Rick Haydon
Rick Haydon is a Professor of Music at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where he is head of the Guitar Program and manages the recording studio. He teaches Advanced Jazz Improvisation, Rhythm Section Workshop, Private Applied Jazz Guitar, supervises the Jazz Combo System, and directs the Jazz Guitar Ensemble. Rick has served on the summer faculties of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Band Director Academy, the Birch Creek Music Center and the Jim Widner Summer Jazz Camps.  Rick has been playing guitar for forty years and has studied with many of the Masters of Jazz Guitar. Among these are, Johnny Smith, Howard Roberts, Pat Martino, and most recently Bucky Pizzarelli (7-string). Professor Haydon has been performing professionally for over thirty-five years and has played in a variety of situations. In 1996 he performed with Herb Ellis and Mundell Lowe during the Guitar Foundation of America International Guitar Convention. He performed with Bucky Pizzarelli before a sold out concert at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St.Louis in November of 1998.  Rick was the featured guest artist at the 2002 Quad City Jazz Festival along with Mulgrew Miller. In 2004 Rick performed with John Pizzarelli at the Classic American Guitar Show in Long Island, New York as part of the Jazz Cabaret Series. Also Professor Haydon received the 2004 Woody Herman Award from the Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County, Wisconsin. His most recent recording titled Rick Haydon and John Pizzarelli ‘Just Friends'; for Mel Bay Records has recently reached 19 on the Jazz Week Top 100 charts.
"I recognized the first time I met Bill that he would be one of the best luthiers in the world. The qualities Bill has as an individual make him a great artist. He first of all listens to the customers desired needs when designing the instrument. He is constantly asking for feedback about his instruments. He is meticulous about the details in the building process. I have been playing Bill's guitars for many years now and feel they are the best and most affordable you will find. When other builders are going to a manufacturing setup, Bill still builds an individually handmade guitar. Bill Moll gets my highest recommendation."