He was one of the most successful rockers ever. Why Pierce County is honoring him now
Don Wilson — whose riffs in the Ventures inspired a generation — is already in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
This week, the iconic rhythm guitarist will be recognized much closer to home.
Wilson passed away in January, at the age of 88, surrounded by his children in Tacoma. As the last living original member of the Ventures — a band that defined an era of instrumental “surf rock” guitar rock with unmistakable classics like “Walk, Don’t Run” and the theme song for “Hawaii Five-O” — Wilson’s death was marked by an outpouring of tributes across the world.
Two months later, Pierce County Council member Dave Morell believes it’s not too late to get in on the action — setting up what promises to be one of the most unusual and semi-star studded council meetings in recent memory.
On Tuesday, the County Council is expected to honor “the legacy of Donald Lee Wilson for his love for music and the accomplishments of the world’s all-time No. 1 selling rock instrumental group, The Ventures,” according to the official resolution. The proceedings are expected to include guest speakers, video presentations from accomplished musicians and an appearance from the region’s Consul General of Japan, Hisao Inagaki.
Morell says it’s only right for Pierce County to honor one of the most successful musicians and bands the county has ever produced, even if it won’t be the Ventures’ first such recognition and it probably should have happened sooner.
“The cool thing about it is it’s just a rich history of a band that grew up in Tacoma,” Morell said, noting that Wilson graduated from Lincoln High School and stepped on the springboard to international fame here, buying his first electric guitar at a pawn shop on Pacific Avenue in 1958 with his Ventures band mate Bob Bogle.
“I just thought it would be great if the council could put all this together, run it out and have an opportunity for all these legends to come and say how they got their start from the Ventures,” Morell said.
While it might come as something of a surprise to those who follow the Pierce County Council, Morell — a seemingly straight-laced Republican who represents Bonney Lake, Buckley, South Hill and the surrounding areas of East Pierce County — described himself as a “rocker kid” growing up. From Led Zeppelin to Frank Zappa, Morell said he cut his teeth on the guitar-driven hits of his youth, and that Wilson’s work in the Ventures was a huge influence on many of the bands he came to love.
“I was a head knocker,” Morell said. “Long hair, the whole thing.”
Still, until Wilson’s death earlier this year, Morell said, he wasn’t fully aware of the Ventures’ historical significance, or the band’s place in the annals of Pierce County rock. The more he learned, the more he wanted the council to do something special to pay respect, Morell said, which eventually led him to Tim Wilson, the late guitarist’s son.
Tim Wilson, 62, still actively promotes the Ventures’ legacy — including in Japan, where the instrumental band received Beatles-like adulation — and quickly helped to arrange a fitting tribute. Between in-person presentations and recorded video messages, Wilson said he’s expecting Roger Fisher of Heart, Grand Funk Railroad’s Mark Farner and well-known local guitarist Randy Hansen to all play a part in Tuesday’s festivities.
At one point, Tim Wilson even suggested inviting a Ventures tribute band to Pierce County Council chambers, he said, though Morell had to reluctantly veto the idea.
“I was all down for that. I mean, shoot, clear the floor, let’s go,” Morell said. “But I think, logistically, we had to put a damper on it.”
As testament to Wilson and the Ventures’ stature in Japan, the Seattle-based consul general of the country, Hisao Inagaki, is also expected to travel to Tacoma for the occasion.
Hiro Tojo, the senior assistant to Japan’s consul general, said the Ventures still have a significant following in the country, roughly half a century after Wilson and Bogle first stepped foot on Japanese soil. Over the years, the Ventures played thousands of shows in the country, he noted. A chance to pay tribute to Wilson in his hometown for everything the band did to shape Japan’s music industry and cultural relations with the United States was too good to pass up, Tojo said.
Tojo was in grade school in Japan when he first heard the band and remembers being “electrified” by the sound, he said.
“We would like to express our appreciation. They loved Japan, and we love the Ventures. I think it is very important for us to be there,” Tojo said. “It may be the last opportunity for us to express our appreciation for what the Ventures and Mr. Don Wilson have done for us.”
True to his rock ‘n’ roll roots, Morell’s hoping Tuesday afternoon’s council meeting will be a party.
“This is a fun one. And I think it’s time to celebrate,” Morell said.
“After two years of being hunkered down, that we can open up the chamber and have this type of celebration, I think it’s great.”
