Profile Text
Dale in 2007, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Richard Anthony Monsour
Date of Birth: May 4, 1937
Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date of Death: March 16, 2019
Place of Death: Loma Linda Hospital, Loma Linda, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: * father – Lebanese * mother – Polish/Belarusian
Dick Dale, also known as “The King of the Surf Guitar,” was an American rock guitarist. He pioneered surf rock. He did this by drawing on Middle Eastern music scales and experimenting with reverberation.
Dick was the son of Sophia “Fern” (Danksewicz) and James A. Monsour. His father was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to parents from Mount Lebanon. His mother was also born in Massachusetts, to Polish/Belarusian parents. Dick was married to Lana, his manager. He had a son with his former wife Jeannie.
Dick’s paternal grandfather was named George Monsour.
Dick’s paternal grandmother was named Rahmay/Mary Hatim/Haten.
Dick’s maternal grandfather was Antony “Tony” Danksewicz/Daukszewicz/Daukzewicz (the son of Bonafici Daukzewicz and Marciana Malinowski).
Dick’s maternal grandmother was Kazmeira/Kaziewira “Katie”/Katherina Spakowska/Spakowski/Spankowska (the daughter of Stafan Spankowska and Marijana Ianciewska).
Sources: Genealogy of Dick Dale – https://www.wikitree.com
Dick’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Naturalization record of Dick’s paternal grandfather, George Monsour – https://www.fold3.com
Dick’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Dick’s maternal grandparents, Antony “Tony” Danksewicz/Daukszewicz/Daukzewicz and Kazmeira/Kaziewira “Katie”/Katherina Spakowska/Spakowski/Spankowska – https://www.familysearch.org