Dick Dale Cause Of Death: Surf Guitar King Dead At 81

Dick Dale, known as the king of surf guitar, died from health problems at a Southern California hospital Saturday night. He was 81.

Sam Bolles, Dale’s longtime bass guitarist, confirmed the news Sunday.

"He was an original, he always did things the way he wanted to do them ... his own way. Long before punk rock, he was doing that,” Bolles told TMZ.

Dusty Watson, a drummer who did several live shows with Dale, too confirmed the news through a Facebook post.

“The legend and king of surf guitar has passed. Condolences to family and friends and all those who were touched by your undeniable presence. Rest In Peace friend,” he posted.

While the exact cause of death was not known, Dale dealt with multiple ailments over the years including rectal cancer, kidney failure, diabetes and damaged vertebrae. In an interview with the Pittsburgh City Paper in 2015, Dale said he was continuing to tour to stay alive.

“I have to raise $3,000 every month to pay for the medical supplies I need to stay alive, and that’s on top of the insurance that I pay for. I can’t stop touring because I will die. Physically and literally, I will die,” he had said.

Dale, born Richard Monsour in Boston in 1937, was influenced by his Lebanese heritage and learned to play the trumpet and ukulele as a young boy. In the 1960s, he started to play live in Los Angeles and developed his percussive playing style. In 1962, he performed his version of Misirlou, a traditional song from the Middle East, which later on appeared in the opening titles of “Pulp Fiction.”