Hilton Valentine
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Hilton Valentine (born Hilton Stewart Paterson Valentine, on 21 May 1943) in North Shields, Northumberland, England, is a British musician, who was an original guitarist in the band The Animals.
Brought into music by the skiffle craze, Valentine played guitar in local bands, before being invited by Chas Chandler to join the Alan Price Combo in 1963. Eric Burdon was already a member and John Steel joined immediately following Hilton's arrival. Within a few months, this group changed their name to The Animals. Valentine is credited with the instantly recognizable opening guitar solo of the Animals' "House of the Rising Sun". He went on to play and record with them, until the band dissolved in September 1966.
Valentine subsequently moved to California, recorded an unsuccessful solo album titled All In Your Head, returned to England, and over the years joined several Animals reunion incarnations. He released a new album It's Folk 'n' Skiffle, Mate! in 2004.
Hilton Valentine now resides in Connecticut.
