GRAMMY MUSEUM® ANNOUNCES WALK, DON’T RUN: 60 YEARS OF THE VENTURES

NEW EXHIBIT OFFERS A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BEST-SELLING INSTRUMENTAL BAND IN ROCK AND ROLL HISTORY
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (NOVEMBER , 2019) — Sixty years after the
release of their first hit, «Walk, Don’t Run,» the Ventures are considered
the most influential, best-selling instrumental band in rock and roll
history. To showcase the group’s impact on pop culture, guitar players,
and their worldwide fan base, the GRAMMY Museum® proudly
announces Walk, Don’t Run: 60 Years Of The Ventures, a new exhibit
showcasing original items from the group’s six-decade career including
instruments, tour programs, never-before-seen photos, vinyl, and more. The exhibit will open on Dec. 7, and will run until Aug. 3, 2020.
 
On Jan. 9, musician Jeff «Skunk» Baxter (who has been associated with
The Ventures since the 1980’s and has done recordings with them over
the years), Fiona Taylor (Mel Taylor’s widow and band manager), and
other special guests to be announced soon will be at the Museum to
discuss stories behind the exhibit with Scott Goldman in the Clive Davis Theater.
 
“It’s such an honor to have an exhibit dedicated to The Ventures at the
GRAMMY Museum and be recognized for our impact on music history,”
said Don Wilson, founding member of the band. “I like to think that,
because we ‘Venturized’ the music we recorded and played, we made it
instantly recognizable as being The Ventures.  We continue to do that,
even today.”
 
Walk, Don’t Run: 60 Years Of The Ventures will offer an inside look at
how the Ventures grew to be considered one of the most prolific bands
in rock music, having recording more than 250 albums in the past 60
years. The inherent versatility as an instrumental band has allowed
the band to explore several musical styles throughout their career,
including surf, country, classical, and more. Between 1960 and 1972, 38
of the Ventures albums made it to the charts. Additionally, the Ventures
released instructional albums that have made it to the Billboard charts. Many novice guitar players have credited these educational LPs as a
direct influence on their own bands, which has earned the Ventures the
honorary title of «the band that launched a thousand bands.»
 
«The Ventures have inspired generations of musicians during their
storied six-decade career, motivating many artists to follow in their
footsteps and start their own projects,» said Michael Sticka, GRAMMY
Museum President. «As a music museum, we aim to shine a light on
music education, and we applaud the Ventures for earning their
honorary title of ‘the band that launched a thousand bands.’ Many
thanks to the Ventures and their families for letting us feature items
from this important era in music history.»
 
Exhibit highlights include:A 1965 Ventures model Mosrite electric
guitarFender Limited Edition Ventures Signature guitars (1996)Mel
Taylor’s Gretsch snare drumOriginal 45 rpm of «Walk, Don’t Run»
Original test pressing of «Hawaii Five-O» 
Press photos here.
 
GRAMMY Museum Members can purchase tickets starting on December
5, and tickets will go on sale to the general public at
www.grammymuseum.org starting December 12.  
 
ABOUT THE GRAMMY MUSEUMThe GRAMMY Museum is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to cultivating a greater understanding of the
history and significance of music through exhibits, education, grants,
preservation initiatives, and public programming. Paying tribute to our
collective musical heritage, the Museum explores and celebrates all
aspects of the art form—from the technology of the recording process to
the legends who’ve made lasting marks on our cultural identity. For
more information, visit www.grammymuseum.org, «like» the GRAMMY
Museum on Facebook, and follow @GRAMMYMuseum on Twitter and
Instagram.