Anyone Know This Ebay Photo?

Bunky Markert · Post by **Bunky Markert** » 20 Oct 2008 8:22 am

A while ago this photo was for sale on ebay, and I didn't win it. It is such a sweet picture, and was wondering if anyone knew who these kids were and if they continued in their pursuits. And if the steel guitars with the names survived. It looks like the girl on the right is named Donna Lee (and such a great name), but I can't be sure. Any ideas?

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 20 Oct 2008 9:11 am

Great photo!

Nice looking Tele in the background, too!

Lee

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 20 Oct 2008 10:48 am

Just think how they'd sound today if they had stayed together!

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 20 Oct 2008 8:57 pm

It may be mine. Even if it is, it's either on display or in boxes behind the scenes here:

http://www.museumofmakingmusic.org/inde ... &Itemid=41

There are a buncha my instruments and a pile of photos, catalogs and ephemera at that exhibit. I went to the opening and talked so much to various friends and culture mavens that I didn't really get to take in and concentrate too much on the exhibit before it was time for the David Lindley/Sonny Landreth performance.

There was a large lot of these photos on eBay. (All ending with in seconds of each other!) I won some, lost the big-bucks dueling-Broadcasters (maybe Teles) 8x10s. These are from a convention of one of the many guitar associations that proliferated in the fifties and eariler. If memory serves, this particular gathering seems to have taken place in Santa Monica.

I have other printed programs from similar events here in SoCal, usually held in a hotel ballroom as they attracted participants from other states. These programs feature ads (some with photos, illustrations, catalog excerpts) from Fender, Rickenbacker, Magna, Gibson, Harmony and other companies. A couple of these have autographs from Fender honchos Don Randall, Freddie Tavares (and Forrest White? I'll have to check.) Also: Noel Boggs and some other notable steelers and guitarists.

The performing kids are in ensembles that I suspect are formed at whichever studios where they studied. I wouldn't be surprised if Fender supplied instruments, amps and equipment, given the jaw-dropping abundance of it all.

Bunky Markert · Post by **Bunky Markert** » 21 Oct 2008 9:42 am

I keep forgetting LA is the center of the universe. Wow! How I would love to see this.

It would be interesting to learn from His Most Tweedness if in fact this photo might document a Fender sponsored event. It does look as though the guitar girl is not at one with the Telecaster. Although the other girls have their names on their steels.

Anyway, sounds like a trove you have there. Thanks for the reply.

Jeff Hyman · Post by **Jeff Hyman** » 21 Oct 2008 2:48 pm

Looks like the Bass player has no problem carrying a spare bass :-)