Guitars
Joe Mullens has always had a strong passion for music, and made the decision one day to turn that passion into a career. He worked as a store manager for a local music shop chain until they closed their doors in the early 80s. After working as a landscaper for a few years to save up some money, Joe...
Paul Hamer has a fascinating background that includes giving guitar lessons for Bob Gand back in the late 1960s. Being surrounded by fellow guitarists and having design ideas to improve the instrument, Paul made his first guitar under the Hamer name a few years later. Having approached artists to...
Jimmy Johnson helped define the Chicago Blues of the 1960s and 70s with a series of live performances and recordings. Some of his best known songs were captured at Bob Koester's Delmark Records. Jimmy wrote several songs recorded by other artists and toured the world performing with the likes of...
Rick Nielsen is among the very few rock stars who grew up in a music store! His story and background is perfect for the NAMM Oral History program as it ties together a professional career in music making with mom and pop music retailing! Rick's father purchased a music store in Rockford, Illinois...
Shane Fontayne grew up in England and came to the United States for the first time in 1976. He has recorded and performed with a long list of musical greats including Joe Cocker, Van Zant, and toured with Bruce Springsteen during 1992-1993. Shane has been a regular musician for the Kennedy Center...
Fred Rubin ran one of the most active and successful music stores in Miami. His father opened Ace Music in 1955 and Fred grew up in the store. When he took over the business, Fred continued the key elements that his father instilled in the business, namely customer service and quality products. ...
Tom Paxton spoke eloquently about the role folk music played during critical events in American history, such as the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s for which he was involved with. Tom marched, wrote songs, and played the songs of others, such as Pete Seeger, in order to bring about...
Jeff Cary grew up in Rochester, New York playing guitar and started his career in the music industry by working at House of Guitars. He also developed a passion for audio gear and the recording industry. Jeff worked for the pro audio company, ART, as well as in a recording studio (for over 12 years...
Donnie Wade "borrowed" his parent’s car when he was 14 years old to drive to a bar so he could hear Freddie King play the guitar! That experience and an earlier encounter with Merle Travis marked the beginning of his passion for the guitar! That passion took him from his own retail shop in Texas to...
Paul Meisenzahl bought his first guitar from his brother for $2.00 and promptly taught himself how to play. His first paying gig came when he was eleven and he played in rock bands throughout high school. After working at MXR and Ithaca Guitar Works in Ithaca, New York, Paul began his career as a...