Randall, the man who named Fender Stratocaster guitar, dies

[bijou]

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Don Randall, the marketing dynamo who gave Fender's Stratocaster guitar its name and led the brand to onstage ubiquity, has died. He was 91.

Randall died of age-related causes Dec. 23 at his home in Santa Ana, his son, Tim, told the Los Angeles Times.

Randall's marketing savvy elevated electric guitar designer Leo Fender's instruments, played by such musicians as Ritchie Valens, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, into a hugely successful franchise during the brand's first two decades.

Tom Wheeler, a former editor of Guitar Player magazine, said Randall changed the way the public viewed guitars and playing music, adding: "It's highly unlikely that Fender could have achieved anywhere near as worldwide success without Don Randall."

Randall was born Oct. 30, 1917, in Kendrick, Idaho, and moved with his family to California when he was 10.

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RIP. The effects of his work will be felt for many years to come.

[SaintLouieWoman]

RIP. He indeed was a marketing genius.

My son has a Strat or 2. I'm not sure if his wife appreciates his guitar collection, but it's probably a way better investment in stocks. He also has a vintage Les Paul.