DETROIT, MI. (GHS Guitar PR) -
Texas Blues-rock guitar slinger Mean Gene Kelton has recently joined the ranks of ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ted Nugent and the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan and many more as part of an elite alumni to sign an exclusive endorsement deal with world famous guitar string manufacturer GHS Guitar
Strings of
Battle Creek, Michigan.
Kelton first came to the attention of GHS in the summer of 2004, when a regional rep for GHS was passing through
Texas and happened to catch one of Kelton's shows. Impressed by what he saw, he alerted Dave Cowles, Artists Relations Manager for GHS of his new discovery.
"When I first heard about Mean Gene Kelton," say Cowles, "I went to his website and gave him a listen. No doubt, the guy definately plays a mean guitar. But we also look for someone who has a proven track record of performances, touring, radio airplay and name recognition. Kelton has it all. I was also impressed with the fact that Kelton's website was getting over 60,000 hits a month. He has also had six number one songs on various blues/rock charts world-wide. We like that kind of exposure. Kelton also performs at a lot of benefits, especially for other musicians. That is the sort of quality we like to attach our name to."
Cowles contacted Kelton and extended an invitation to visit the GHS factory the next time he was passing through Michigan. Within a month, Gene and Joni Kelton were standing in Cowles office, and were given a personal guided tour of the GHS factory.
"I have been bending these guitar strings since I was ten years old", says Kelton, "and never had a clue or even given much thought as to how they were made. The factory was a beehive of activity, and I was enlightened and fascinated by the entire process. All the workers were very friendly and seemed to be really happy and content with their jobs. Most of the employees have been there for over twenty years. That speaks for itself. Quality in workmanship is on everyone's mind, not just a slogan on a poster. They rolled out the red carpet for us and treated us like royalty."
As the tour ended, Kelton was loaded down with GHS strings and Rocktron guitar effects pedals. Cowles whipped out an Artist Endorsement Agreement and placed it in front of Kelton and handed him a pen. "I was caught completely by surprise", says Kelton, "I had no idea that GHS was interested in me as an endorser. I thought we were just taking a tour, next thing you know, I was signing the official endorsement agreement."
Kelton's name and image may now be used in various GHS Guitar String advertising promotions and campaigns endorsing the virtues of GHS strings and Rocktron products.
"GHS guitar strings scream," says Kelton, "they really do the job I need for playing high energy, southern fried, houserockin'
Texas blues. Especially when I'm playin' slide with a foamin' beer bottle. I am very pleased with the quality of the guitar strings and the effects pedals. I am also very proud to be on board with a music business legend like GHS."
