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Richard Anthony Monsour (May 4, 1937 – March 16, 2019), known professionally as Dick Dale, was an American rock guitarist. He was a pioneer of surf music, drawing on Middle Eastern music scales and experimenting with reverberation. Dale was known as "The King of the Surf Guitar."
Dale was born Richard Anthony Monsour in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 4, 1937. He was of Lebanese descent from his father, James, and of Polish-Belarusian descent from his mother, Fern. His family subsequently moved to Quincy, Massachusetts.
Dick was the son of Sophia Ferne (Danksewicz) and James A. Monsour. His father was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Lebanese/Syrian parents. 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 grandparents were named George Monsour and Rahmay/Mary.
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).
Mother: Sophia F. Monsour (Danksewicz) (22 JUN 1916-11 JUN 1998)
Sources
- Massachusetts Vital Records Index to Births [1916–1970]. Volumes 92–160, 162, 168, 175, 212– 213. Facsimile edition. Boston, MA: New England
- "United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KTSX-M3Q : 23 May 2014), Dick Aka Dale, Residence, Quincy, Massachusetts, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.
