/ Dick Dale says he was born in Boston, MA and his grandfather was from Lebanon. — Preceding unsigned comment added by ElizaBarrington (talk • contribs) 03:57, 18 November 2012 (UTC)

Since Dick Dale is an American citizen and became a guitarist in America, I would say that Dick Dale is an American guitarist born in Lebanon. So if that is true then both of you are wrong. I would not rely on what musicians and celebrities say about themselves. That is a huge mistake and any journalist or experienced editor should know that. Its the first thing you learn in journalism. Always do your research before and after conducting any type of interview. I shouldn't have to teach people this, especially if they are editing large amounts of information. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.121.103.74 (talk) 08:26, 18 November 2012 (UTC)

I have to agree with the above statements regarding Mr. Dale's birthplace and the lack of evidence to support the theory that he was born in the United States. Mr. Barrington states directly that his information came directly from Mr. Dale. That, in and of itself, would be enough information to discount the United States birthplace disposition. There is an excellent chance that Mr. Dale was actually born in Lebanon, so we can't conclude that Mr. Dale was born in the United States based on his own statements. We either need a birth certificate or an online link to a birth record indicating that Mr. Dale was born in the United States. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.119.19.162 (talk) 19:57, 2 April 2013 (UTC)

Dick Dale was definitely born in Lebanon, no doubt about it. This needs to be changed and it needs to stop editing information on wikipedia, because he/she/it doesn't know the first thing about editing or gathering factual information. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.7.58.81 (talk) 20:53, 9 September 2013 (UTC)
 * You will need to cite something more reliable than you did. Also, if you leave out the insults, you're more likely to be listened to. Drmies (talk) 14:34, 4 October 2013 (UTC)

Sources for Beirut

 * Waiting for the Sun: A Rock 'n' Roll History of Los Angeles, page 58, by Barney Hoskyns. Dick Dale heard Arabic songs during his childhood in Beirut.
 * Guitar World Presents the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time!, page 61, by Jeff Kitts and Brad Tolinski. "As a child in Beirut, Lebanon, Dick Dale heard the sounds of Middle-Eastern stringed instruments..."
 * Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd: Dark Globe, page 50, by Julian Palacios. "The ragged quasi-Middle Eastern scales of surf-rocker Dick Dale, who as a child lived in Beirut..."
 * ''Cruising for Community: Youth Culture and Politics in Los Angeles, 1910–1970, page 258, by Matthew Allan Ides. "Dick Dale was born Richard Monsour in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1938. As a small child he moved with his family to Quincy, Massachusetts. During high school, his family moved again to El Segundo, California."
 * Rock Odyssey: A Chronicle of the Sixties, page 45, by Ian Whitcomb. "Dale had been born in Beirut and he remembered an old Arabic melody called 'Miserlou.'"
 * Reference Library of Arab America: Arab Americans, page 43. "Dick Dale. Birth: May 4, 1937, Beirut, Lebanon. Ethnicity: Lebanese-American."
 * Surf city: the California sound, page 8, by Jack Wood. "Born Richard Monsour in Beirut, Lebanon, Dick Dale moved to Quincy, Massachusetts, with his family when he was a child."
 * A History of Rock Music, by Stephen K. Valdez. "Dale was born in Beirut, Lebanon and grew up in Quincy, Massachusetts; his family moved out to California in 1954 during Dale's senior year in high school."
 * Golden state, golden youth: the California image in popular culture, 1955–1966, page 99, by Kirse Granat May. "Born Richard Monsour in Beirut, Lebanon, he grew up in Quincy, Massachusetts, before moving to El Segundo, California, in 1954 for his senior year of high school."
 * Arab American biography, page 101, by Loretta Hall. "Dick Dale. Lebanese-American musician. Born May 4, 1937, Beirut, Lebanon."
 * Surfin' guitars: instrumental surf bands of the sixties, page 97, by Robert J. Dalley. "'I was born in Beirut, Lebanon as Richard Monsour,' Dick explains. 'My family immigrated to the United States and settled in Quincy, Massachusetts, early on in my childhood.'" On the next page it says: "Dick's parents moved the family from Quincy, Massachusetts, to El Segundo, California, in 1954."

