Happy Birthday Fender Stratocaster

Today in music history May 15, 1954 the Fender Stratocaster was officially released. One of the most popular guitars ever made and often copied.

Here is a video comparing two 1954 guitars...

Here is Buddy Guy playing a Fender Stratocaster, live in concert (photo copyrighted by me, Mike Spain)

Buddy Guy is probably the musician who should have influenced my liking of the Stratocaster.  But this guy is the one wh really turned me onto this guitar...Jeff Beck

This guy probably turned the whole world onto Stratocasters...

Of course there is this guy as well...Eric Clapton. here he is talking guitars..

Here is a look into the man behind Fender, Leo Fender's office...

Okay I don't want to be sexist so here is Bonnie Raitt doing her thing on guitar...

Here is how one is made...

Here is another Strat mand David Gilmour..

okay I have to put Stevie Ray Vaughan on this list as well

From blues, rock to country here is Brad Paisley...

and contemporary here is John Mayer...

The thing about a Fender Stratocaster I could go on and on! Happy Birthday Stratocaster!

Remembering Leo

I never met Leo Fender. However, I own three of his guitars. Two Strats and a Tele in my collection. More important than my guitars..are what the masters of guitar playing have done with the guitars Leo had a hand in creating.

Anybody who reads my blog knows I like guitar music. I couldn't imagine a world with know Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour..and the list could go on. More locally Danny Gatton, Tom Principato and I could go on. One of my favorite young guitarists Joanne Shaw Taylor. I know I am leaving out a ton but I think my point is made. Without Fender guitars and the musicians playing them the musical landscape would be different.

Leo Fender passed away 20 years ago yesterday..March 21, 1991. Funny my Telecaster is a 91. I probably should have posted something yesterday but the passing of Pinetop Perkins trumped it. Feel free to comment about your favorite Fender guitar or Fender playing guitarist.