Synthesizers
Russ Hamm has a passion for electrical engineering and began his career working in recording studios around the Boston area. In 1968 he left Boston for New York and worked for Bob Fine at Fine Recording Studios. Russ was a part of many technological advances in sound recording, such as the switch...
Frédéric Brun grew up in Paris, France and has been playing the violin since age 6. He attended university studying chemical engineering, but always had music in his head and a desire to start his own company. These dreams became a reality when Frederic met Gilles Pommereuil, another student at the...
Consuelo Diez was strongly encouraged by her piano teachers growing up. One in particular suggested she focus on composition, which altered her career. As a composer, Consuelo wrote works for piano and full orchestras as well as electronic musical instruments. During her 2020 NAMM Oral History...
José Nogueira was eight years old when his parents started a music business in Porto, Portugal. He took accordion lessons as a child as well as guitar and piano. In 1974, a group of friends formed a rock band combining elements of R&B and jazz, but they already had a piano player so one of José...
Ed Eagan was strongly encouraged and inspired by his music teachers growing up including his high school orchestra instructor who flamed Ed’s love of making music. While studying oboe, piano and composition in college, Ed was introduced to the developing technology behind electronic musical...
Drew Schlesinger started playing organ after seeing The Doors on The Ed Sullivan Show. While in college, Drew purchased his first Moog synthesizer and attended the Boston School of Electronic Music to learn synthesis with ARP 2600's and modular synths. Drew knew he wanted to be involved with...
Takaki Maeda and his team were celebrating the 40th anniversary of Casio's Musical Instruments division while attending the NAMM Show in 2020. This special occasion was the perfect opportunity for us to sit down with Maeda-San for his NAMM Oral History interview. His perspective on the growth and...
Yuji Tanaka is a Senior Executive Officer for Roland Corporation who has enjoyed a successful career in the music products industry. Yuji provided detail about how and why he came to work in the industry during his NAMM interview. He spoke about the innovations he has witnessed throughout the years...
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...
Kevin Monahan began working at E-MU in 1980, at a very exciting time for synthesizer development. The sample boom was in full swing and Kevin enjoyed the opportunity to work on several innovative products. After twenty years with the company, Kevin joined forces with his wife, Denise Gallant, in...