“Don was an inspirer and a mentor.
He had a unique talent and inspired countless musicians like us.
We have lost a good friend, a musician colleague, a world-class artist and a beloved band member, writes The Ventures on its Facebook page.
Don Wilson and Bob Bogle formed the group together in 1958, after each buying a guitar at a pawn shop.
More members joined and their first hit was a cover of Chet Atkins Walk, do not run which sold one million copies.
The band had their greatest successes in the 1960s and made covers of leitmotifs for popular TV series such as Batman and Hawaii five-o, which they later became associated with.
Don Wilson continued to play with the band, but stopped touring in 2015. He turned 89 years old.