Don Wilson's Mysterious Cause of Death: The Ventures' Guitarist Dead At 88

Don Wilson, The Ventures' rhythm guitarist and co-founder, has died in Tacoma, Washington. He was 88.

Wilson's family delivered the heartbreaking news to Seattle journalist Saint Bryan, saying that the rocker died on Saturday. The journalist did not mention whether the musician suffered from health-related issues before his death, but he revealed that he died in his sleep over the weekend.

"His family says Don Wilson, a founding member of The Ventures, passed away this morning in his sleep. With over 100 million records sold, The Ventures are the best selling and arguably the most influential instrumental rock band of all time. Wilson, the rhythm guitarist, was 88," the caption said.

Meanwhile, his son Tim Wilson released a statement on behalf of the family, paying tribute to their "amazing guitar player" father.

"Our dad was an amazing rhythm guitar player who touched people all over world with his band, The Ventures. He will have his place in history forever and was much loved and appreciated. He will be missed," he went on, as quoted by Rolling Stone.

His fans also expressed their heartbreak online, saying that the industry had just lost one of the most talented rhythm guitarists in history.

Don Wilson's Contribution in the Music Industry

Wilson, who initially worked as a Seattle-based construction worker moonlighting as a musician, formed the Ventures in 1958 with bassist Bob Bogle. Two years after starting the rock group, they scored a spot on the Hot 100 by creating an electric guitar-led rendition of Johnny Smith's "Walk, Don't Run."

The same song made it to Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.

When the ventures got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, John Forgety said that "Walk, Don't Run," began the "whole new movement" in the rock and roll industry.

The Ventures also gave birth to several hits, including "Perfidia" and a theme song for "Hawaii Five-O."

Before Wilson's death, he was able to sit for an interview with People in 2020, saying how The Ventures was never set out to be a surf band that plays surf music.

"We never really considered ourselves a surf band. It was just all these things coming together - the surf culture, the electric guitar, Americana - when we were coming up in the early 1960s. Kind of a happy accident, I guess you could say," he continued.