Music Manufacturing
Noel Lee recognized an opportunity to introduce high quality cables that would consistently provide the top-level audio signals to support high-end instruments and amplifiers. He had studied electrical engineering and at the time was working at Lawrence Livermore Labs in Northern California. By...
Mike Dorfman was introduced to the industry with his design of a special polish for drums. In 1990, he opened Trick Drums, getting the name from his love of cars and how a super enhanced car would be “tricked out.” Mike designed an all-metal snare drum which later expanded to bass drums, toms and...
Yves Tieche opened a small shop building guitars in 1976, later expanding into a store and becoming a Martin dealer. While attending the 1991 Frankfurt Music Fair, Yves met Armand Zildjian who offered him a job. Yves became the rep for Europe and traveled to both big and small dealers in large...
Kim Pang attended the NAMM Show in 1994 as a guest of the Zildjian company. While he there he accepted a job offer with the famous cymbal makers right on the spot. He was put in charge of expanding the brand in the Asian market and was always happy to be the first Zildjian employee from the region...
Charles Lusso was repairing machines for Kodak and then went on the road as a musician for 3 years. When he returned Tony D’Andrea asked if he would help with some of the machines in the company. His sister, Rosemary D’Andrea, had married into the famous guitar pick family. Charlie and Rosemary’s...
CC Tsai’s father and uncle ran the family business, Marina Guitar Company, in Taiwan. Young CC worked in the factory but decided to form his own company. Team Intl was formed in 1990 and focused on OEM guitar and accessories. He expanded into China in 1994 and Indonesia in 2013. The factory in...
Roy Elkins was working in a bowling alley in Memphis when he saw a small ad for a guitar salesman at Amro Music. He jumped at the chance and was hired by Chip Averwater who served as an early mentor for Roy who took to selling immediately. Roy later worked at Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center...
Doc Bochenek provided some interesting background on a number of important companies and instruments during his 2020 NAMM Oral History interview. Having worked with Moog Music, Doc was the one to sell the synthesizers that Disney used to create the music for the Main Street Electrical Parade. Doc...
Bruce Bartlett is the founder of Bartlett Audio and has designed an impressive list of microphones over his long career. He worked for Shure and Crown International, where he designed and engineered several key products including the boom headset microphone, used by artists such as Garth Brooks,...
John McLaren Jr. grew up in the music business as his father, John McLaren Sr., served as a strong leader for CBS Musical Instruments, which owned such brands as Steinway pianos and Fender guitars. His father was also the Senior Vice President for Yamaha Corporation. John Sr.'s involvement in...