What happened to Bill Collings?
Bill Collings, a giant of modern lutherie, died on Friday, July 14, due to cancer, leaving behind a legacy that touched generations of guitar builders and players. In the early 1970s, Collings dropped out of medical school and moved to Houston, where he worked as an engineer for an oil-field pipeline company by day and pursued his passion ...
Who ordered the Collings?
His devotion to form and function dictated the elegant construction of his instruments, which are known for their warm, crystalline tone and projection, and valued by scores of high-profile performers, including Lyle Lovett (who ordered his first Collings in 1978), Keith Richards, Joni Mitchell, and Pete Townshend.
What happened on July 15 2017?
A friend called with the sad news that our friend Bill Collings had lost his brief but fierce battle with his terminal illness, and suddenly a dark cloud formed over the mountain.
How old was Bill Collings when he died?
The news was confirmed in a post on the company's Facebook page. Collings was 68 years old.
When did Collings start making guitars?
Building his first guitars in the mid–'70s after dropping out of medical school, Collings grew his company into one of the world's most respected manufacturers of stringed instruments.
How many instruments does Collings make?
The company produces nearly 4,000 instruments a year, and brought in revenue of more than $8 million in 2015.
Where are Collings guitars made?
Collings, who had been making guitars since the mid-1970s, operated Collings Guitars at a 37,000-square-foot production facility just west of Austin on U.S. Highway 290. Collings hired his first employee in 1989. He had seven employees in 1995, but grew that to about 90 by 2017. The company’s day-to-day operations are overseen by business manager Steve McCreary.
How did Bill Collings die?
On July 14, 2017, Collings passed away from cancer. He leaves behind a legacy like few others: a shop full of builders in Austin who will continue to do his name justice; thousands of incredible instruments; and a whole lot of legendary Bill Collings stories. We reached out to friends in the industry, musicians and readers to gather a few favorites here. R.I.P. Bill, we’ll never forget you. — Jason Verlinde
Who said "As a friend Bill, you will be forever and sorely missed"?
As a friend, Bill, you will be forever and sorely missed. — Jay Hostletter
How did Bill prepare for the food fight?
What Michael [Simmons] didn’t mention [above] is how Bill prepared us for the food fight that evening by filling his hand with raw anchovies and then shaking hands with the soon-to-be combatants, or lightly patting their cheeks or (my favorite) tousling their hair, leaving behind the unmistakable proof of an anchovy encounter.
What happened to Cullen in 1969?
In the fall of 1969, shortly after Eye Guess ended, Cullen fell seriously ill. Diagnosed with pancreatitis and requiring major surgery, Cullen took time off from work to recuperate. When he returned to television, particularly his position on the panel for To Tell The Truth, his physical appearance had drastically changed; along with letting his hair grow out, his pancreatitis had caused him to lose over 30 pounds, leaving his face gaunt and wrinkled.
How many times was Cullen married?
Cullen was married three times and had no children. His first marriage was a brief one while still living in Pittsburgh. His second marriage (1948–1955) was to singer Carol Ames. On December 24, 1955, Cullen married former dancer and model Ann Roemheld Macomber, born Elise Ann Roemheld, the daughter of composer Heinz Roemheld; this marriage lasted until his death in 1990. She occasionally worked as a model on Bill's The Price Is Right and made several appearances with him on Tattletales. She died on July 21, 2018, aged 90.
What was Bill Cullen's first game show?
Cullen's first television game show was the TV version of Winner Take All,:1183 which premiered on CBS in 1952. In 1953, Cullen had The Bill Cullen Show, a weekly morning variety program on CBS. He hosted Bank on the Stars in 1954. From 1954 to 1955, he hosted NBC's Place the Face, a program in which celebrities identified people ...
Where was Cullen born?
Cullen was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the only child of William and Lillian Cullen. His father was a Ford dealer in Pittsburgh.
Did Cullen do color commentary?
Cullen did color commentary on college football games early in his career, and also broadcast track and field on NBC. On I've Got A Secret, producers Mark Goodson and Bill Todman and host Garry Moore quickly learned to never start the questioning with Cullen if the guest's secret was anything sports-related or mechanical, because chances were good that he would guess it immediately.
