I started playing with a guitar back when I was just 3 years old and one of my family's relatives put his acoustic guitar on me and showed me how to strum.

I have always loved the guitar ever since that happened.

I was 12 years old when one of my cousins let me borrow his acoustic guitar for about 6 months. At the end of that six months I was already playing teen dances in the Clearwater, Florida area. I was 13 years old. I actually played mt first gig in about 3 months after my cousin loaned me his guitar. I learned to play very quickly.

I actually started out as a drummer, but the guitar players got more attention fom the girls then drummers, so I switched.

A friend of mine named Rueben DuCheney was one hell of a vocalist and a really good rythym guitarist, and he knew a guy named Danny Milburn, who had moved to the Clearwater area from Kentucky. Danny could make his guitar sing so sweetly and actually almost talk to you.

It was a 1954 Stratocaster, and my first experiance with a Fender instrument. I was the drummer in that band, but fell in love with the Fender Stratocaster at first sight.

Rueben died very young ... a very untimely death by diving into shallow water off the Clearwater Beach pier and broke his neck. I lost contact with Danny ... but continued on and became a guitarist.

Why am I saying all of this ....

To say from the deepest bottom of my heart, "Happy Birthday" to Leo Fender even though he is not here in the flesh to hear or read that.

Leo's guitars have always been in my life in one manner or another.

I presently play a 2006 American Stratocaster Deluxe, and will never let it get away from me like I have guitars in my past years.

I feel honored to be at an age where I can remember being alive for the birth of the greatest solid body electric guitars, and basses ever made.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a true icon of my first love of my life ... MUSIC

As long as there are guitar players, Leo will live in our hearts.

_________________
2007 American Deluxe Strat
'65 Deluxe Reverb RI
POD X3 Live
PreSonus FSP
Studio One Pro

http://soundcloud.com/wally-dow/sets/w
http://reverbnation.com/artist/artist_songs/371830
http://classicrockersnetwork.com/profile/WallyDow
http://facebook/wallydow

Thanks for that great post Wally! It must have been mind blowing to hear and see the original Strats when they first came out. I share your love for music and guitars and can't imagine a day without either of them in my life.

Thanks!

Thanks for sharing that compassionate story with us, Wally. Very impressive work on your myspace page too.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Godbless you too Wally Dow lovely piece of history and touching story I bet your one heck of a guitar player too. Lots Of Love From Vinny Pop Australia.

Nicely put.

_________________
-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

Wally that was a nice lil bio and tribute rolled into one. Must of been great to be that age right at the birth of rock and roll. Also great your still playing. Let me ask you who was the last guitarist you thought was special.

Last and still, both Eric Clapton and Mark Knophler

I have to say Jimi Hendrix also. I was fortunate to be able to become personally acguainted with him in the mig laate 50s ... Jimmy James.

_________________
2007 American Deluxe Strat
'65 Deluxe Reverb RI
POD X3 Live
PreSonus FSP
Studio One Pro

http://soundcloud.com/wally-dow/sets/w
http://reverbnation.com/artist/artist_songs/371830
http://classicrockersnetwork.com/profile/WallyDow
http://facebook/wallydow

Great story, thanks for sharing that with us. Also, ec and mk are great. You don't hear to much about Mark Knopler, which is unfortunate. He is a class act.

Wally, thank you from the bottom of this heart for sharing such a deeply personal story.

May you have many more decades of joy playing and enjoying music.

Wally, what a great post. Thanks!