Hank Marvin

Hank Marvin (born Brian Rankin on 28 October 1941) is an English guitarist best known as the lead guitarist of The Shadows, the hugely influential instrumental rock group that rose to fame in the late 1950s and early ’60s. With his clean, melodic lead style and trademark sound—often associated with the Fender Stratocaster—Marvin became one of the defining guitar voices of early British rock, helping shape the way electric lead guitar was played and recorded for decades to come.

Outside of The Shadows, Marvin has released solo work that leans into instrumentals and guitar-forward pop, and he’s also known for his long-running musical association with Cliff Richard, with whom The Shadows frequently worked. Over the years he’s continued performing and recording, maintaining a reputation as a tasteful, song-first player whose tone and phrasing are instantly recognizable.