Duane Eddy, a trailblazing guitarist whose deep, resonant electric guitar playing became a defining feature of early rock 'n' roll, has passed away at the age of 86. His influential instrumentals, like "Rebel Rouser" and "Peter Gunn," not only crafted the twangy sound that characterized the genre but also influenced a myriad of musicians including George Harrison and Bruce Springsteen.

Eddy died from cancer on Tuesday at Williamson Health hospital in Franklin, Tennessee, confirmed by his wife, Deed Abbate.

Eddy's innovative style, which favored the guitar’s bass strings, contributed to the distinct sound that defined his music, helping him achieve over 100 million record sales globally. In a 1986 interview with The Associated Press, Eddy shared, "I wasn't the best technical player, but I had a distinctive sound that people recognized. I stuck with that." He described his approach as less about technical prowess and more about creating a sound that resonated with his audience.

The term "Twang," coined from his early works like his debut album "Have Twangy Guitar Will Travel," became synonymous with Eddy's style and continued to be a part of his identity throughout his career. Despite its whimsical origin, the term grew to have sentimental value for Eddy, as he mentioned in a 1993 interview with the AP.

Eddy's impact extended beyond his recordings. In 1994, he was honored with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His collaboration with producer Lee Hazlewood in the 1950s helped mold the "Twang" sound, which Hazlewood adapted for Nancy Sinatra's iconic track "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'." Eddy's commercial success peaked from 1958 to 1963, after which he took a step back from the forefront of the music scene following the easy-listening success of his 1970 track "Freight Train."

Over his lifetime, Eddy produced more than 50 albums, which included several reissues, and in later years he enjoyed a quieter life, supported by the royalties from his earlier successes. He remained influential in music, scoring soundtracks for films and occasionally stepping into production roles, primarily in Los Angeles during the 1970s.

Born in Corning, New York, and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Eddy began playing guitar at the age of five. His dreams of singing on the Grand Ole Opry began in his teenage years, eventually leading to his break with Jamie Records of Philadelphia in 1958, which catapulted him to fame with the release of "Rebel Rouser."

Throughout his career, Eddy also appeared in several films and toured extensively, including with Dick Clark’s “Caravan of Stars.” He settled in Nashville in 1985, embracing a more relaxed pace of life while still contributing to the music scene.

Eddy's legacy is marked not only by his refusal to sing, considering it a contribution to music in its own right, but also by his collaborations with former Beatles Paul McCartney and George Harrison in the late 1980s.

As the music world remembers Duane Eddy, it celebrates the profound legacy of a musician whose innovative guitar playing helped shape the sound of rock 'n' roll and continues to influence artists and music enthusiasts around the world.