Hank Marvin, the legendary guitarist and modern day icon, who has inspired generations and garnered critical acclaim throughout his career for his work with The Shadows and as a solo artist, released his long-awaited new studio album this week.
Featuring 14 tracks, HANK includes fresh interpretations of some of Marvin’s favourite summer-themed music, along with one new composition. It’s the first new release since 2007’s UK Top 10 Guitar Man, for the man whose legendary achievements were restated yet again in The Times in February 2014, when he was listed as Number 2, amongst the world’s greatest guitar players and The Shadows amongst the greatest groups!
It’s been 60 years since the man who introduced the Fender Stratocaster to the UK, picked up his first musical instrument. Marvin’s performances as a solo frontman and with The Shadows on their records and backing Cliff Richard have resulted in millions of worldwide record sales.
The Shadows’ monumental chart debut with Apache in 1960 started an incredible run of 13 UK Top 10 hits for the group in just 4 years, during which time their unmistakeable style became a household sound around the world. Hank and The Shadows ruled the charts during the early 1960s and as a solo artist from the late 1970s to the present day Hank Marvin has sold in excess of 6 million albums.
HANK, recorded in Hank Marvin’s long-time home of Perth in Western Australia, includes 9 tracks arranged by Hank and his son Ben, with the remaining arrangements handled by Nunzio Modia, a classically trained pianist, arranger, accordionist and member of Marvin’s gypsy jazz quartet. The album also includes “subtle” backing vocals from his daughter Tahlia – “Keep it in the family. Keep them gainfully employed” says Hank with his trademark humour.
“These tunes all have some kind of connection with summer,” Hank explains. “The songs we’ve chosen are all very recognisable in the title, which is important on this kind of album, but they’re also vehicles which enable me to be creative, and still approach them in a way that people will know it’s me playing.”
Check out the Music-News.com exclusive interview with Hank below.
