Dino Bradley
I met Bill Carson the first time 24 years ago while working at George Gruhn's guitar shop on Broadway in Nashville, Tenn. I felt like the luckiest guy on the planet when his lovely wife, and my good friend, Susan, would come in and work an occasional Saturday with me.
Many times, Bill would show up and be his usual low-key and charming self. Through the years, I would see them either at a guitar show or the NAMM show, and I was always truly impressed with the warmth that came from the Carsons.
God bless Bill Carson for his contributions to Leo's vision in answering to the needs of working musicians all over the world. Susan, my thoughts and prayers are with you always.
Dino Bradley,
Nashville, Tenn.
|
Jim Charne
I was fortunate enough to attend a private performance by Bill, his wife Susan, and backing group at Mars Music in Nashville during a NAMM show. Even though he had long since retired from playing, Bill's performance was amazing and unforgetable. Listening to Bill—what a treat. He found great joy in music and that was completely communicated in his playing.
God bless you Bill. I send condolences to his family and to Fender.
|
Paul Grant
Being brought up in a household with many different styles of music being played, it's only natural that sometime soon I would hear Bill Carson. First time I heard it, I didn't really care, but eventually I would play the record and pick up my father's acoustic and try to play along to it. Sadly the record has gone missing, but Bill was one of the first exposures I had to electric guitars in country music and a first step in gettting a real Strat® (I currently have a new Mexican in my room).
Sad to see you go,
Paul Grant
|
Howie Friedman
Sadly, Bill Carson has passed away. With every Stratocaster® I sell, there is a "thank you" issued to him. My career with Fender was enriched beyond description by knowing Bill and being taught by him. Just observing Bill and listening to what he had to say educated me for the real world of being a Fender rep.
Anyone who did not know Bill missed out on receiving a free post-graduate degree on living life.
My deepest symathies go out to Susan and Bill's family. My congratulations to that great band in the sky. Move over guys. Your new lead player has arrived.
|
John Dreyer
I have one moment or memory of Bill that I'd like to share. It was in my first year with Fender, in 1998, when I was the Fender Roadhouse Ambassador. I had the Roadhouse set up in front of a music store in Nashville and was just hanging out by myself noodling around on a Stratocaster®. It was a very nice, sunny spring day as I recall. After about a half hour, a man walked up to the display and sat down. We said hello to each other and started talking about Fender, Leo and the Strat.
Being a fairly new Fender employee, I really didn't know who Bill Carson was. I had heard the name but really didn't know "the story." Of course, the man who walked up to me was Bill Carson. He proceeded to tell me the story of the Strat—how it was developed and how he worked with Leo on the design—WOW! Little did I know that I was sitting there with a legend listening to stories from the man himself—a direct connection to Leo Fender. Needless to say, I'll never forget that moment.
God bless,
John Dreyer
Fender Director of Product Education
|
