Duane Eddy (1938â2024) was a Grammy Award-winning guitarist and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was known especially for his âtwangyâ guitar sound.
June 1, 1967
Duane Eddy
1777 N. Vine
Suite 200
Hollywood, California
Dear Mr. Eddy:
Thank youâenormouslyâfor the record of âWill Oâ the Wispâ which you sent me.[*]
The record is wonderful. The ânoiseâ you mention is so slight that I am not aware of it when I listen to the music. I must tell you that no present can give me a thrill today, only my kind of music can and does. You have given me a powerful source of my personal âbenevolent universe.â No, it is not a âsmall thing,â it means a great deal to meâand I appreciate it profoundly.
I look forward to seeing you again, either in New York or, perhaps, in Los Angeles.
Cordially,
Ayn Rand
AR:bf
P.S. Please give my thanks to your friend the engineer who processed the record. AR
*âWill Oâ the Wispâ (original title âIrrlichtâ) is a 1934 piece by German composer Herbert KƱster. It is the final entry (for 1959) of the 19 songs on âMy Musical Biographyâ that AR put together in the 1960s. It is exemplary of the sprightly, light-hearted music (termed âtiddly-winkâ by her) that she loved. For more on Duane Eddyâs involvement, see his interview in 100 Voices: An Oral History of Ayn Rand, ed. Scott McConnell (New York: New American Library, 2010).