South African Music Industry
Trevor Rabin was raised in a musical household, with a father who was a musician and he encouraged Trevor to play the piano at an early age. Later, his father gave him a guitar as a gift which started Trevor off on a side musical experience as a session player in his hometown of Johannesburg, South...
Arnold Davidson was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa where he began playing in area bands. He was given the opportunity to distribute the strings he special ordered from England and found himself in the music products business. He later opened his own wholesale firm, based largely on...
Bakithi Kumalo grew up in South Africa where he began playing the saxophone. He later switched to the bass guitar and worked hard to perfect his style so that he could performe live and in area recording studios. He often waited outside the studios for the chance to fill in if a musician did not...
Dirk Kommer grew up close to Hohner, where he began his industry career as an apprentice in 1956. Over the years his dedication and passion for the products resulted in advances in duties. He was transferred to South Africa and back to Europe where he became the director of Hohner in London. When...
David Leed was born in 1937 in the United Kingdom and spent the war years and most of his childhood in Australia. His love of music started when he was a young boy learning to play the cornet in his local Salvation Army. After returning to London and finishing school David played the cornet in...
Louise Leed met her future husband while performing as a singer in her native South Africa. After having their four children, her British husband, David, suggested the family move back to Europe where David soon got a job with a piano company and then with the world-famous wholesaler Chicago...
Mervyn Davis began working full time as a guitar luthier in 1978. Located in South Africa, Mervyn had unique access to materials he used in making his instruments and because he was in an area with few guitar builders he was able to create a strong and loyal customer base. Over the years he has...
Tom Dale was the original business partner and long time friend of luthier Mervyn Davis. Mervyn began building guitars in the 1970s and as the demand for his unique instruments grew so did the need to have a business partner who could help navigate the operation while he focused on the instruments...