I was called by Leo Fender and Don Randall that a group by the name of the Newton Brothers were going to be appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show.

I never heard of the Newton Brothers before.
Randall told me that he was shipping a few guitars to my home as samples and to deliver these instruments to the Newton Brothers.

When the "few" guitars arrived, there were three triple neck Stringmasters. Three Twin amps and a rare Fender electric fiddle. In addition was a P.Bass and a Jazz Bass.

The Stringmasters were in three finishes Walnut, Black and Blonde.

I delivered these instruments to The Ed Sullivan theatre and saw a very young man and I asked him if I could see someone connected with the Newton Brothers, this young man was shy and said, I'm Wayne Newton, I introduced myself as a Fender salesman, he thanked me and told me he would tell his brother. As I was walking out,Wayne called me aside and offered me a few dollars for delivering the instruments and he said,well then can I buy you dinner? I said no. He then
said have you ever seen a live TV show from backstage and I said yes,many times. He asked me if I played an instrument and I said yes I did. He said what Instrument did you play? I said one of the three I delivered today, He said in suprise with that boyish wide grin and said you mean steel guitar? I said yes, he said wow,Do you work as a salesman and in addition deliver guitars for Fender? and again I said Yes I do,he told me of his admiration for Leo Fender,then Jerry Newton came over to see what was going on and if there was a problem,Wayne then explained that I worked for Fender, Jerry thanked me and offered me a tip, I told Jerry
that I was a salesman for Fender and he replied (and you have to make delivery's as well?? I said Yes I always did and always will. He asked me if he could buy me dinner
I said no sir,(I could have had three dinners for one delivery) Wayne asked me what tunings I used and how many necks do I have, I told him I had a triple custom and he jumped in and said wow so did I and thats a great guitar, but LF asked me If I would play the stringmaster. And asked my opinion. I said well I like both of them and
explained why.

Now it was my turn to ask the questions. I said Mr.Newton (meaning Wayne) who was much younger than I asked,why three steel guitars? he after all this time asked my name but didnt reply to my question as to why the three steel guitars and I told him my name, he said thats a nice name and your a fine man for doing all this for Jerry and myself. I told Wayne that in 1955 I was on that very same stage playing the Fender on the Godfrey show and he said, well doggone it you are the steel player that won that show and I said yeah it was me. He said man alive I saw that show and your playing knocked me out. He was suprised as both Jerry and himself thought I was a delivery boy and I watched and helped him attach the legs into the three stringmasters.They were tuned from the factory as A6th C# minor and E7th no volume pedal..He asked me what tunings I use and I told him him, I then helped Wayne change the strings as the guages were different and he said, Well I only wanted three for an effect and I though it would look good for Fender to see those beautys on National TV, I tuned each guitar a different tuning and he started to play each guitar on each neck. He played the Hell of out Orange Blosson Special and the jumped on to the fiddle which he played great and then back to steel guitar,,each time using one of the three on stage, I stood there amazed and he played Steel Guitar Rag, and Panhandle Rag and then said I would like for you to play something for me, The first thing that came into my mind was Caravan and he and a Jerry and a few others came over and watched and applauded me. I Thanked Wayne and Jerry and asked If I could take them to dinner,Jerry said sure, lets call out for something to eat and we can speak more about this. They did. They couldnt thank me enough for doing what I did by delivering the Fender gear.

Years later while I was on the West Coast for the Namm show,My wife and myself checked into the Hilton in Vegas to see Wayne, this was back in 1975.

I watched the Great talent of a man and asked
the usher if he would see to it that my business card was handed to Wayne Newton with a note on the back of the card. I also handed him a $10.00 bill. I never saw the usher,I guess he had a sub come back and asked me if I could help and I said,where is the other guy I gave the $10.00 bucks to? and he said I dont know, was he wearing a ushers uniform? I said of course. He said Ok what can I do for you? I said here is another ten and if you dont hand this to Wayne Newton you'll be wearing a prison uniform and he snapped back and said are you calling me thief? I said NO you are a financial advisor and you guys are investing my money and right now Im out #10.00 bucks so please see that Wayne Newton gets this please.

At the close of the show, Wayne spoke out to a packed house..Will my friend Jody Carver please stand, I was embarrased and my wife said stand up, stand up. I did and the spotlight scanned the room and Wayne said quote" This is the gentleman Ladies and Gentlman who helped me get started and please Jody come back stage.No disrespect to Elmer Ridenhour I didnt teach Wayne to play
All I did I helped Fender by getting The Newton Brothers to endorse the instruments. I DID NOT Teach Wayne how to play. He was and still is a GREAT Musician and a GREAT Entertainer. I was only a salesman who delivered the instruments is that CLEAR?

I did and he put his arms around me and said thank you Jody, I'll never forget you as long as I live. Later on I went back to my seat and became ill with chest pains and my wife and myself went to the ER.

Wayne found out and called the hospital concerned, I was OK it was from all the excitment I guess and I thanked him and asked him If I could share a hospital dinner with him. He laughed and said buddy I am worried about you, I said I was worried as you were because if you came to dinner at the hospital you would eat my dinner and change places with me, you get into bed and I'll do your show and he broke up and said he get out of bed buddy, your not sick and get your a$$ here when they
release you and we can jam together.

We Never did and I have not seen nor hear from Wayne since then.

