Leo Fender. Phyllis Fender

      Elvis mptvimages.com

      Buddy Holly mptvimages.com

      Jimmy Page © Richard E. Aaron / mptvimages.com

      Jackson 5 © Michael Jones / mptvimages.com

      Jimmy Hendrix Photo by D A Pennebaker. Photo courtesy of Pennebaker Hegedus

      Films, The Monterey International Pop Foundation Inc. and Arthouse18

      Keith Richards © Jane Rose

      To contact the publisher or authors, please visit LeoFender.com

      CONTENTS

       ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

       FOREWORD

       CHAPTER 1 The Real Deal

       CHAPTER 2 The Early Years

       CHAPTER 3 The Magic Moment

       CHAPTER 4 A New Era

       CHAPTER 5 Leo at Home

       CHAPTER 6 Leo’s Diet and Exercise Program

       CHAPTER 7 A Simple Life

       CHAPTER 8 Getting in Leo’s Head

       CHAPTER 9 Business with Leo

       CHAPTER 10 Around the World with Leo

       CHAPTER 11 Retirement? Are You Kidding?

       CHAPTER 12 Just Be Yourself, and Enjoy the Music

       ADDENDA

       Fender Driving Tour

       A Note from Phyllis Fender

      There are so many who have helped and supported both Leo and me over the years.

      Richard Smith was a friend of Leo’s and mine and was the curator of the Fullerton Museum Center for some time. Leo liked Richard because he was not a yes-man and spoke up to tell it the way it was. Richard is a true historian of all things Fender, and his input and help has always been appreciated. Randy Bell and I first met at the Fullerton Museum at an event organized by Kelly Chidester. Kelly has always been so supportive.

      I also want to thank all the great people at G&L on Fender Avenue in Fullerton. They have kept much of Leo’s office as he left it on the day he passed away, and they always go out of their way to preserve Leo’s legacy of producing quality guitars. They have graciously provided access to the manufacturing facilities and Leo’s office. Stepping in there makes me feel like I am stepping back into Leo’s world, and that was so helpful as I began writing this book.

      Everyone from the CEO to the janitor at Fender Musical Instruments have been wonderful, and very kind. I appreciate that they and G&L keep spreading the joy of Leo’s wonderful guitars around the world. The guitars on the cover of this book have great historical significance. I would also like to thank Gilbert Ramirez for carting the guitars around and for taking such great care of them, as we created the cover or used them for inspiration as we met.

      Within this book, I will share some biographical information, experiences with Leo’s friends and employees, along with many stories from our life together, all in the hopes that you get to meet the Leo I loved.

      This book was written over months, while Randy and I regularly met in our private office, which was a booth at the back wall of Polly’s Pies, on Raymond Avenue in Fullerton. Polly’s cooks prepared the delicious food and pies that fueled the writing of this book, and the servers have just been wonderful! One day, a twelve-year-old boy Luke walked up to our table and introduced himself. In the third grade he had written a report on Leo, when he discovered that his home had once belonged to Leo in his early years. His discovery helped to fill a gap of Leo’s history. What a little angel that boy was!

      I would like to thank both my family and the Bell family for allowing us the many hours to write this book and bring this side of Leo to the world. Our families even took a whole day to tour all of Leo’s sites listed in the Appendix, including Randy’s ninety-five-year-old mother, Frances. She was such a trooper! I want to thank the small army of readers who were kind enough to read the initial manuscripts and offer suggestions. This includes Susan Kaneshiro, Lynette Bartlomain, Frances Bell, Alex Wohl, Chris Sheffield, Anita Lowe, Jim Bell, Bobbie Caraway, Barbara Dyvig, and many other friends and family members too numerous to mention.

      Lastly, to Leo himself, who gave me many years of wonderful memories which enabled me to write his story with Randy. Love and hugs, Leo!

       A Note from Randall Bell

      It was a privilege to work on this book with Mrs. Fender.

      Like so many, I still remember the thrill of unwrapping my first Fender guitar at Christmas. Not only did I love the guitars, but Fender was interwoven into my daily life as a kid. My father led the research and development there. He was a mechanical engineer, complete with a plastic pocket protector, and he loved every minute he worked there. Dad made our kitchen table out of cutaway Stratocaster wood, which we also piled high in the garage and used for bonfires at the beach.

      The Fender plant was right down the street, and I went there all the time. Dad introduced me to every person on the production line, where they explained their individual craft in detail. It was an extended family, and Freddie Tavares and his wife Tamar, even played at my sister’s wedding.

      Later, my father made my daughter Britten’s dollhouse out of scrap rosewood used for fretboards. I joke that it is the only Fender dollhouse in the world! My parents both had the highest regard for everyone at the company and admired the Fenders themselves, who lived in our neighborhood.

      I get it with Leo. My dad and Leo were cut out of the same cloth. Few know who my father is because he was much like Leo. He never showed off. At Fender, everyone was like that. Dad would spend all day with the world’s biggest rock stars and not mention a word about it unless my brother or I hounded him. I begged him to let me know when Jimmy Page would come in, but he didn’t budge.

      The world’s icons teach us so much; however, we hit the jackpot with Mr. and Mrs. Fender. Leo is a goldmine of inspiration, and was a class act on every level. I wish that everyone could have the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Fender. Leo was so quiet,