Hilton Valentine, the original guitarist for the influential ‘60s band The Animals, passed away in Wallingford, Connecticut at the age of 77, his record company confirmed today. His wife Germaine made the announcement, though no cause of death was revealed. “We at Abkco have been privileged to serve as stewards of The Animals catalog and his passing is felt in a truly profound way by the entire Abkco family,” his record label, Abcko, posted. Valentine’s iconic guitar arpeggios on the Animals’ classic “The House Of The Rising Sun” remain a rite of passage for all budding guitar newbies. Played on...