The hammer fell
August 12, 2020

Trini Lopez, singer and guitar-maker, dies with coronavirus at 83

Mexican-American singer Trini Lopez, who had a hit in 1963 with his version of 'If I Had A Hammer', and was a successful guitar-maker, has died at 83 of coronavirus, The New York Times reports. Lopez, an accomplished guitarist, was mentored by Buddy Holly and Frank Sinatra and designed two instruments for the Gibson Guitar Corporation. Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters said Lopez left "a beautiful music legacy", he called his own Trini Lopez guitar his "most prized possession" and said it had been "the sound of the Foo Fighters from day one". Lopez recorded more than 60 albums and was a popular headliner in Las Vegas.