Remembering Leo Fender, Inventor of the Telecaster Guitar

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

On March 21, 1991, Leo Fender, the inventor of the iconic Telecaster guitar, died at the age of 81 due to complications from Parkinson's disease. Fender's revolutionary guitar design came to define the "Bakersfield Sound" and had a lasting impact on modern music.

Why it matters

Leo Fender's Telecaster guitar was a game-changer, allowing musicians to achieve a wide range of sounds and becoming a fixture in the music industry. Artists like Buck Owens, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and James Burton used the Telecaster, helping to shape the evolution of country, rock, and pop music.

The details

Born in 1909 in Anaheim, California, Fender was passionate about electronics from a young age. He opened a radio repair shop in 1938 and later teamed up with Rickenbacker's chief designer to form K & F Manufacturing Corp. In 1947, Fender launched his own company, Fender Electric Instrument Co., and developed the single-pickup Fender Esquire in 1950, followed by the double-pickup Telecaster. The Telecaster's versatility and reliability made it a hit with musicians, defining the "Bakersfield Sound" and appearing on countless hit recordings.

• Leo Fender was born on August 10, 1909 in Anaheim, California.
• Fender opened his radio repair shop, Fender Radio Service, in 1938.
• Fender launched Fender Electric Instrument Co. in 1947.
• Fender developed the Fender Esquire in 1950, followed by the Telecaster.
• Leo Fender passed away on March 21, 1991 at the age of 81.