The Fendermen, an American rockabilly duo, were formed in the late 1950s and consisted of Jim Sundquist and Phil Humphrey. Their unique name was derived from their use of Fender guitars-specifically a Telecaster and a Stratocaster connected to the same amplifier. They met as students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison under the guidance of William Dreger, a music store owner in Middleton, Wisconsin. The duo's breakthrough came with their hit single "Mule Skinner Blues", released in 1960 on Cuca Records and later distributed nationally by Soma Records. This cover of Jimmie Rodgers' song was recorded in the basement of Middleton Music and reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100, number 32 on the UK Singles Chart, and number two in Canada, marking the first chart success for a Minnesota band. The Fendermen toured with notable artists like Johnny Cash. The duo's only album during their active years was "Mule Skinner Blues" in 1960, which included the hit single of the same name. Jim Sundquist passed away on 4 June 2013, from cancer, while Phil Humphrey died on 29 March 2016, due to heart failure.
