Every Tuesday we play British music from the 1960s. Today we’re not only mourning the death of a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist, we’re also celebrating the music he left us.

Hilton Valentine, guitarist with The Animals, passed away on January 29 at the age of 77. His guitar arpeggio introduction to the Animals’ 1964 signature song The House of The Rising Sun would have, on its own, made him a notable figure in rock and roll history but as you can hear below, his contributions to so many classic Animals songs from 1964 to 1966 solidified his worthy position in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.

Following his departure from the band in late 1966, his efforts as a solo artist failed to generate much interest and he gradually withdrew from the music scene.
But in 2011, he released Skiffledog on Coburg St, an acoustic skiffle album which brought him several well-deserved critical reviews. I have ended the medley with a song from that final album.

Memories … That’s What We’re All About

Play button is on the left … Volume slider is on the right

Hilton Valentine Medley