H.G. Leach Guitars - Endorsers
Leach Guitars is proud to announce our 2 newest Endorsers!
Congratulations to Lisa Carver winner of the 2001 John Lennon songwriting contest!!!
Congratulations to Lonzo Pennington, 1999 World Thumbpicking Champion (on a Leach of course!)
Roy Clark
One of the most influential artists to ever pluck a G string, Roy is best known for his long-running TV show "Hee Haw." Roy has been playing a Leach Guitar for several years now. He was originally introduced to one of our Franconia models by Rodney Dillard (see below). Roy has a custom Sitka and Rosewood Franconia with 24k gold and Mother-of-Pearl inlays. If you see Roy on stage, chances are he won't be playing it. "It's my favorite guitar and I don't want to risk it on the road." (He did use it in a bunch of commercials he did recently for a fast food chain...everybody loves a wiener...). Members of the band tell me he won't even let them play it. Roy is a wonderful person, every bit as genuine as the man you see on television.
Congratulations Thom!!! on your Grammy nominated "Wires
to Wood"
Check out Bresh's new instrumental Album "Wire to Wood" featuring the
"Spirit" and "Legacy"!!! Available now at http://www.bresh.com
Coming soon! "Guts and Steel" with Buster "B" Jones
Thom is the son of the legendary guitarist Merle Travis. I doubt any one person has had more of an affect on music than Merle, from the music he played and the people it influenced, to the innovations he developed with Paul Bigsby. Thom is his father's son. Thom has probably had more affect on the Leach guitar than anyone. Thom's "gift" for explaining, in "luthier" terms, his ideas and what makes a guitar work from the player's point of view have helped to evolve the "Leach" into what it is today. Thom is one of the finest fingerpickers around, as well as a record producer and singer/songwriter, but most of all is a great friend. Thom has 4 Leaches: a "Rachel" with the Willoughby cut-away and, naturally, a Bresh Spirit , Legacy and Mistress
Roy is one of the top slide players around with 2 Grammys and nominations for several more for both his playing and producing. He has worked with just about everyone in the "Blues" business including B.B. King and John Lee Hooker. Recent projects include playing slide on Sammy Hagar's hit song, "Little White Lies" (in return, Sammy Hagar performs a duet with Roy on Roy's album, Pleasure and Pain ). If you ever get the chance to see Roy with his band "The Delta Rhythm Kings," don't pass it up...you'll never look at slide playing quite the same afterwards! Roy plays an H.G. Leach...(guess!)...."Roy Rogers" Limited Edition.
Check out Roy's latest "Pleasure and Pain" featuring the "Roy Rogers" model.
Eddie Pennington
http://www.eddiepennington.com
Eddie is a two-time world thumbpicking champion. His technique is considered by many, including Thom Bresh, as closest to the way Merle Travis played. Eddie is a regular at the "Puget Sound Workshop" and is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Eddie has 3 Leaches: 2 Franconia models and a special 18" Archtop built similar to the one that Merle owned. Soon to be introduced The "Eddie Pennington " Model
Wayne W. Johnson
http://www.wannadu.com
Wayne is a true guitar aficionado, he is a
collector, designer as well as a fine player. His recent collaboration with Ruben Romero
(Hypnotic Safari, avail. at Hallmark stores everywhere) is a unique blend of jazz,
classical,and fingerstyle with a rumba rhythm Wayne calls it "Jazzamenco". Wayne
is multi-talented and has toured with the legendary Les Paul as a drummer and has also sat
in on drums with Nokie Edwards of "The Ventures." Wayne has several Leach
guitars: Rachel (with Willoughby cut-away), Franconia, a 16" Archtop and Jurassic Guitar and
has a "Bresh Spirit" on order.
Wayne has also had a great effect on Leach Guitars, his "subtle" design hints
into what collectors "see" were invaluable (...at the time I might not have
appreciated it as much!) as was his "networking"( several of the endorsers on
this page were met through Wayne).
Rodney Dillard
Rodney is one of the pioneers of bluegrass and folk rock. His band "The Dillards" still tours today as a bluegrass/comedy act, appearing at festivals and special events. "The Dillards" came to national attention as the group of pickin' hillbilly moonshiners, "The Darlin Boys," on "Mayberry R.F.D." Rodney is currently in Branson, Mo. He owns 2 H.G. Leach Franconia Brazilian/Sitka models; one is custom with a vine inlay and angel truss rod cover, the other is a standard model, but with a unique top made from a piece of spruce 2 X 4 that was being used as a "sticker" on a stack of maple at a furniture factory. It is the legendary "2 X 4 guitar" which, incidentally, pre-dates Bob Taylor's "Pallet guitar"....sorry, Bob. Rodney was Leach Guitars' very first endorser and is responsible for Roy, John McEuen and Herb Pedersen all being turned on to Leaches.
John McEuen
John is better known as a banjo player, but is very accomplished as a guitarist as well. John used his Leach "Rachel " model (named after Rodney's daughter) on the award-winning "The Wild West " PBS special from a few years back. John is best known as the founder and long-time member of "The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band."
Herb Pedersen
Herb has played with just about everyone. The
Desert Rose Band, Jackson Browne, John Denver, The Dillards, Linda Ronstadt and many
others. Herb is also a banjo picker and holds the claim of being one of the
few who was asked by Earl Scruggs to fill
in for him during a brief illness in Flatt & Scruggs. Most recently, Herb plays
in his new bluegrass band "Laurel Canyon Ramblers." Herb has a
Cedar/Walnut Franconia.
Boy Howdy
Country group Boy Howdy had 3 albums in the early 90's. Their biggest hit, "Cowboy's Born With A Broken Heart," reached #3 on the country charts. They were also nominated for the Horizon award for best new group. Bass player Jeffery Steele has 2 acoustic Flattop Basses. Jeff was last seen playing with Steve Warner. Guitar pickin' monsters, Cary and Larry Park, took care of Boy Howdy's lead work. Cary, who now plays with Bruce Hornsby, has a Rachel, Larry a Brazilian and Sitka Franconia.
Dean Parks
Dean is one of the top session players in the world. Having played with everyone from Steely Dan and Barbara Streisand to Dwight Yokham. Dean played the acoustic guitar stuff on "Shindlers List". Dean Has a Maple and Cedar " Cremona model.
Paul Craft
Paul is a song writer extraordinaire. Some of his hit songs include "Brother Jukebox", "Drop Kick Me Jesus" and "Midnight Flyer". Paul is also an excellent singer, guitar and banjo picker. Paul Plays a Brazilian and flamed redwood Bresh Spirit.
Rhonda Smith
Rhonda Smith plays bass for "The Artist" (formerly known as "Prince"). Her style has been likened to Victor Wooten, whom she picks with from time to time. Rhonda plays an acoustic FT bass.