Oral History - all
Frank Kilgard worked for Streep Music in Florida before opening his own band instrument repair shop in Georgia. His strong interest in quality repair led to a life time of learning new tricks and methods for cleaning and repairing school band instruments. Frank was one of the first members of... more
Chip Owen is the product specialist at Fox Bassoons who helped engineer a series of instruments for Fox over the years including the Fox Model 900 Contrabassoon, which was first introduced in 1971. Chip supervised the development of many of the Fox products since that time and has played a key role... more
Ed Strege is known within the band instrument repair world as “fast Eddie” for his speed at repair and short-cut tricks he has taught members of NAPBIRT for several decades. His classes on repair started as a service within his company and served as the only training program for band instrument... more
David Straubinger started a small business in 1969 to repair and rebuild woodwind instruments. He determined early on that one area of consistent concern was they way flute pads were replaced and the design of the pads. Over time he designed his own products, including the Straubinger Flute Pad and... more
Birth Date: July 8, 1921
Deceased Date: November 5, 2013
Jane Stanton worked for the war effort during World War II, which was before she met Ken Stanton, who was a band director, wishing to open a music store. Jane played a vital role in the store over the years as she ran the business while Ken would travel and sat up front to ensure she greeted each... more
Joe Baldi became active in a rock band at a young age and formed a group that toured much of New England in the 1970s and 80s. When needing gear, he often visited EU Wurlitzer in Boston. One day he was offered a job at the store and took it. He later remarked it was one of his favorite jobs as he... more
Red Dog Weber saw a pogo-cello during the NAMM show in the early 1950s and thought if there was a percussive version of this instrument he could play it with his band and have a lot of fun. He started designing the instrument that he called the "boom schtick" in 1958 and has made thousands of them... more
Birth Date: March 25, 1930
Deceased Date: December 30, 2016
Sam Eisenman grew up in New York during the heyday of the Big Bands and BeBop. As an ardent music fan he saw many of the great Big Bands, including Benny Goodman's Orchestra in 1938 at Carnegie Hall! In retirement, Sam spent over 15 years teaching children to read in the Carlsbad School District... more
Arnold Tubis has always been interested in the mathematics of music. After receiving his PhD in physics at MIT, Arnold began teaching courses on how music relates to science. When he retired, he and his wife moved to Carlsbad where he became a volunteer at the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making... more
Birth Date: September 7, 1925
Deceased Date: October 5, 2022
Jerry Bongard has enjoyed playing music since he was a kid. Along the way he has become eloquent in his explanation of the benefits of music making and the passion music can add to your life. Jerry has taken part in the early development of the New Horizon's Band, which rehearses at the NAMM... more
Florence Sachs is very active in community organizations, especially those with a focus on continuing education. When she heard about the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music she signed up as a volunteer and was soon trained as a docent. Florence was helpful in the early development of the... more
Velia Villasenor-Telles grew up singing with her sister. Music was always a big part of her life, as she is related to the record producer Johnny Otis and the jazz composer and arranger Gerald Wilson. When she and her husband retired to Carlsbad, she soon heard about the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of... more
Curtis Smith grew up loving the music of the 1950s and remembers the first 45 record he ever bought was "Cry" by Johnny Ray. While working in the aerospace industry Curtis continued collecting records and attending concerts of his favorite performers including Little Richard. When he and his wife... more
Birth Date: August 1, 1925
Deceased Date: May 9, 2014
Toni Perrine grew up in England where she was a touring actress in several musical productions. When she came to the United States she worked for Pedrini's Music in Southern California for four years in the sheet music department before retiring to Carlsbad. Her love of music soon found her... more
Birth Date: November 13, 1926
Deceased Date: June 24, 2018
Sue Jones had a warm way about her, which sets visitors at ease when they visited the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA. As a volunteer Sue was trained as a docent and has provided tours to all ages as well as serve as greeter at large museum events. She also played a vital... more
Gladys Hayes taught choir in school for more than 25 years and was very active in vocal programs throughout her career and after her retirement. Gladys and her husband Morris retired to Carlsbad where both volunteered at the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music. Gladys has been very active in... more
Wanda Pugh has always enjoyed singing. As a child she sang in church and later formed several vocal groups and ran several chapters of the Sweet Adalines. Her love of music led her to the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music where she was trained as a docent and has been active as a tour guide... more
Birth Date: May 19, 1938
Deceased Date: December 20, 2014
Chip Young was one of the best known recording session guitarists in Nashville. His thumb picking style can be heard on countless recordings and hundreds of hit records made in Nashville between the early 1960s into the 2000s. Chip's thumbing can be heard on Vern Gosdin's 1984 hit "I Can Tell by... more
Gary Sunda began building guitar amplifiers under the name Sunda in the 1960s before he was hired by Don Randall to create a new line of amplifiers, Randall Amps. Gary began designing products for the Randall Company in 1970 and stayed until just after Don sold the company in 1990. Gary continues... more
Birth Date: May 16, 1928
Deceased Date: January 6, 2015
Al Simpkins spent his career selling musical products. One of his former dealers was convinced Al could sell a block of ice to residents of the North Pole. His knowledge of the products and his attention to customer service were key elements in his success. He became an important part of his... more