The Fendermen
Encyclopedia
The Fendermen were a pop
/rockabilly
duo
in the early 1960s.
At the time The Fendermen formed, the group was primarily composed of Jim Sundquist (from Kingsford, Michigan
), and Phil Humphrey (from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
). At this point, Humphrey lived in Stoughton, Wisconsin
with his wife and daughter.
Sundquist and Humphrey met as students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in the late 1950s. The group had one big hit
with "Mule Skinner Blues
", released in 1960 on the Cuca Records
label
which was picked up for national distribution by Soma Records
. The song hit #5 on the Billboard Hot 100
. It peaked at #32 in the UK Singles Chart
in September 1960. A short-lived "offshoot" group, The Muleskinners, formed later in the 1960s.
Sundquist and Humphrey shared the same birthday 26 November 1937. They called themselves "the Fendermen", because they both played Fender guitars
(a Telecaster and a Stratocaster), and they connected them both to the same amplifier
. Interestingly, these guitars were the only two instruments used in the Fendermen's recording of Mule Skinner Blues; they were played with such skill and precision that the inclusion of a bassist and drummer, typical of most groups of the period, was not necessary.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
/rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
in the early 1960s.
At the time The Fendermen formed, the group was primarily composed of Jim Sundquist (from Kingsford, Michigan
Kingsford, Michigan
Kingsford is a city in Dickinson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,549 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Iron Mountain, MI–WI Micropolitan Statistical Area....
), and Phil Humphrey (from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
). At this point, Humphrey lived in Stoughton, Wisconsin
Stoughton, Wisconsin
Stoughton is a city in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States and is a neighbor of Madison. It straddles the Yahara River about 20 miles southeast of the capital, Madison. Stoughton is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area...
with his wife and daughter.
Sundquist and Humphrey met as students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in the late 1950s. The group had one big hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
with "Mule Skinner Blues
Mule Skinner Blues
"Mule Skinner Blues" is a classic country song written by Jimmie Rodgers; "George Vaughn" is sometimes listed as co-author; the name is a pseudonym for Vaughn Horton, who wrote Bill Monroe's "New Mule Skinner Blues" the second version recorded by Monroe.The song was first recorded by Rodgers in...
", released in 1960 on the Cuca Records
Cuca Records
Cuca Records of Sauk City, Wisconsin was founded by James Kirchstein in 1959 and actively produced LP and 45 rpm recordings until the early 1970s. During this period, Cuca recorded and released primarily polka and ethnic music on LP but also issued other musical styles, including pop, rhythm and...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
which was picked up for national distribution by Soma Records
Soma Records (U.S. label)
Soma Records was an American record company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and owned by wholesale record distributor Amos Heilicher. The Soma name was "Amos" spelled backwards. Heilicher, along with his brother Danny, was also in the jukebox business and owned the Musicland chain of retail...
. The song hit #5 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It peaked at #32 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in September 1960. A short-lived "offshoot" group, The Muleskinners, formed later in the 1960s.
Sundquist and Humphrey shared the same birthday 26 November 1937. They called themselves "the Fendermen", because they both played Fender guitars
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(a Telecaster and a Stratocaster), and they connected them both to the same amplifier
Instrument amplifier
An instrument amplifier is an electronic amplifier that converts the often barely audible or purely electronic signal from musical instruments such as an electric guitar, an electric bass, or an electric keyboard into an electronic signal capable of driving a loudspeaker that can be heard by the...
. Interestingly, these guitars were the only two instruments used in the Fendermen's recording of Mule Skinner Blues; they were played with such skill and precision that the inclusion of a bassist and drummer, typical of most groups of the period, was not necessary.
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Mule Skinner Blues | Cuca |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
|||
| 1960 | "Mule Skinner Blues Mule Skinner Blues "Mule Skinner Blues" is a classic country song written by Jimmie Rodgers; "George Vaughn" is sometimes listed as co-author; the name is a pseudonym for Vaughn Horton, who wrote Bill Monroe's "New Mule Skinner Blues" the second version recorded by Monroe.The song was first recorded by Rodgers in... " |
5 | 16 | Mule Skinner Blues |