By Michael Butler

Tallassee author Willie G. Moseley has finished book No. 17. “Thunder Out of Texas – The Illustrated History of Robin Guitars” is now available.

The Robin brand began in Houston, Texas in 1982.

“Everybody talks about Texas tone,” said Moseley. “Texas is its own musical planet with all types of musical influences: blues, country, the outlaw movement, Mexican music. All of that blends together in Texas, but Texas does not have much guitar-making history.”

Moseley has been a writer with Vintage Guitar magazine for 37 years. Many of his connections there aided in this book and several more previous releases about the music industry. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, who Moseley has known for decades, wrote the foreword for the book.

“He uses their products,” said Moseley. “I know at one point he ordered eight guitars from Robin. Gibbons is a consummate purveyor of the elusive Texas tone. When the magazine first got going, we hit it off and have stayed in touch with each other. Whenever ZZ Top is in the area, I’ll go to a show.”

Jimmy and Steve Ray Vaughn showcased one of Robin’s double-neck guitars on the popular “Austin City Limits” television show.

“The usual presentation would start with Stevie seated on a stool, laying down the anchor riff to the classic surf instrumental “Pipeline” on the standard neck guitar,” Moseley wrote in the book. “Jimmie would then saunter onstage, position himself behind his brother, then reach around from behind to play the melody of the song on the octave guitar.

“Then the brothers’ hands abruptly traded places, as Stevie jumped up to the octave guitar and Jimmie held down the rhythm on the standard guitar neck. The collaboration was an amazing interlude during concerts.”

Moseley has purchased from Robin himself. One item was a graduation gift for his daughter Elizabeth in 2008.

“That is called the Tiger Twanger,” he said. “It is a gold solid-body guitar. Other parts of it are purple. The wood from the body is from Africa. It’s a special instrument.”

Moseley will be attending a book signing to premier the book at the Amigo Guitar Show in Mesquite, Texas on Oct. 18 and 19. Signed copies can be obtained at: willie@vintageguitar.com.