NEWS
FISHMAN SUES ESTEBAN AND
THE HOME SHOPPING NETWORK
BY REBECCA DIRKS
Boston, MA – The trial resulting from the lawsuit filed by Andover-based Fishman Transducers,
Inc., on January 17, 2007, against Stephen Paul d/b/a “Esteban,” Daystar Productions, and HSN
Interactive, LLC, started in March in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
The lawsuit is for unfair competition, trademark infringement, and false advertising in violation of the Federal Lanham Act.
Fishman alleges in its complaint that Esteban, Daystar, and HSN advertised, promoted, and
sold Esteban guitars while falsely misrepresenting to the public that the Esteban guitars were
equipped with Fishman electronic components.
According to the lawsuit, these false and misleading statements have been made in television
infomercials, as well as on numerous websites.
In fact, Fishman has sold no electronic components to Esteban or any other party for use in
Esteban guitars, and it has not authorized either Esteban or Daystar to use the name and trademark “Fishman” in promoting and selling Esteban guitars.
Larry Fishman, president of Fishman Transducers, stated, “We have worked hard for many
years to establish a position as a leading manufacturer of the highest-quality products. We are
obviously very concerned by the blatant misconduct of the defendants identified in our complaint,
and we intend to protect our good name and trademarks vigorously.”
As of press time, a verdict had not yet been delivered in the case and representatives of Esteban
and HSN Interactive did not respond to our requests for comment.
Bakersfield Pioneers
Ralph Mooney and
Ferlin Husky Die
BY REBECCA DIRKS
Nashville, TN – Two musicians
who helped craft the iconic
Bakersfield sound in the 1950s
and ’60s passed away in March.
Pedal-steel guitarist Ralph
Mooney was 82, while singer,
songwriter, and guitarist Ferlin
Husky was 85.
Mooney’s steel guitar can
be heard on recordings from
Buck Owens, Wanda Jackson,
and Merle Haggard, includ-
ing Owens’ hits, “Above and
Beyond” and “Under Your
Spell Again.” As a songwriter,
Mooney’s biggest hit was
“Crazy Arms,” which was
recorded by Ray Price in
1956. In the 1970s and ’80s,
Mooney worked with Waylon
Jennings in his studio and
onstage, and can be heard
on the hit, “Mammas Don’t
Let Your Babies Grow Up to
Be Cowboys.” Mooney was
inducted into the Steel Guitar
Hall of Fame in 1983.
stage for modern country music
with the crossover hit “Gone,”
which featured slick instrumentation and vocals—a departure
from the grittier, twangier sound
of traditional country music. He
was inducted into the Country
Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
Acid-Jazz Veteran
Melvin Sparks-
Hassan Dies
BY JASON SHADRICK
Mt. Vernon, NY – Veteran
acid-jazz guitarist Melvin
Sparks-Hassan died on March
15th in Mount Vernon, New
York. Originally from Houston,
Sparks-Hassan grew up in a
musical family. Soon after drop-
ping out of high school, he land-
ed a gig with a touring group fea-
turing Little Richard. During the
’60s, Sparks-Hassan came up as
an in-demand session player on
the soul-jazz scene. He appeared
on a variety of albums—many
led by organists—on Blue Note
and Prestige records. One of his
earliest appearances on record
was on Jack McDuff’s Double
Barrelled Soul album where
he played alongside David
“Fathead” Newman.
24 PREMIER GUITAR MAY 2011
premierguitar.com
