Players
Friend of Bing Crosby and one of the most influential guitarists of the time, Lang’s career was tragically cut short.
Founding member of the Carter family and Johnny Cash’s mother-in-law, Maybelle was an influential icon of early country guitar
Needing little introduction, Paul started his career as Rhubarb Red, pictured here with L-5 and harmonica
Chicco played the piano, Harpo – well, you can guess. But not many people know that Groucho Marx was also a musician. And what was his guitar of choice? Why, the L-5, of course!
Frankie Trumbauer: “Quinn, the only boy who has it on Eddie Lang, I believe.”
Dick Mcdonough was a studio musician recording with Tommy Dorsey, Joe Venuti, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Glen Miller and a host of other high profile artists of the day
One of the few Jazz guitarists who performs with an unamplified acoustic archtop guitar, Marty augments his fretboard skills with Fats Waller-style vocals and a liberal helping of humour.
The Canadian-born session guitarist who recorded with numerous high profile artists including Doris Day, Harry James, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Gene Krupa, Ricky Nelson and Marty Robbins.
Danceband and studio guitarist whose compositions include Pickin’ For Patsy with the Jack Teagarden Band and Shufflin’ at the Hollywood with Lionel Hampton and his Orchestra.
Alvino Rey
Influenced by Eddie Lang and Roy Smeck, Alvino went on to become one of the pre-war period’s most notable electric guitarists
The self-taught guitarist who has recorded two albums and toured with folk legend Eric Andersen
Julie Andrews’ step father was a well known crooner and guitarist
Toured from the mid 1940s with Tommy Dorsey and jazz pianist Phil Moore’s band with whom he recorded the song Bop! Goes My Heart with Frank Sinatra on vocals.
At the height of this band leader’s fame, he fronted a troupe called The Crooning Troubadours and appeared in several Hollywood films.
Described by the International Association of Jazz Record Collectors as “rooted in the traditions of Tal Farlow, Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery, Johnny Smith and Joe Pass,”
Nashville session and radio guitarist Jack Shook was a regular on WSM’s weekly Grand Ole Opry programme for over 40 years
British multi-instrumentalist and teacher Syd taught banjo, tenor banjo, Hawaiian guitar, Spanish guitar, theory of music and harmony in Bradford and played with Eddie Peabody
Len grew up in Cape Town, South Africa and appeared with the great British dance bands of the 1920’s and 30′. He played and recorded with Jack Hylton, Fred Elizalde, Al Starita, Fred Astaire, Elsie Carlisle and Al Bowlly
Norwegian Frølich taught guitar at at the Conservatory of Music in Oslo and his Banjo Quintet comprised three tenor banjos, a plectrum banjo and a bass fiddle