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Dick Dale and His Del-Tones were a pioneering surf-rock group from southern California, formed in the late 1950s and fronted by guitarist/vocalist Dick Dale. The band gained immense popularity in their local scene and is often credited as one of the first surf bands. Dale's father released several singles and an LP titled "Surfer's Choice," which primarily featured live recordings. The group's repertoire included Dale-penned instrumentals as well as R&B and pop-flavored vocal tracks, often covers sung by Dale. In 1963, they signed with Capitol Records and released albums like "Checkered Flag" in 1963 and "Mr. Eliminator" in 1964, shifting their focus from surfing to cars, which was a popular trend at the time. However, Dale returned to surfing themes with "Summer Surf," his last record for Capitol. In 1965, after being diagnosed with rectal cancer and feeling frustrated with the music industry, Dale retired from music. He made a comeback in the 1970s, reviving the Del-Tone name and performing in southern California before eventually releasing several albums as a solo artist. Although Dale retained the rights to his old music, including the Capitol records, those albums remained out of print for years, with only select tracks appearing on various "Greatest Hits" compilations. The band's early records were reissued in 2006 and 2007.

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