Hi Folks

Following the worldwide success and critical acclaim of our DVD release
'Strat Masters', we are proud to tell you all about the next project which is well under way now.
'Original Twang - The History of the Telecaster' will be released later this year, to honour what would have been Leo Fender's 100th birthday - but also to pay our respects - and dedicate to a good friend, Leo's former business partner Don Randall. Mr. Randall and his family - and his secretary Wallace Grover have been very kind to film director Michael Bayley Hughes and myself over the past few years. This is our way of saying 'Thank You'.

The film will track the history of The Broadcaster / Esquire / No-Caster and Telecaster from it's humble beginnings in the orange groves of Fullerton, to the latest production at the fabulous Fender factory and custom shop in Corona, California. Once again, we are fortunate to have the eloquent tones of Seymour Duncan's right hand man Evan Skopp, to talk us through the commentary.

Michael and I have just returned from an exhausting - but very enjoyable trip to California, to interview some of the true legends of music. Here's a run down of where we're up to at the moment.

The amazing Albert Lee usually springs to mind when you think 'Telecaster' - and he's right here cuddling a blonde Esquire, as he talks about his favourites - and his incredible playing style.
Steve 'The Colonel' Cropper has played on and produced more records than most of us can imagine. The 'Stax Axe' talks to us exclusively about the great days playing for Booker T and The MG's - and the fabulous Otis Redding - oh, and the Telecaster of course!

If you look up the word 'tone' in the dictionary, you'll probably find the name Buddy Whittington close by. Listen to Buddy ripping through a performance - and then talking Tele's.

Thanks to the kind hospitality of Fender, we were fortunate to catch up with the man who keeps Leo's name right up there at Number One. Richard McDonald is the Senior Vice President for Global Marketing of the world's greatest guitar maker - and talks exclusively about the Fender company - and of course, the guitar that started it all nearly 60 years ago. Thanks to his fantastic staff - Jason Padgitt, Jason Farrell and David Brown, we were able to pin down some of the greatest Tele pickers around - like the legendary GE Smith, who has coloured the music of everyone from Hall and Oates to Bob Dylan.
GE plays some great music for us - and is also joined by 'The King's Tele Master' James Burton. It's coming up to 40 years since Elvis asked James to form a band - and he tells us all about it!
Next up is Greg Koch - and Greg's favourite squeeze for the past few years has been a Telecaster. He's an entertaining storyteller - as well as a 'monster' guitar player, who rips up and down the fretboard for our film.