As a young teenager raised until 1964 in Casablanca, Morocco (a former French colony), I always dreamed of having an electric guitar. Influenced by the success of such groups as The Ventures, The Shadows (the British equivalent of The Ventures), and, later, The Beatles, I thought that I too could one day perform on stage. Fender guitars were my favorite, but since I could not afford even the cheapest model, I would try to console myself by admiring the many exorbitantly priced models displayed at a well-known music store.