Talk:The Fendermen

phil humphrey's firstborn, life and legacy
phil humphrey was not from stoughton, was born in madison wi and grew up in milwaukee. Father Clifford(tip) mother Maxine(peg). married shirley and had a daughter. she was born in 1959. there are internet entries that say he was in the navy seals. Untrue. He had a wife and daughter, was very talented and young and in trouble dealing with sudden fame and threats. Ran off and started a new family. You can't sue me because I have my birth certificate and photos and our family history including evidence undisputable. Not that any of this matters, but we were a piece of history in a small way, and the truth is very important to everyone, especially once we are all gone. No one had the talent or voice my dad has, the time and the music speak for themselves....how sad no one cares for the truth behind any of the music in our culture....phil has had his problems and 7 children and 2 exwives and has tried his best to accomodate everyone. But once again great talents and artists have a fine line. I am not a silent voice any longer. I am no one and nothing important in this world, but for the record, there is a lot more behind the music that meets the eye of the public. I am sure this will create some sort of controvery and perhaps troubles but the truth needs to be told about one hit wonders and their lives and their childrens lives..something I have watched for but never seen dealt with before. I am preparing with help a manuscript and also to make a webpage with my own family photos which I assume are my personal property and indisputable. The truth is out there and perhaps in this way I can set the record straight before we who lived history are gone. signed sherry ann humphrey born march 1959. I assume this will be edited unmercifully. doesnt matter, this is just the tip and tiny taste of the web page to come. hopefully before this gets trashed and edited some people will see this first. watch for me and more to come. thank god for my dad and musiciams amd all others who have come before and will come after. salute —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sherryhumphrey (talk • contribs) 20:35, 22 October 2008 (UTC)

Early Fendermen
The group originated in Wauwatosa circa 1956 and consisted of Walter Feldes (rhythm guitar) Phil Humphrey (vocals) and John Vettel Lead Guitar. Feldes played a Danelectro guitar, Humphrey later bought and learned to play a Telecaster and Vettel played a Stratocaster.

Their most requested song was “Mule Skinner Blues.”

Before assuming the “Fendermen” name, they entertained at the Wauwatosa High “Raider Room”, where students gathered and partied after football games. Feldes and Vettel attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where Humphrey joined them to play at fraternity and sorority events and at Madison area bars.

Feldes graduated in 1959 and pursued a career in finance. Vettel entered the Air Force the following January as an Aviation Cadet, Flew 100+ missions over North Vietnam, and retired from the Air Force in 1981.

Humphrey hooked up with his lead guitar in early 1960, they did a great recording of “Mule Skinners Blues” which did great, and got Humphrey on “The Ed Sullivan Show!”

The rest, as they say, is history.

I’m John Vettel, LtCol, USAF (Ret), the original Lead Guitar with The Fendermen of the 1950’s. I’m 87 and the only one of the group still alive. 71.92.80.249 (talk) 05:04, 23 June 2023 (UTC)