Rojo Solar Robinson
Le escribo desde Chile y lo felicito por ser un musico amante de su arte ademas porque soy fanatico de Fender sueño con tener algun dia una Strato. Gracias por todo lo que le ha dado a la musica. Congratulations, Mr. Carson.
(I'm writing from Chile and I congratulate you for being a musician with such love for your art. I am a fan of Fender with a dream to one day have a Stratocaster®. Thank you for all you have given to music.)
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Eric Tipton
I met Bill Carson at the 1997 winter NAMM show. At that time, Rick Hogue owned Bill’s 1959 Fiesta Red Stratocaster®. Rick commissioned the Custom Shop to make four Relic replicas of the guitar, and I am fortunate enough to own number two of the four. To this day, the 1959 “Redhead” Relic is my favorite guitar.
At NAMM, Bill took notice of the rather loud tie Rick was wearing and asked him “Does that tie come with a volume knob?”
I sent Bill the four Custom Shop certificates with a letter politely asking if he would please sign them. I was hesitant to bother anyone of Bill’s importance with this type of request. Bill not only signed the certificates; he included a wonderful handwritten letter and even invited me to spend some time with him at the summer NAMM show. On another occasion I remember talking to him on the phone about old Allis Chalmers tractors.
Bill Carson was a kind, generous and extremely approachable guy. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to meet him. He certainly made a lasting impression on me.
Eric Tipton
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George Gruhn
Bill Carson was more to us than just one of the men who helped design the Stratocaster®. He was a personal friend as well as one of the most passionate proponents of Fender guitars we have ever met. When Gruhn Guitars first became a Fender dealer back in the 1970s, Bill was our rep, but representing Fender was more than just a job for him. His personal identity was wrapped up in that company, to the point that any negative remark about Fender would be taken personally.
Bill was a veritable fount of knowledge on Fender history, and he was one of the last links to the old Fender company. He was frequently the first person we would call with Fender questions, because when we talked to Bill we were talking to one of the bedrock sources. He might not always know the answer, but when he didn’t he was up front about it. More often than not, he did know the answer to the question and he had an anecdote to go with it.
We will also miss Bill as a personal friend. He grew the biggest watermelons I’ve ever seen (including a Guinness world record holder). Some years ago, when my son wanted to raise watermelons for a school project, Bill was gracious enough to provide some very special seeds. He also rescued and raised numerous geese and ducks, especially wood ducks, which nested by the lake adjoining his property. The last time we visited him at home, we spent almost as much time talking about ducks as guitars.
Bill’s friendship, knowledge and his passion for guitars are irreplaceable and he will be greatly missed.
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Leon Cox
At the NAMM show in Nashville in 2000, I was mistaken for Bill by several people, including Marty Stewart. They would walk up and shake my hand, say something and then carefully excuse themselves. I didn’t know what was going on until Corey Oliver told me there was someone I had to see. There was Bill—even in photos he looks like me. He was ten years my elder but a real nice guy, and I could tell he was well liked and had a lot of friends. I am saddened to hear of his passing.
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Bill Flanary
Susan Carson is my cousin, and I became friends with Bill by telephone before actually meeting him. I live in Piedmont, N.C. We planned to meet several times over the years when Susan was visiting family in Johnson City, but for various reasons it never occurred until late last year.
My mother, Susan’s aunt, lives in Bristol, Tenn. Mom is 91 years old and Susan always visits with her two or three times each year. Mom met Bill on one of Susan’s visits and was very taken with him. She could not brag enough about him. Finally it worked out late last year that I could meet Bill, and I was also taken with him. I felt we had known each other all our lives.
In reading what others have written, I see that Bill was really one of a kind. I wish I had been able to spend more time with him and Susan. We had a short summer trip planned this year for Bill; Mom and Susan and I were looking forward to this very much. My mother and I will never forget Bill and his graciousness toward us. He and Susan are special people, and Bill will be sorely missed.
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