Hilton Valentine, R.I.P.

Hilton Valentine, best known as the lead guitarist with the The Animals, passed away yesterday in Connecticut where he had made his home since 1997. No cause of death has been released. He was 77. 

Valentine was part of the skiffle scene in Britain during the late 1950's and early 1960's before evolving into rock 'n roll. In 1963, Valentine joined the Alan Price Combo which would later be renamed The Animals. A year later, The Animals scored their biggest hit with their rendition of "House of the Rising Sun" which begins with Valentine's riff soon followed by Price's organ and Eric Burdon's soaring vocals. 

Valentine would depart The Animals in 1966 but would reunite with them sporadically over the decades. In recent years, Valentine returned to his skiffle music roots. But he was never far from that House of the Rising Sun which has now sadly set. R.I.P.