Keyboards
Paul Shaffer served as the band leader and musical director for David Letterman's late-night television program from 1982 until David retired in 2015. Along the way, hundreds of noted musicians sat in with the program's house band allowing Paul to play alongside many of his friends and heroes. ...
Laurie Spiegel joined Bell Labs in 1973 wanting to explore what digital computers could offer for musical composition beyond what she'd been able to do with traditional acoustic, written and analog electronic music technologies. She worked at Bell Labs, independently, under the sponsorship of her...
Michael Cotten was the original keyboardist for the band the Tubes, which took full advantage of the innovations in synthesizers of the 1970s and 80s. Michael experimented with electronic sounds and the latest keyboards within the early recordings of the band. After his time with the Tubes, Michael...
Larry Dvoskin can trace his passion for music back to an early age when he was classically trained on the piano. He purchased a guitar while in high school to gain the attention of girls and soon joined a rock band. Later, Larry gravitated towards the emerging electronic keyboards and the Hammond...
David Frederick was working for ARP Synthesizers in the early 1970s when he had an idea to create a special musical experience for the trade show in Chicago. He called it the NAMM JAM and the event became somewhat legendary, mostly due to the fact that many retailers were hearing the ARP 2600 for...
Papa John DeFrancesco was taught music by his father, a saxophonist for several big bands during the great Swing era. Papa John first played trumpet and later began playing the organ, which became his main instrument. He turned his two sons, Johnny and Joey, onto music and recorded with both over...
Newell Hardy had a life changing experience playing in the Youth Symphony on viola while in middle school. That opportunity lead to his love of guitar and later his passion for the pedal steel. Newell worked in music retail and worked his way up to store manager for Progressive Music in Utah. As a...
Percy Bady grew up surrounded by gospel, thanks largely to the fact his father was a minister. Since he was six years old, Percy expressed his feelings through music, especially in church. Playing the piano and later organ and keyboards, Percy found another passion in writing music, which has...
Terry Lawless is an expert at all things MIDI. When the language first came out, it was hard for most people to learn and especially difficult to program. However, Terry, who had just completed both a math and music degree, was very comfortable with MIDI and used his skills to help program for acts...
Joan Gand followed her drummer to a gig while still in high school. There, he introduced her to a guitarist from another school who eventually became her future husband, Gary Gand. Together they formed a very successful music store in Highland Park, Illinois that focused on the innovative...