It can be argued that Clarence Leonidas “Leo” Fender made some of the most significant contributions to the development of rock and roll. His original guitar and amplifier designs are present throughout many milestones in music history and are still some of the most popular instruments in music today. Here are a few interesting facts about the man behind the gear:
He was born in a barn in 1909.
He was first an accountant and taught himself electronics as a hobby.
Although not a structural engineer, he designed the Earthquake joints for one of the Fender buildings in California.
He didn’t play the guitar but was a fan of country music.
His first contribution to music was building PA systems.
He patented an early design of the guitar pickup in 1944.
He was not the first to make an electric guitar, but he did invent the electric bass.
He did not come up with the name “Stratocaster” for his iconic guitar design; the only one of his designs he didn’t name.
Somewhat of a recluse, he never met Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, or many of the musical legends that helped make the Stratocaster famous.
He sold Fender to CBS in 1965 at the age of 56 because he was exhausted and in failing health. His health recovered and he lived to the age of 82.
Source:
The Fender Archives
(c) 2014 by Tom Wheeler
Published by Hal Leonard Books,
An imprint of Hal Leonard Corporation.
Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
