1929 – 2005

Link Wray

American guitarist (1929–2005)

string playerrecording artistguitaristlyricistmusician

Born

1929-05-02, Dunn

Died

2005-11-05

Birthplace state

North Carolina

Biography

Link Wray was born in Dunn, North Carolina in 1929 and died in 2005. A guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist, he gained popularity in the late 1950s. His 1958 instrumental "Rumble" reached the top 20 in the United States and was among the earliest rock songs to employ distortion and tremolo.

Occupation

Link Wray is recorded as a string player, a recording artist, a guitarist, a lyricist, a musician, a singer and a composer, born in North Carolina (1929–2005).

Connections to North Carolina

Link Wray was born in Dunn, North Carolina in 1929. Explore other notable figures from North Carolina, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from North Carolina›North Carolinahistory ›Historic sites in North Carolina›

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Dunn

Link Wray came from Dunn. A full Aubrey report on Dunn pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Dunn report

Or see a real report first

More notable figures from North Carolina

Other historical figures born in North Carolina, ranked by historical prominence.

Andrew Johnson

President of the United States from 1865 to 1869

James K. Polk

President of the United States from 1845 to 1849 (1795–1849)

O. Henry

American short story writer (1862–1910)

Ava Gardner

American actress (1922–1990)

Nina Simone

American singer, songwriter and pianist and civil rights activist (1933–2003)

Billy Graham

American Christian evangelist (1918–2018)

John Coltrane

American jazz saxophonist (1926–1967)

Frequently asked about Link Wray

Who was Link Wray?

Link Wray was American guitarist (1929–2005), born in North Carolina (1929 – 2005).

When and where was Link Wray born?

Link Wray was born on 1929-05-02 in Dunn.

When did Link Wray die?

Link died on 2005-11-05.

What was Link Wray known for?

Link Wray is recorded as a string player, a recording artist, a guitarist, a lyricist, a musician, a singer and a composer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your location View a free sample report