Dick Dale links The king of surf guitar, guitarist Dick Dale to a large degree invented and defined the form in the early '60s with his pioneering use of Fender reverb, dazzling staccato, and thundering instrumentals. Playing guitars strung for right-handers with his left hand (as Hendrix would years later), he found that his hollow, sustained tone evoked the mood of surfing. In the 1990s, Dale made an unexpectedly successful comeback with newly recorded material that closely echoed his vintage sides. Click on the thumbnail to the right to see Dick Dale's handprints in cement. Click on the thumbnail to the right to see photos of Dick Dale.