Last night on Letterman, the band played guitarist Link Wray’s song “Rumble” as the show went to a commercial break. This morning I discovered the sad reason why (hat tip to Jeff A. Taylor at Reason Hit & Run): Link Wray passed away earlier this month and was buried on Friday. He was 76. Here is the official Link Wray site; here is a fan tribute site; Rolling Stone has an obit here.

You’ve heard his menacing instrumentals even if you don’t know the songs by name. Among other placements, two of his songs play in the background of the Jack Rabbit Slim’s scene in Pulp Fiction. He was a huge influence on the surf instro music of the 1960s (Dick Dale et al.) through to today’s post-Pulp Fiction bands.

I saw Link play in Atlanta seven years ago, and in St. Louis in April this year. Both times in small clubs. This April's was an unpolished show, since it was early in a tour with a pick-up drummer and bass player who didn’t know the material yet. But the guitar-playing was timeless. I hope I’m as cheerful and energetic at 76 as Link was.