From the Alabama Gulf Coast to Nashville to the redwood forests of northern California, luthier Roger Fritz has spent almost an entire lifetime crafting innovative musical instruments for professional players.
About The Author:
Vintage Guitar Magazine Senior Writer WILLIE G. MOSELEY is a native of Montgomery, Alabama and still resides in what he calls "Hank Williams Territory."
He is a 1972 graduate of Troy State University and began writing for Vintage Guitar in 1989.
In the ensuing 34 years, Willie has done hundreds of interviews for the magazine, and has been kicked out of only one rock concert. Some issues of VG have contained as many as five Moseley-penned articles.
Founded in 1986, Vintage Guitar Magazine has readers in all 50 states and 31 countries. It is the oldest, largest, and most-widely-read periodical of its kind in the world, and is also the longest contiguously-owned guitar magazine of any type; founding publisher Alan Greenwood still heads up the unique periodical.
Moseley has written 16 books, including BAKERSFIELD GUITARS: The illustrated History, THE BASS SPACE, THE ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION: The Authorized History, BASSES AND GUITARS: The Huckabee Collection, and SMOKE JUMPER, MOON PILOT: The Remarkable Life of Apollo 14 Astronaut Stuart Roosa.
"While researching the Roosa book, I got to hang out with Neil Armstrong and other Moonwalkers," the author said. "Now, that's about as 'rock star' as it gets!"
Willie has also lectured about his books at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, the Will Rogers Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, and at Troy University and Huntingdon College. He also appeared on The Huckabee Show on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
His Roy Buchanan and Fritz Bros. lines have been admired for decades as exquisite guitars and basses. A Roy Buchanan Bluesmaster guitar presented to George Harrison (at Buchanan's behest) was one of the ex-Beatle's favorite instruments.
Fritz's efforts in the development of reissues of high-end Kay instruments is also part of this quintessential success story of an American artisan. This authorized biography includes recollections from such musical legends as Darry Jones, Bill Bottrell, Vicki Peterson and others, along with over 200 color photos.