Born this day in 1909 Leo Fender. Founder of Fender Musical Instruments. In 1950 the company released the Esquire, a thin body, fast neck electric that wouldn't feedback when played at volume of dance halls. Adding a second pick-up in '51 we had the Broadcaster which became the Telecaster. Still one of the most popular electric guitars for any genre.
Need I say the sounds we hear today might be very different if not for Leo Fender. What does a Fender Stratocaster sound like when played through a Fender Champ amp? Listen to Clapton on "Layla".