JIMMY PAGE INDUCTS HIS HERO LINK WRAY INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME
11/3/2023, Brooklyn, New York - One of the world's greatest guitarists, Jimmy Page, gave a surprise presentation and tribute performance at the 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony for his “hero” the legendary guitarist Link Wray (Shawnee). Held at Barclays Center in New York on Friday night, Page's onscreen prerecorded presentaton was followed by a surprise live tribute performance and rendition of Wray's classic instrumental, “Rumble.” This was reportedly Page's first public performance in a decade.
The now 79 year old lead guitarist of Led Zeppelin recalled hearing Wray’s classic instrumental “Rumble” for the first time when he was 14 year's old. Page recalled, “The vigor in it. The strength in it. The power in it. This was something else. It was fearless. It was just phenomenal. It was the essence of cool. Its just a masterpiece that sort of melted its way into the fibers of my body and my consciousness."
Link Wray's eldest children were in attendance, Beth Wray Webb and Link Wray III who met Page after the performance and exchanged their mutual respect and admiration for each other. Beth's two sons, Chris and Tommy are also musicians and coincidentally were also influenced by Page's work in Zeppelin.
Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray, Jr., was born on May 2, 1929, in Dunn, North Carolina. Link Wray was of Shawnee heritage. While his family suffered racial discrimination due to their Native American background, Wray later honored his heritage in songs like “Comanche”, “Apache” and “Shawnee.” Wray continued recording and performing well into his seventies until his death on November 5, 2005.
In 2008, Link Wray was inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame presented by musician Steven Van Zandt with a tribute performance held by Wray’s grandson Chris Webb and Native American guitarist Gary SmalI. In 2017, the documentary, “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked The World,” was released and Link Wray received his second nomination for the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Page said that Link Wray had a "real rebel attitude" and credits him in the documentary, "It Might Get Loud” as a major influence in his early career. In 2021, Rolling Stone named Link Wray as one of their top 100 Greatest Guitarists. Link Wray’s music continues to be heard on radio and in numerous films and TV shows, such as; “Pulp Fiction,” “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” “Blow,” “Desperado,” “Independence Day”, “The Fabelmans” “Poker Face,” “Father Stu” and “Reservation Dogs”.
Link Wray’s daughter, Beth, expressed; “We were in tears watching Jimmy Page's tribute performance. Dad would be so honored and humbled to receive this special recognition.” See the full presentation below.
JIMMY PAGE'S FULL INDUCTION SPEECH ON LINK WRAY
The Vigor in it. The Strength in it. The Power in it. .. It’s just a masterpiece that sort of melted its way into the fibers of my body and my consciousness
“I’m really proud and honored to induct Link Wray into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. If ever there was a guitarist to deserve this. If ever there was a guitarist who changed people’s attitude to what they heard, its Link Wray.
I first heard Link Wray’s music by the Rumble and it was when I was 14 years old. It wasn’t necessarily the sort of music that was being played on the BBC radio. But I heard it through a jukebox. The first time I heard it I remember listening to it with such awe because I thought what is this?
In those days there were many guitar instrumentals but as a 14 year old kid barely playing the guitar, it really had an effect on me. The Vigor in it. The Strength in it. The Power in it. There was something else, It was fearless. It was just phenomenal. It’s the essence of cool. It’s just a masterpiece that just sort of melted its way into the fibers of my body and my consciousness, as far as the drama that you can set up with six strings. Its the sort of stuff that can’t be taught. It’s the sort of stuff that you feel and you can take it on board if you like it.
I’m really thrilled and honored to be the one to be able to induct Link Wray, my hero, into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.” - JIMMY PAGE, November 3rd, 2023
For Interviews with Link Wray’s eldest daughter, Beth Wray Webb, please email us at Nativemusicawards@gmail.com.
LINK WRAY INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME
NOVEMBER 3rd, 2023 AT BARCLAYS CENTER IN NEW YORK
The Induction Ceremony streamed on Disney + And Broadcast on ABC
New York, NY - Link Wray was a featured inductee at this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The induction was presented by legendary Rock guitarist Jimmy Page who called Link Wray his “Hero” and performed the song “Rumble.”. Link Wray was the recipient of the Musical Influence Award.
In addition to Link Wray, other Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees included; Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, Chaka Khan, and Willie Nelson, as well as special guests Brandi Carlile, Dave Matthews, Elton John, H.E.R., Chris Stapleton, St. Vincent, New Edition, and more .
