Vignette
Music Stores are the first glimpse into the music industry for many of us, and often ignite the passion to play. This compilation from the Oral History archives features memories of music stores from industry greats such as John R. Smith, Jerry Harrison, Brian Setzer, John Scofield, B.B. King, and...
Having a very long history, the trumpet dates all the way back to at least 1500 BC. Trumpets were used in the early days as a way to signal battle or hunting. Today they are used in several different genres, ranging from classical to popular music. The most common trumpet used is the Bb trumpet;...
jj Babbitt Co. Inc. was established in 1919 by Jesse James Babbitt and as of 2019, as the family owned and operated company embarks on their 100th year in business, they are preparing for the fourth generation to take over the business. As one of the world’s oldest manufacturers of mouthpieces for...
The harmonica is a free wind instrument used in several genres of music worldwide. The reeds are pre-tuned to individual pitches, which can be done by changing the length or stiffness of the reed. Bending, tongue blocking, over bending, and lip pursing (among several others) are different...
For many musicians, obtaining an instrument for the very first time is a special experience unlike any other. Strumming your first guitar or beating your first drum can spark an extraordinary musical adventure. The musicians we have interviewed through the NAMM Oral History Program have told some...
Out in the village of Bubenreuth, Germany lays the incredible history of a group of independent luthiers who in reinventing themselves after World War II helped produce hand-crafted musical instruments that inspired music and music makers ever since. Within the NAMM Oral History collection we have...
William Gard (1915-1987) served as the NAMM Executive President for over 35 years, beginning right after World War II. In fact it was Mr. Gard who helped re-open NAMM’s offices, which had closed its doors for two years during the war. Those were critical times for NAMM and his leadership guided...
This video vignette was created to serve as a tribute to Jazz guitarist Joe Beck (1945-2008). Joe was helpful in the early days of the NAMM Oral History Program but due to his health was never interviewed. To show our appreciation for his role in helping us, we asked his friend Jimmy Bruno for his...
Accordions make a sound when the bellows are expanded or compressed with air, while pressing keys causing the pallets to open. The air moves across the strips of reeds, allowing them to vibrate. Often people associate the accordion with polka-type music, but really they can be heard in a variety...
One of the most archaic yet essential instruments in the music and percussion industry is the cymbal. With its origins dating back as far as 3,000 B.C., the cymbal has been used in various settings including rituals, celebrations, worship, military purposes, and enjoyment. After alchemist and...