As the most distinctive member of top instrumental group The Shadows, Hank Marvin remains massively influential, a key figure in the popularisation of the electric guitar in the UK, inspiring many of the top guitarists who emerged in the 1960s beat boom. He himself was inspired by Buddy Holly, moving to London at the age of 16 with his school-friend Bruce Welch, where he met Cliff Richard at a coffee bar in Soho. Changing his name to Hank Marvin, he bought what was reputedly the first Fender Stratocaster sold in the UK when he and Welch both joined Cliff Richard's backing band, originally called The Drifters. Altering their name to The Shadows to avoid confusion with an American band with the same name, they went on to become one of Britain's most successful acts, achieving numerous hits with Cliff and enjoying several major early 1960s instrumental hits on their own - notably 'Apache', 'Wonderful Land', 'Dance On' and 'Foot Tapper'.
With his horn-rimmed glasses, stirring guitar playing and shuffling dance steps, Hank was the group's natural focal point, setting the benchmark for subsequent British guitarists. He also made a series of solo singles and albums playing a variety of different styles, reached number seven with 'Throw Down a Line' in 1969 and embarked on occasional solo tours and collaborations with other artists, such as Jean Michel Jarre, Dire Straits and Richard Hawley. In 1975 The Shadows represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest, walking away with a respectable second place. Hank joined up with Cliff as a duo and they released 'Throw Down a Line' and 'The Joy of Living'. He lent his guitar sound to Roger Daltrey on the tracks 'Parade' and 'Leon' on his 'One of the Boys' album and penned Olivia Newton-John's 1977 hit 'Sam'. The Shadows reunited in 2004 for their Final Tour which saw them travel across Europe one last time.
