Link Wray, born Frederick Lincoln Wray Jr. on May 2, 1929, in Dunn, North Carolina, was a pioneering American guitarist and songwriter. Renowned for his 1958 instrumental hit "Rumble," Wray introduced the power chord and experimented with distortion, significantly shaping the sound of rock and roll. His innovative techniques influenced genres like heavy metal and punk. Wray's contributions earned him a place among Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. ([britannica.com](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Link-Wray?utm_source=openai))