Full Interview
Dave Woodruff began working for King Band Instruments right out of college. He began in the personnel department and Human Resources before becoming involved with the production of the instruments. As a King musician himself, Dave has always been very proud of his role with the company and the...
John Durrill has enjoyed a long and successful career in music, which ranged from performing to songwriting! In 1963, he was a member of the rock band The Five Americans, which enjoyed several hit records including Western Union and I See the Light. John later joined the instrumental band The...
Paul Hostetter’s career as a luthier dates back to 1963, although his passion for music may have been born when he was. He started by giving guitar lessons before he began building instruments. Paul played on recording sessions for Motown, including on hits with his personal friend, Marvin Gaye....
William Bell began singing in doo-wop groups before signing for Stax Records in Memphis, which is where his first hit was recorded. In fact that song, "You Don't Miss Your Water" was also the first big hit for the newly formed record label that would go on to redefine soul music. William wrote...
Conrad Sundholm is the founder of Sunn Amplifiers and Biamp Systems, which revolutionized the music industry with several key design innovations, designs, and products. Although Conrad was building amps for his brother as early as 1961, Sunn became a big influence, especially on bass amp makers...
Brian Setzer nearly single handedly brought back the popularity of the rockabilly electric guitar sound that was first established by Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley's first guitarist. Brian was interviewed for the NAMM Oral History program within a month of Scotty Moore's passing in the summer of...
Bob Ryder grew up surrounded by music and began playing saxophone at an early age. When he and his wife, Janine, had the opportunity to purchase La Jolla Music in the 1990s, Bob was thrilled. The couple expanded the store’s product line while building new brands of products from overseas. The...
Janine Ryder and her husband, Bob, owned La Jolla Music on Girard Avenue for several years beginning in the 1990s. At the time, the store needed new product brands, which Janine expanded by replacing the store's instruments offerings from Asian made to those manufactured by Selmer, Yamaha, Taylor...
David Woo purchased La Jolla Music with a goal to focus on the lesson programs. His children took music lessons in the store and he wanted to capture the key element of the store by providing its community with music lessons. David expanded the number of lesson rooms, teachers, and instrument...
Jim Peterson started La Jolla Music in 1962, just a few years after his career in music retail began. Jim worked as a gigging musician in and around San Diego at night and on weekends in the late 1950s and early 1960s. His day job was as a salesman for a local music store and when an opportunity...