Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender (August 10, 1909 – March 21, 1991)
Fender created the famous Fender brand of guitars. He also created the
Music Man and G&L Musical Instruments companies. Before fame he made
money repairing radios as a teenager in California. In 2009 he was awarded
a Technical Grammy Award for his contributions of outstanding significance
to the recording field.
Leo Fender was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 – a
unique achievement given that he never learned to play the instruments
which he made a career of building.
In 2009 he was awarded a Technical Grammy Award for his contributions of
outstanding significance to the recording field.