On this Forum a good friend of mine and former Fender repairman advertised a triple stringmaster for sale his name is Rich Koerner who had not heard from me in years and I e mailed Rich. I was the one who opened his franchise as an authorized Fender Service center located in Union NJ Time Electronics He is a great repair man that does it all. Need his phone # call 411. The triple stringmaster was the same one that Wayne played way back when I delivered it and the serial mumber was the same as the one Fender gave to Wayne. I wanted to buy it for my memories, but it was sold before I knew it, If you can look up in the archives maybe you can find the thread in Buy & Sell, I have but couldn't find it,there are so many threads. The photo on this thread is indeed the same Stringmaster that Wayne played so many years ago. Now I learned that it wasn't sold and perhaps Wayne changed his mind about selling it, But I do know it was for sale at that point.
After the sale of Fender to CBS Wayne was a Musicman endorser.
This is not a good time of year for me my friends, at this time last year my wife only had a few short weeks to live and she passed on November 15th. I told you it was a long story. I miss Marilyn and know that she would be proud of me for all that Bob Maickle and Rick Alexander have done for me and I appreciate it.

Thank You, all of you

Jody "Fenders Delivery Boy" edited for spelling do you think anyone could type as long a post like this with out making a typing error?

COPYRIGHT (C) By Jody Carver 2005 This is the Final Story. The Rest will be found in my book. The Last Fender Guitar that has been coming out for the last 3 years. If you think this is long, read my book with the help of my friend.I promise you It will HAPPEN. And I will keep my word. PS. If any of you ever get to see Wayne say Hi to Wayne from Jody and Tom Walker. He will remember.

Thank you as well Howard Off Topic I will have a "T" Shirt made up for you and God forbid I mention the name of the person who is kind enough to do this for a few of us,
I like Fig Newtons too but,, ya got cookies?
Is there a Clothing Topic here?? If I stay on here any longer I'll call 911. THE END edited again, thats why it's taking so looooong for my book to come out

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 05 November 2005 at 12:25 PM.]

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'49 & '51 National Dynamics, Harmos Model One, Lazy River Weissenborn, Mesa Boogie DC-3, SRV Strat.
http://community.webshots.com/user/keefriff

I had no idea that he was that musically talented.

What room are you in Jody? (unquote) In the room with
a pastrami on "awry" bread mit a sour pickle.

Jealous?

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'49 & '51 National Dynamics, Harmos Model One, Lazy River Weissenborn, Mesa Boogie DC-3, SRV Strat.
http://community.webshots.com/user/keefriff

Thanks for bringing this history alive.

As I was saying, write short stories in a series of posts. We don't want you to get in trouble. Your post of November 6 at 6:50AM would still qualify as a short story by modern day standards.

I am amazed at your posting that early in the morning. How in the world can anyone think clearly at 6:50 AM?

Keep up the good work, Jody.

I am amazed at your posting that early in the morning. How in the world can anyone think clearly at 6:50 AM? "unquote" Don I sleep very little, my mind is clear as personal issues take prefererence.

Thank you for your comments.

Aloha

Just think: maybe 'Mr. Newton' gave up steel because Jody's 'Caravan' blew him away. He went on to record 'Danke Schoen'... and the rest is history.
Revisionist history.

[This message was edited by Ron Brennan on 07 November 2005 at 01:41 PM.]

What a great story!! As usual, "Thanks for the Memories" once again.

I am 63 now and remember (if that's possible), back in the late 60's going to see Wayne in NYC, to be specific, the Americana Hotel at the Royal Box. We also saw Wayne and Jerry Newton at the Lamberville Fair, under tent a few times...What an amazing talent these guys were. Jerry Newton played Fender Bass and acted in the Devil role, Wayne sang and played everything you could think of including Steel Guitar...and of course, he acted in the Angel role. It was something like the Smother Brothers..Wayne and Jerry were fantastic together. At that time, Wayne had that high octane (octave) voice....Later, the brother's parted....Wayne then went "Vegas"...saw him there too....2 1/2 hour shows...standing ovations, every night...his voice octave changed, and I can see why...But what a show!!!

Jody, you are right, they and many others were class act's, both on and off stage. Your stories bear this fact out...thank you for sharing....it's always enjoyable, you are a great "Raconteur" with many lessons learned from you.

BTW, we hope to meet and say hello to you at the PSGA event in CT on Sat, Nov 12, the "high noon" show....TX
rgds,
Ron

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JCFSC member since 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 07 November 2005 at 03:52 PM.]

Keep in touch by e mail and my very best to Mary.

A complex answer?________________________

"The Last Fender Guitar" PS CBS at that time owned Fender Rogers Drums and Rhodes Pianos.
PS I gave the $100.00 back to him and said Thank you Mr. Rich.Im trying to finish the book if its the last thing I do, and I will.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 08 November 2005 at 04:20 AM.]

quote:

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I remember Wayne saying that their "schtick" became Wayne singing and Jerry mimicking him and making fun of him. Apparently it got worse and worse until Wayne finally quit the act and went on his own.

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The Newton Rascals, as they were called for a while . .

Hear them with Wayne playing steel & singing here.

Thanks for the information about Wayne and Jerry. Always interesting to hear.

I liked his steel guitar player much better than his singing.

I am on the road, so I am just checking into the Forum ever so often.

Aloha,
Don

[This message was edited by Don Kona Woods on 15 November 2005 at 05:03 PM.]