I think the article should settle on Beirut, Lebanon, as the birthplace. Other places which have appeared in print might be mentioned in a minor fashion. Binksternet (talk) 14:48, 4 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Yes, it definitely should settle on Beirut, Lebanon, how many more sources do you need? Its obvious that Dale didn't like the Arabic reference to being born in Lebanon, and changed his birthplace to Boston. Thats fine if he feels that way, but this is supposed to be a source for facts, not for famous people wishing to change their birthplace, age, race, religion,etc. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.7.58.96 (talk • contribs)

Looking more closely at the sources, it appears that the Boston birthplace correction has been accepted as the main version by the most prominent biographers. Binksternet (talk) 15:10, 4 October 2013 (UTC)
 * That is one full bookshelf you got there, Bink. Thanks. Incidentally, I have no opinion one way or the other; my objection was to the commentary and the reference. I also don't much care for Dale's music and am not interested enough to dig into the subject (I know, it's blasphemy--don't care for surf); I will gladly leave the content in your capable hands. Maybe an explanatory footnote on the matter will be helpful. Drmies (talk) 15:40, 4 October 2013 (UTC)


 * For those that do like surf music and know about the history of surf music and music in general, we would realize the Middle Eastern influence in Dick Dale's music and how the music of Beirut ended up coming out of a Fender Stratocaster. That is why Dales legitimate birthplace of Beirut is much more important than his desires to be remembered as an American born citizen. Hey Mr. Dale, you will be remembered as a great guitarist and very influential, so don't worry about where you were born, its a ok buddy. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.7.58.96 (talk • contribs)

Boston birthplace

 * Colin Larkin (writer) writes on page 699 in his Encyclopedia of Popular Music that Dale was born in Boston, but had previously said he was born in Beirut. The book is published by Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195313739
 * Music journalist Alan di Perna writes in his Guitar Masters: Intimate Portraits the following: "...the man the world knows as Dick Dale was born on the opposite coast, in South Boston, on May 4, 1937. Of mixed Lebanese, Polish, and Belarusian descent, his birth name is Richard Anthony Monsour." ISBN 1480329703
 * Guitarist/author Julia Crowe quotes Dale on page 92 in her book My First Guitar: Tales of True Love and Lost Chords from 70 Legendary Musicians. "I was born in South Boston but I grew up in Quincy, Massachusetts, during the Depression. My father is of Lebanese heritage and my mother's parents came to the US from Poland when they were twenty years of age—White Russian gypsies. I used to stay with my mom's parents at their farm in Whitman, Massachusetts, during the summer, and I would pet the cows and chase the chickens and eat the food grown from Mother Earth."

The kind of detail that Dale describes in talking to Julia Crowe is sufficient to flatten the idea that Dale grew up in Beirut. Binksternet (talk) 17:04, 4 October 2013 (UTC)

Beirut

 * Dick Dale was not born in the U.S., he was born in Beirut, Lebanon. Dick Dale was born Richard Monsour in Beirut, Lebanon, in the late 1930s. Having immigrated with his family to the United States as a child, he grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, and then moved to Los Angeles in his senior year of high school. At some point in time Dick Dale himself changed his Bio and now claims that he and his father were both born in Boston, and that his Grandfather was born in Lebanon. I don't understand how this information can be so easily falsified. Surely there are some Wikipedia editors that can do a little research to verify the fact that Dick Dale was born in Lebanon. Maybe Dick Dale wants people to think he was born in the U.S., but that would indicate that he doesn't understand the importance of his heritage and how it relates to his music. The readers of this article deserve the truth in this matter because his birthplace does in fact have a relation to the middle eastern influenced music that he has played for many years. Knowing that Dick Dale was born in Lebanon allows the reader to make connections between songs like The Victor and Havanagila to Dick Dales upbringing in the middle east for the early part of his childhood. Who knows, Dick Dale might all the sudden start playing Irish surf guitar just to prove he was born in Boston, or maybe he'll paint a big green clover on his Stratocaster. Oh well, I guess you're a Celt after all Dick Dale, or should I say Dick O'Dale. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.156.82.243 (talk) 09:08, 27 April 2012 (UTC)

Source
This is a good source to work from I don't have time now but may get bak to it later. http://www.billboard.com/artist/dick-dale/bio/4396#/artist/dick-dale/bio/4396  — DocOfSoc • Talk  •  11:32, 2 September 2012 (UTC)

Del-Tones: reinsert:http://www.discogs.com/artist/Dick+Dale+%26+His+Del-Tones  — DocOfSoc • Talk  •  11:41, 2 September 2012 (UTC)