Don Wilson, the founder of famed instrumental band the Ventures, died on Saturday on at the age of 88.

The rhythm guitarist had been living in Tacoma, Washington, and his family confirmed the news of his death to Seattle journalist Saint Bryan, adding that Wilson “passed peacefully.”

“Our dad was an amazing rhythm guitar player who touched people all over world with his band, The Ventures,” said Wilson’s son Tim in a statement.

“He will have his place in history forever and was much loved and appreciated. He will be missed,” added Wilson’s son.

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Don Wilson and Bob Bogle formed the Ventures, an instrumental rock band, in Tacoma, Washington in 1958, when they were both working as construction workers in the Seattle area.

Two years after the Ventures was formed, the band’s electric guitar cover of ‘Walk, Don’t Run’ by Johnny Smith took musicians and fans by storm and found itself on Number Two on the Hot 100 list. The song has since made it to Rolling Stone’s list, 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.

The Ventures is one of the bands credited with popularising the sound of the electric guitar in the US during the 1960s. The band’s classic and most renowned lineup included Wilson, Bogle, Nokie Edwards, and Mel Taylor.

The Ventures released over 40 albums in their active years, and even went on to influence music greats like Eddie Van Halen and The Beach Boys.

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Despite changes to their lineup over the years, the Ventures continued touring well into the 2000s.

Founder Bob Bogle died in 2009 at the age of 75 from cancer. Following Bogle’s death, Wilson continued recording and touring with the band before retiring in 2015. Three years after Wilson’s retirement, lead-guitarist/bassist Nokie Edwards died in 2018 following complications arising out of a hip surgery.

In 2008, the Ventures were included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where they were described as “the quintessential instrumental rock and roll band.”