Hilton Valentine
Encyclopedia
Hilton Valentine is an English
musician
, who was the original guitarist
in the The Animals
.
craze. His mother bought him his first guitar in 1956 when he was 13, he taught himself some chords from a book called "Teach Yourself A Thousand Chords", and formed his own skiffle group called The Heppers. They played local gigs and a newspaper described them at the time as,"A young but promising skiffle group". The Heppers eventually evolved into a rock and roll band, The Wildcats in c 1959. During this period Valentine played a Futurama III solid guitar, this was the UK brandname of importer Selmer, his next guitar was a Burns
Vibra-Artiste which he bought in 1960/61. The Wildcats was a popular band in the Tyne & Wear area getting a lot of bookings for Dance Halls, Working Men's Clubs, Church Halls etc., and it was during this period that they decided to record a 10" acetate LP titled Sounds of The Wildcats (sic). In 1963 The Animals were starting to form and Chas Chandler
heard about Hilton Valentine's wild guitar playing and asked him to join what was then the Alan Price Combo
. Eric Burdon
was already a member and John Steel
joined immediately following Valentine's arrival. Within a few months, this group changed their name to The Animals.
While The Animals are often remembered most for Burdon's vocals
and Price's organ
, Valentine is credited with the instantly recognizable electric guitar
arpeggio
introduction to the Animals' 1964 signature song
"The House of the Rising Sun
", which inspired countless beginning guitarists. It was played on his Gretsch
Tennessean guitar which he bought in Newcastle in early 1962 while he was still with the Wildcats, and a Selmer amplifier. Later, in 1964, Rickenbacker
gave him a 1964 Rose Morris guitar to use along with a 12 string model.
Valentine went on to play and record
with the Animals, until the first incarnation of the band dissolved in September 1966.
Valentine subsequently moved to California
, recorded an unsuccessful solo
album
entitled All In Your Head, returned to the UK
, and over the years joined several Animals reunions.
Along with Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler, Alan Price and John Steel, Valentine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 1994. Along with the other Animals, Hilton was inducted into Hollywood’s Rock Walk of Fame in May 2001. He released a new album, It's Folk 'n' Skiffle, Mate! in 2004.
From that release until October 2009 he played throughout New England
, New York
and South Carolina, with his Skiffledog solo project. As well, from February 2007 to November 2008 Valentine toured with Eric Burdon. In early 2009 he released two basement demo recordings on his MySpace page.
MARCH 2011 - Hilton released a new CD titled Skiffledog on Coburg ST"
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, who was the original guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
in the The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
.
Biography
Valentine was influenced by the 1950s skiffleSkiffle
Skiffle is a type of popular music with jazz, blues, folk, roots and country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments. Originating as a term in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century, it became popular again in the UK in the 1950s, where it was mainly...
craze. His mother bought him his first guitar in 1956 when he was 13, he taught himself some chords from a book called "Teach Yourself A Thousand Chords", and formed his own skiffle group called The Heppers. They played local gigs and a newspaper described them at the time as,"A young but promising skiffle group". The Heppers eventually evolved into a rock and roll band, The Wildcats in c 1959. During this period Valentine played a Futurama III solid guitar, this was the UK brandname of importer Selmer, his next guitar was a Burns
Burns London
Burns London is a guitar-making company originally formed in 1960 as Ormston Burns Ltd. It was founded by James Ormston Burns , who has been described as the British Leo Fender...
Vibra-Artiste which he bought in 1960/61. The Wildcats was a popular band in the Tyne & Wear area getting a lot of bookings for Dance Halls, Working Men's Clubs, Church Halls etc., and it was during this period that they decided to record a 10" acetate LP titled Sounds of The Wildcats (sic). In 1963 The Animals were starting to form and Chas Chandler
Chas Chandler
Bryan James "Chas" Chandler was an English musician, record producer and manager of several successful music acts....
heard about Hilton Valentine's wild guitar playing and asked him to join what was then the Alan Price Combo
Alan Price
Alan Price is an English musician, best known as the original keyboardist for the English band The Animals, and for his subsequent solo work....
. Eric Burdon
Eric Burdon
Eric Victor Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance...
was already a member and John Steel
John Steel (drummer)
For other persons named John Steele, see John Steele .John Steel was the original drummer of the band, The Animals, and is the owner of the rights to the band's name, by virtue of a trademark registration.Steel went to the Gateshead Grammar School...
joined immediately following Valentine's arrival. Within a few months, this group changed their name to The Animals.
While The Animals are often remembered most for Burdon's vocals
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
and Price's organ
Electric organ
In biology, the electric organ is an organ common to all electric fish used for the purposes of creating an electric field. The electric organ is derived from modified nerve or muscle tissue...
, Valentine is credited with the instantly recognizable electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
arpeggio
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
introduction to the Animals' 1964 signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
"The House of the Rising Sun
The House of the Rising Sun
"The House of the Rising Sun" is a folk song from the United States. Also called "House of the Rising Sun" or occasionally "Rising Sun Blues", it tells of a life gone wrong in New Orleans...
", which inspired countless beginning guitarists. It was played on his Gretsch
Gretsch
The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...
Tennessean guitar which he bought in Newcastle in early 1962 while he was still with the Wildcats, and a Selmer amplifier. Later, in 1964, Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
gave him a 1964 Rose Morris guitar to use along with a 12 string model.
Valentine went on to play and record
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
with the Animals, until the first incarnation of the band dissolved in September 1966.
Valentine subsequently moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, recorded an unsuccessful solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
entitled All In Your Head, returned to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and over the years joined several Animals reunions.
Along with Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler, Alan Price and John Steel, Valentine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
in 1994. Along with the other Animals, Hilton was inducted into Hollywood’s Rock Walk of Fame in May 2001. He released a new album, It's Folk 'n' Skiffle, Mate! in 2004.
From that release until October 2009 he played throughout New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and South Carolina, with his Skiffledog solo project. As well, from February 2007 to November 2008 Valentine toured with Eric Burdon. In early 2009 he released two basement demo recordings on his MySpace page.
MARCH 2011 - Hilton released a new CD titled Skiffledog on Coburg ST"
External links
- Official website
- [ Allmusic]
- Skiffledog on Coburg ST