Surf music coalesced as a genre in the early 1960s, borrowing elements from an eclectic range of musical styles, from early rock ’n’ roll and country to more exotic Middle Eastern and klezmer sounds. At the forefront of this musical movement were such artists as Dick Dale—the self-proclaimed “King of the Surf Guitar”—and bands like the Ventures, the Surfaris, the Chantays, and the Astronauts. The genre itself is divided into instrumental and vocal camps, with the Beach Boys, of course, being the most popular of the vocal crew, though many purists only consider the instrumental music to be true surf.
https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/28238-cowabunga-a-beginners-guide-to-surf-guitar
