“King of Twang” guitarist Duane Eddy dies at the age of 86

American guitarist Duane Eddy, considered by many to be one of the founding fathers of rock and roll, has died at the age of 86.

His wife, Dade, said his death occurred on April 30 in Franklin, Tennessee. The reason was cancer.

The Grammy Award-winning artist had a string of hit songs in the 1950s and 1960s. He hit the charts again in 1986 with a remake of his song Peter Gunn.

He was called the King of Twang for his distinctive style. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

In 2008, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum also named him an inductee.

“Duane has inspired a generation of guitarists around the world with his distinctive, unmistakable sound,” Eddie's representative was quoted as saying by Variety.com.

“He was rock 'n' roll's first guitar god, a truly humble and wonderful human being. He will be sorely missed.”

Eddie was born in Corning, New York, in 1936. He began playing guitar at an early age.

Eddie was self-taught and his distinctive sound inspired artists from The Beatles to Blondie.

During his illustrious career spanning seven decades, he sold more than 100 million records.

His signature slow tone is echoed loud and clear on The Beatles' Day Tripper, Bruce Springsteen's Born To Run, and Blondie's Atomic.

In 2011, Eddie told the BBC: “When people come along, like Bruce Springsteen or John Fogerty, and say, ‘Duane was a huge influence,’ that's just one of the benefits and rewards of what she did.

“This is worth more to me than money and fame. This goes straight to the heart.”