From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sun Feb 10, 2002  2:27 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Don Wilson
 
DON WILSON

Born 10 February 1937, Tacoma, Washington

The Ventures (originally The Versatones) started as a guitar duo, Don
Wilson (rhythm) and Bob Bogle (lead), in 1958. With the help of Don's
mother, Josie Wilson, Don and Bob made a recording on their own record
label, Blue Horizon, which was released locally in the Seattle/Tacoma area.
They had heard a song called "Walk, Don't Run" played by Chet Atkins
(on a 1957 album) and, using their own arrangement, they came up with
the basis for what was later identified as The Ventures' sound. The tune
started to get air play, and was then picked up for nationwide release by
Dolton Records. In 1960, "Walk Don't Run" hit the # 2 spot on the pop
charts, selling over 2 million copies worldwide. The Ventures were on
their way to becoming the world's largest selling instrumental group of
all time. By this time bass player Nokie Edwards and drummer Howie
Johnson had joined the group. Other early hits (also in the UK) were
"Perfidia", "Ram-Bunk-Shush" and "Lullaby Of The Leaves". In 1964,
"Walk Don't Run" became a hit all over again (# 8), in a new surfing
style arrangement, under the title "Walk Don't Run '64". After one final
Top 10 hit in 1969, "Hawaii Five-O" (# 4), the hits dried up.
The Ventures have released countless albums and are particularly
popular in Japan. Wilson and Bogle are still the nucleus of the group
to this day.

Official website: http://www.theventures.com
The British label See For Miles has reissued most of their LP's as 2-fers.
Their first four albums were "Walk Don't Run"/"The Ventures" (See For
Miles 618) and "Another Smash"/"The Colorful Ventures" (619).