27 min

The Guitar Makers That Made Modern Music Innovation Hub

    • News

In 1957, Buddy Holly appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on CBS, strumming his tunes on a Fender Stratocaster, which was casually slung across his body. The instrument had - and would - fundamentally change American culture and music. And, to a lot of people, it was a shock.

But behind the technological innovations inherent in the solid-body electric guitar is a story of two friends and rivals, people whose legacies have been inscribed on the guitars they created. Leo Fender and Les Paul, though, had little idea of the new genre of music this invention would instigate: rock ‘n’ roll.

In 1957, Buddy Holly appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on CBS, strumming his tunes on a Fender Stratocaster, which was casually slung across his body. The instrument had - and would - fundamentally change American culture and music. And, to a lot of people, it was a shock.

But behind the technological innovations inherent in the solid-body electric guitar is a story of two friends and rivals, people whose legacies have been inscribed on the guitars they created. Leo Fender and Les Paul, though, had little idea of the new genre of music this invention would instigate: rock ‘n’ roll.

27 min

Top Podcasts In News

The Daily
The New York Times
Serial
Serial Productions & The New York Times
Up First
NPR
The Tucker Carlson Podcast
Tucker Carlson Network
Pod Save America
Crooked Media
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Daily Wire

More by GBH

Pinkalicious & Peterrific
GBH & PBS Kids
Boston Public Radio Podcast
WGBH Educational Foundation
MASTERPIECE Studio
MASTERPIECE
Detours
GBH
Classical Performance
Classical Performance
NOVA Now
GBH