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Pete Drake

Pete Drake was an influential pedal steel guitarist who significantly shaped the music scene of the 1960s. Born on October 8, 1932, in Augusta, Georgia, he discovered his passion for the steel guitar after attending the Grand Ole Opry.

In the early 1960s, Drake developed an innovative technique by combining his steel guitar with a "talk box." This device directed the guitar's sound through a tube into his mouth, allowing him to create vocal-like effects. His 1964 instrumental piece "Forever," which utilized this effect, reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over a million copies. Drake collaborated with numerous artists, including Bob Dylan on "Nashville Skyline" and George Harrison on "All Things Must Pass." His innovative use of the talk box inspired musicians like Peter Frampton, who later incorporated this technique into his own works. Pete Drake passed away on July 29, 1988, in Nashville, Tennessee, but left a lasting legacy in music history.