Specialty Items
The Fender Stratocaster, colloquially known as the Strat
The Gibson Flying V Guitar w/ Humbucking Pickup
How Music Influenced Floyd Lee Baptist
From the Soils of the Cotton Field to the Home House I grew up on a small farm in Nesbit, MS in a family of 11 other siblings. The Baptist Family was the first family in Desoto County, MS to own land after slavery. We worked in the fields from sun-up-to-sun-down chopping and picking cotton and we grew and harvested all types of vegetables and fruits on the orchard trees.
My father, the late James Edward Baptist was a farmer and my mother the late Robbie Lee Baptist was a woman of many talents.
My musical interest was inspired by my mom at a very early age. On Sundays and at any time when the spirit touched her, my mom would go to the piano and start playing. I would ask her “where did that song come from?” and she would reply “I made it up.” My mom loved playing the piano, to the extent that she once, took a few piano lessons; however, she eventually realized that she just liked playing from the heart and by sound. She and my sisters had a gospel singing group and we all sang in the church choir. My mom was known to “tear the house down” with her “Mahalia Jackson” style of singing mixed with the “Robbie Lee Baptist” mystique style of creativity. The church would be on fire and shouting from her singing!
A Family of Musicians and Singers
My late brother, Willie James was a one of the best and a master clarinet player in the Hernando Central High School Band. Another brother, Earnest Lee played the saxophone, and my sister, Betty Ruth played the oboe, the only one in high school. I played various instruments, the saxophone, drums, and clarinet. Other late siblings, Lula Mae, Edmond Earl, Bobby Jean, and Coral Lee were all great lead singers in the church choir. My younger sisters, Gloria and Joyce were also outstanding singers in the church choir. Hernando Central School recently was named a “Historical Landmark” in Desoto County, MS as the First School for African Americans, grades 1-12 during the reconstruction era after slavery. The Hernando Central Band under the direction of William T. McDaniel at the time was cited as one of the best bands in the State of Mississippi.
My Interest in Guitars
Music has always been in the heart and soul of my entire family and has created my passion for making guitars! Over the years, my first cousin, Lorenzo from the Nesbit area and now living in Memphis, TN was always impressed with my exemplary wood-work skills and creative crafts with tool and machinery in constructing various specialty items. He developed the concept for the fabrication of the Stratocaster and the Flying V Guitar. He is a licensed engineer and architect.
From the Soils of the Cotton Field to the Home House I grew up on a small farm in Nesbit, MS in a family of 11 other siblings. The Baptist Family was the first family in Desoto County, MS to own land after slavery. We worked in the fields from sun-up-to-sun-down chopping and picking cotton and we grew and harvested all types of vegetables and fruits on the orchard trees.
My father, the late James Edward Baptist was a farmer and my mother the late Robbie Lee Baptist was a woman of many talents.
My musical interest was inspired by my mom at a very early age. On Sundays and at any time when the spirit touched her, my mom would go to the piano and start playing. I would ask her “where did that song come from?” and she would reply “I made it up.” My mom loved playing the piano, to the extent that she once, took a few piano lessons; however, she eventually realized that she just liked playing from the heart and by sound. She and my sisters had a gospel singing group and we all sang in the church choir. My mom was known to “tear the house down” with her “Mahalia Jackson” style of singing mixed with the “Robbie Lee Baptist” mystique style of creativity. The church would be on fire and shouting from her singing!
A Family of Musicians and Singers
My late brother, Willie James was a one of the best and a master clarinet player in the Hernando Central High School Band. Another brother, Earnest Lee played the saxophone, and my sister, Betty Ruth played the oboe, the only one in high school. I played various instruments, the saxophone, drums, and clarinet. Other late siblings, Lula Mae, Edmond Earl, Bobby Jean, and Coral Lee were all great lead singers in the church choir. My younger sisters, Gloria and Joyce were also outstanding singers in the church choir. Hernando Central School recently was named a “Historical Landmark” in Desoto County, MS as the First School for African Americans, grades 1-12 during the reconstruction era after slavery. The Hernando Central Band under the direction of William T. McDaniel at the time was cited as one of the best bands in the State of Mississippi.
My Interest in Guitars
Music has always been in the heart and soul of my entire family and has created my passion for making guitars! Over the years, my first cousin, Lorenzo from the Nesbit area and now living in Memphis, TN was always impressed with my exemplary wood-work skills and creative crafts with tool and machinery in constructing various specialty items. He developed the concept for the fabrication of the Stratocaster and the Flying V Guitar. He is a licensed engineer and architect.