Patchogue Announces MASTERS OF THE TELECASTER

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts presents Masters of the Telecaster on Friday, April 5 at 8pm. Ticket prices range between $25 - $55, plus applicable fees. Purchase online, by phone or at the box office. For more information, visit PatchogueTheatre.org, call the Patchogue Theatre Box Office at 631-207-1313, or stop by 71 East Main Street, Patchogue, NY.

Three of the most prolific rock guitarists in the world - G.E. Smith (Saturday Night Live, Hall & Oats), Jim Weider (The Band & The Wait), Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan, Hot Tuna) - backed by a bassist and drummer; each leading the way on a song of their own choosing before passing the baton to the next picker. Weider started the Masters of the Telecaster concert tour, inspired by the guitarist Roy Buchanan who he dubs "the greatest Telecaster player ever."

Long recognized as one of the iconic instruments to make a profound impact on music, the unique look and sound of the Fender Telecaster remains as timeless as the classic tracks it was used to record. Introduced by the innovative designer Leo Fender in 1950, the revolutionary six-string holds the distinction of being the first mass-produced, solid-body guitar - despite being possibly overshadowed in popularity by the Fender Stratocaster.

JIM WEIDER is best known for his work with The Band, filling the shoes of Robbie Robertson while bringing his own unique spins on their music from 1985 until they disbanded in 1999. Since then, he has his own offshoot band, call The Weight Band, that keeps the music of the Band alive.

G.E. SMITH has an equally impressive musical background. He's played lead guitar for Bob Dylan's touring band and Hall and Oates, and he was also the musical director for Saturday Night Live for ten years (1985-1995). He even recorded his second album, Get a Little, with the Saturday Night Live Band.

Special guest Larry Campbell is a three-time Grammy-winning producer and multi-instrumentalist who was born and raised in NYC and was the music director for the Levon Helm Band for eight years. Larry sings and plays mandolin, guitar, pedal steel, fiddle and other string instruments and was given a Lifetime Acheivement Award for instrumentalist by the Americana Music Association and voted Instrumentalist of the Year in 2013. Larry was a member of Bob Dylan's band from 1997-2004 and he and his wife Teresa Williams can frequently be seen performing with Phil Lesh and Friends, Hot Tuna and Little Feat as well as performing on their own as a duo. Aside from producing many other records such as Hot Tuna's Steady as She Goes, the long list of artists that Larry has performed and recorded with includes Paul Simon, Sheryl Crow, Rosanne Cash, Buddy and Julie Miller, Emmylou Harris, B.B. King, and many others.