Bob Cage is the great-grandson of Anastasios Stathopoulo, who founded the company which later became Epiphone.  His uncles, and the master craftsmen they employed, created fine instruments, and responded to the specific needs of musicians, promoting innovation and creativity.  He wishes to honor them, and to encourage those who continue the family tradition of a devotion to Craftsmanship supporting Musical Excellence.

            Bob is thankful that the people at The Epiphone Company have also decided to celebrate the legacy left by his family and the craftsmen they employed.  In connection with the late Jim Fisch's book "The House of Stathopoulo," and the extensive collection of Epiphone instruments that Jim had owned with L.B. Fred, they have chosen to feature some wonderful vintage Epiphones from that era on their site, at..

Epiphone.com/thevintagecollection

            Bob Cage is a professional musician who lives in the Hudson Valley and he has performed locally, regionally, and nationally.  Bob has had the honor to share the stage with many well-known musicians over the years, including Larry Coryell and Les Paul, and he has appeared twice on Bob Miles' "Miles of Music" TV show.  Of course; as one of the surviving heirs of Anastasios Stathopoulo, he was also mentioned in the "House of Stathopoulo" book.  The beautiful guitar Bob is posing with, in the picture above, is one of the new Masterbilt EF-500 guitars from Epiphone.

            Bob's album "Flat Top", which demonstrates the sound of early 20th century Epiphone flat-top acoustic guitars, is now available from Bob, or via CDBaby.  Bob's uncles were paramount at perfecting the arch-top guitar design, for which they earned wide acclaim.  Epiphone was the main industrial builder of arch-top guitars.  Before the arch-top and "Big-Band" sound of the 30s and 40s, however, there were flat-top guitars playing blues, jazz and ragtime music.  These guitars had their own individual sound.   Two of Bob's own Epiphone flat-top guitars are featured in the standards included on his "Flat-Top" album; a simple mahogany O Style flat-top guitar, with a beautiful warm tone, which can be seen in the "House of Stathopoulo" book, and an F.T.50; a wonderful guitar with a cherrywood neck which was discontinued in the 1940s.

            When the line was first introduced, Bob received one of Epiphone's new Masterbuilt Acoustic guitars as a gift in appreciation for his input, and in response to his album.   Click here to see his comments, or click on the axes and gear button shown below.