The sun rises in Wallingford by Dave Moran, Record-Journal staff
WALLINGFORD - You might not know the name Hilton Valentine, but you've almost certainly heard the man play the guitar. Valentine was the guitarist for the Animals, the British rock band that rose to fame in the 1960s with such hits as "We Gotta Get out of This Place" and the anthem, "House of the Rising Sun," a group that at its peak practically rivaled The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in popularity. "In the music papers in England at the time we were classed as the third biggest group in the world," Valentine said. "It was The Beatles, the Stones and then The Animals." His arpeggio on The Animals' 1964 version of "House of the Rising Sun" is arguably one of only a handful of rock songs recognizable in mere seconds thanks to its simple, distinctive opening chords. Even Bob Dylan, who covered the popular folk tune as a track on his self-titled first album in 1962, is said to have exclaimed his respect for the song, and Valentine's guitar riff in particular the first time Dylan heard The Animals' version over the radio. And you might not know that Valentine, who was elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Animals in 1994 and has a handprint on the Hollywood Rockwalk, has called Wallingford home since 2000. - complete Record-Journal article
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