Link Wray's 1958 instrumental hit "Rumble" by Link Wray & His Ray Men not only popularized "the power chord,"
but also sparked the emergence of punk rock and heavy metal. The rebellious sonic onslaught of “Rumble” which was originally banned from radio because of it’s title, became a Top 20 hit in the United States and echoed across the Atlantic influencing the first generation of British guitar heroes. Wray subsequently released many more legendary instrumental classics that would change rock & roll forever.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame states, “If there is one musician with an overriding influence over all rock guitarists – from 1960s British rock to 1970s punk to 1980s hardcore to 1990s grunge – that musician is Link Wray…. With a DIY ethos and an electric intensity unlike any other guitarist, Wray was undoubtedly ahead of his time. He embraced sounds that had rarely been heard before – distortion, fuzz, tremolo, and wah-wah effects – all of which have become staples of the rock guitar. Wray was the original punk, the inventor of the power chord, and the architect of a sound that laid the foundation for every genre that relies on raw, untamed music to convey its message”.
Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray, Jr., was born on May 2, 1929, in Dunn, North Carolina. Link Wray was of Shawnee
heritage. While his family suffered racial discrimination due to their Native American background, Wray later honored his heritage in songs like “Comanche”, “Apache” and “Shawnee.” Wray continued recording and performing well into his seventies until his death on November 5, 2005. Both Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen performed Wray's "Rumble" in concert as a tribute to the influential musician upon learning of his death.
Prior to this induction, Link Wray has received two previous nominations from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2008, Link Wray was inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame presented by musician Steven Van Zandt with a tribute performance held by Wray’s grandson Chris Webb and Native American guitarist Gary Small. In 2008, “Rumble” was added to the archives of the Library of Congress. In 2017, the documentary, “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked The World,” was released and Link Wray receives his second nomination for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In 2021, Rolling Stone names Link Wray as one of their top 100 Greatest Guitarists. Link Wray’s impact is heard in generations of British and American guitarists including; Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen and Pete Townshend. Page said that Link Wray had a "real rebel attitude" and credits him in the documentary, "It Might Get Loud” as a major influence in his early career. Link Wray’s music continues to be heard on radio and in numerous films and TV shows, such as; “Pulp Fiction,” “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” “Blow,” “Desperado,” “Independence Day”, “The Fabelmans” “Poker Face,” “Father Stu” and “Reservation Dogs”.
Link Wray’s daughter, Beth Wray Webb expressed; “My family and I are just so excited about Dad finally getting in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I’d like to thank those at the Rock Hall as well as Link Wray’s fans, the musicians and everyone who played a part in helping our father get into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Today, Dad would be so honored and humbled to receive this special recognition. I will be proud to be there representing my father and my family.”
Beth’s two sons also continue in her father’s music tradition. In addition to Chris Webb who released a CD in honor of his Grandfather entitled, “Fire and Brimstone: A Tribute To Link Wray", her other son, and Link’s other grandson, Tommy Webb, is also a musician who took the Spiritual side after his Grandfather, and regularly plays at his Church. For Interviews with Link Wray’s eldest daughter, Beth Wray Webb, please email; linkwrays1stdaughter@yahoo.com
JIMMY PAGE INDUCTS LINK WRAY INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME AND CALLS HIM MY HERO
The 20th Annual Native American Music Awards Show, was hosted by actor Rodney A. Grant, and aired on The Cowboy Channel and their network which is one of America’s fastest
growing cable networks providing family-friendly entertainment dedicated to serving the needs and interest of rural America.
The 20th Annual Native American Music Awards show was held at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, and celebrated and honored some of the most powerful voices from across the country following a historic snowstorm. Hosted by actor Rodney A. Grant, a member of the Omaha tribe of Nebraska, who was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding work as an actor in the motion picture and television industries. Rodney is best known for his memorable role as ”Wind In His Hair” in the 1990 film, "Dances With Wolves" with Kevin Costner.
The event also honored Paul LaRoche of Brule and Robert Tree Cody as Lifetime Achievement recipients and Wisdom Keeper, Oren Lyons, a member of the Onondaga and Seneca nations, as a Living Legend who is an author and environmental activist for Indigenous peoples worldwide and is also in the All-American Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Grammy Award winner & multiple Native American Music Award winner of Comanche and Cherokee descent, Micki Free, was inducted into the N.A.M.A. Hall of Fame.
Originally discovered and managed by Gene Simmons of KISS, Micki was the guitarist in the R&B sensation, Shalamar who boasted mega platinum hit songs like "Dancing In The Sheets" from the movie soundtrack "Footloose" and "Don't Get Stopped In Beverly Hills" from the "Beverly Hills Cop" soundtrack.
This year’s Awards program also featured performances by multiple 
nominees: Cody Blackbird who won Best Rock
Recording, Earl Slick (David Bowie) and the Fabulous Ripcords who won Best Blues Recording and Group of the Year, The Halluci Nation who won Best Animation in A Video, and artist and actor, Sten Joddi, known for his recent role as 'Punkin Lusty' aka Mr. Greasy Frybread, in the Award Winning FX Networks series, ‘Reservation Dogs’ who won Best Rap Hip Hop Recording and Best Male Artist.
You can watch the broadcast on The Cowboy Channel (cable and satellite) by streaming it on their paid subscription service TCC+ (www.cowboychannelplus.com).
www.NAMALIVE.com NativeMusicAwards@gmail.com
