The Ventures The Ventures Play Southern All Stars (CD Japan)

The Ventures

Instrumental; group formed in 1958 by Nokie Edwards (lead guitar), Don Wilson (guitar), Bob Bogle (bass) and Howie Johnson (drums). They had a million-seller with 'Walk – Don't Run' on Dolton 25 in 1960 (initially released on Blue Horizon 101 in 1959), and although they didn't have many other big hit singles (the exception being 'Hawaii Five-O', a No.4 in 1969), they have sold more than a 100 million albums, which makes them the best-selling instrumental group ever.

It helps that they are also extremely popular in Japan! Johnson was replaced by Mel Taylor in 1961. Edwards was replaced by Gerry McGee in 1967, but returned to the group 1972-85, and again in late 1996. Taylor was replaced by Joe Barile 1973-78.

Taylor died in 1996 and Bogle in 2009.