The Fendermen
Biography
The story of the Fendermen is one of those too good to be true stories of the business, but true nonetheless. It's one of two guitarists, Jim Sundquist and Phil Humphries, born on the same day and month in two different towns who didn't meet until they were teenagers. Mutually infused with the rock'n'roll bug, they started playing as a duo, naming themselves after the Fender guitars both of them plugged into a single amplifier. One of the songs that always received the biggest response when the duo played live the local bars was a hopped up, rockabilly rendition of Jimmie Rodgers' "Mule Skinner Blues," complete with goofball yodels and hot guitar licks. A local entrepreneur convinced the boys to record it—sans drummer or bassist—and had it pressed up on the local Cuca label in Wisconsin, then it was re-recorded for a Minnesota label, Soma. Inexplicably, the record caught on nationally, zooming up to the Top Ten in 1960. Humphries and Sundquist grabbed a local drummer and hit the road, touring behind their massive hit and eventually recording an entire album before the duo went their separate ways two years later. A one hit wonder group, the Fendermen nonetheless made full blooded, energetic rock'n'roll and provided one of the last gasps of rockabilly in a teen idol infested era. . The story of the Fendermen is one of those too good to be true stories of the business, but true nonetheless. It's one of two guitarists, Jim Sundquist and Phil Humphries, born on the same day and month in two different towns who didn't meet until they were teenagers. Mutually infused with the rock'n'roll bug, they started playing as a duo, naming themselves after the Fender guitars both of them plugged into a single amplifier. One of the songs that always received the biggest response when the duo played live the local bars was a hopped up, rockabilly rendition of Jimmie Rodgers' "Mule Skinner Blues," complete with goofball yodels and hot guitar licks. A local entrepreneur convinced the boys to record it—sans drummer or bassist—and had it pressed up on the local Cuca label in Wisconsin, then it was re-recorded for a Minnesota label, Soma. Inexplicably, the record caught on nationally, zooming up to the Top Ten in 1960. Humphries and Sundquist grabbed a local drummer and hit the road, touring behind their massive hit and eventually recording an entire album before the duo went their separate ways two years later. A one hit wonder group, the Fendermen nonetheless made full blooded, energetic rock'n'roll and provided one of the last gasps of rockabilly in a teen idol infested era.
Top Albums |
1. Mule Skinner..
| 2. Ghost Riders..
| 3. The Fenderme..
| 4. Rockabilly M..
| 5. Poison Ivy (..
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6. The Best of ..
| 7. Mule Skinner..
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Top Songs |
| Name | Album | Time | Price | |
1. | Mule Skinner Blues | Goofy Greats | 2:23 | $0.99 | |
2. | Mule Skinner Blues | Best of the Fendermen | 2:26 | $0.99 | |
3. | Ghost Riders in the Sky | 60s Greatest Hits | 4:37 | $0.99 | |
4. | More Than Words Can Tell | Rockabilly Mule Skinner Blu.. | 2:03 | $0.99 | |
5. | Fas-Nacht-Kuechel | Rockabilly Mule Skinner Blu.. | 2:35 | $0.99 | |
6. | Honky Tonk | Rockabilly Mule Skinner Blu.. | 2:52 | $0.99 | |
7. | Mule Skinner Blues | Rockabilly Mule Skinner Blu.. | 2:25 | $0.99 | |
8. | Mule Skinner Blues | Night Club, Vol. 3 (La stor.. | 2:25 | $0.99 | |
9. | Mule Skinner Blues | One Hit Wonders | 2:25 | $0.99 | |
10. | Sleepwalk | Absolute Radio Classics, Vo.. | 3:25 | $0.99 | |
11. | Mule Skinner Blues | Rockin' In Wisconsin: T.. | 2:21 | $0.99 | |
12. | Mule Skinner Blues | Hits of 1960, Vol. 2 | 2:22 | $0.99 | |
13. | Fas-Nacht-Kuechel | Rock & Roll Instrumenta.. | 2:39 | $0.99 | |
14. | Mule Skinner Blues | Very Best of Rock, Vol. 3 | 2:25 | $0.99 | |
15. | Mule Skinner Blues | Oldies Doo Wop, Vol. 5 | 2:25 | $0.99 | |
16. | Ghost Riders in the Sky | Ghost Riders in the Sky | 4:43 | $0.99 | |
17. | Mule Skinner Blues | Very Best Of Rock Vol 4 | 2:27 | $0.99 | |
18. | Caravan | Mule Skinner Blues: Rarity .. | 2:06 | $0.99 | |
19. | Koo-Koo | Mule Skinner Blues: Rarity .. | 1:33 | $0.99 | |
20. | High Noon | Mule Skinner Blues: Rarity .. | 2:39 | $0.99 | |
21. | Jack of Diamonds | Mule Skinner Blues: Rarity .. | 2:53 | $0.99 | |
22. | Heartbreakin' Special | Mule Skinner Blues: Rarity .. | 2:20 | $0.99 | |
23. | Don't You Just Know It | Mule Skinner Blues: Rarity .. | 2:15 | $0.99 | |
24. | Lonesome Road | Mule Skinner Blues: Rarity .. | 2:41 | $0.99 | |
25. | Honky Tonk | Mule Skinner Blues: Rarity .. | 2:50 | $0.99 | |