Oral History - all
Newell Hardy had a life changing experience playing in the Youth Symphony on viola while in middle school. That opportunity lead to his love of guitar and later his passion for the pedal steel. Newell worked in music retail and worked his way up to store manager for Progressive Music in Utah. As a... more
Eric Bettelli noticed that Los Angeles based musicians had a need for a magazine that could help them find gigs. He also realized that clubs needed the same such magazine to showcase their venues and to attract acts. Eric put the two needs together and formed Music Connection in 1977. The magazine... more
Bernard Van Doren is the grandson of the founder of Vandoren Paris, the world famous reed maker. His grandfather, Eugene, formed the company in 1905 based on his technique of making high quality reeds. His father, Robert, expanded the company to include other products and introduced the renowned... more
Emmanuel Tonnelier is the General Manager for Vandoren Paris, the world famous reed maker based in France. He works closely with Bernard Van Doren, who is the grandson of the founder. Emmanuel has played a vital role in the expansion of markets as well as bringing the company into the Internet age... more
Joe Phelps started playing drums in the 7th grade. While in college, as a marketing major, he opened an off campus concert hall, played in bands, and ran a recording studio for the music retailer, Ben Jack, in Arkansas. In 1975, he moved to Los Angeles and formed a small ad agency, which has become... more
Greg Grieme was a banker when he met Bill Gray who asked for some support. Bill explained his idea to create a company that would invest in and support music companies. Together they formed BGE Financial Corp, which over time helped several music industry companies. Along with Michael Skinner, Bill... more
Donnie Wade "borrowed" his parent’s car when he was 14 years old to drive to a bar so he could hear Freddie King play the guitar! That experience and an earlier encounter with Merle Travis marked the beginning of his passion for the guitar! That passion took him from his own retail shop in Texas to... more
Jack Schwarz is the founder of Desert Sons Musical Instruments based in Phoenix, Arizona. The company specializes in custom guitars from a small group of luthiers, all of whom Jack, himself, helped train. As a luthier, Jack worked for Fender, beginning in 1982. He was one of the first employees at... more
Larry Moudy sang and played the guitar for the musical group Up With People beginning in 1967. After being drafted and serving in the Vietnam War with the 101st Airborne, Larry returned to the group to sing, play, and help manage the tours. In 1975, he was hired by Fender back in the CBS days and... more
Paul Meisenzahl bought his first guitar from his brother for $2.00 and promptly taught himself how to play. His first paying gig came when he was eleven and he played in rock bands throughout high school. After working at MXR and Ithaca Guitar Works in Ithaca, New York, Paul began his career as a... more
Jeff Cary grew up in Rochester, New York playing guitar and started his career in the music industry by working at House of Guitars. He also developed a passion for audio gear and the recording industry. Jeff worked for the pro audio company, ART, as well as in a recording studio (for over 12 years... more
Frank Reda worked in the insurance business as a youth, where he credits the training on customer service and sales that he later applied to his work in the music industry. In the 1970s, he was hired by Wurlitzer to manage their retail stores in the Chicago area. While there, he helped train... more
Larry Barnes recalls his early childhood growing up in his father's music store in Leavenworth, Kansas just outside of Kansas City. The store, which was known as the Leavenworth Music Store, opened in 1955, closed when his dad retired in 1985, and never had a phone! The family home was right next... more
Papa John DeFrancesco was taught music by his father, a saxophonist for several big bands during the great Swing era. Papa John first played trumpet and later began playing the organ, which became his main instrument. He turned his two sons, Johnny and Joey, onto music and recorded with both over... more
Michael Spreeman is the creator of Ravenscroft Pianos and founder of Spreeman Piano Innovations, LLC. Experience includes: 35 years as a concert technician, rebuilder, service technician, and instructor. He has also worked as a technical consultant for Renner, Fazioli, Yamaha, Steinway, and... more
Tom Miller began his career in the piano business at Jordan Kitts Music in Bethesda, Maryland in 1976. His father had purchased a Hammond organ from the same company in 1960, and at age 6 Tom started music lessons. Tom began working on the manufacturing side of the industry in 1977, first as an... more
Donna Meyer was studying music in college when she met her future husband, Lloyd. After his stint in the army and the raising of their children (while Lloyd's career grew to president of Steinway & Sons) Donna joined Lloyd running the American division of Renner. Donna runs the office and... more
Vic Geiger has had a long and impressive career in the piano and organ business going back to the day he was hired by Kimball in 1974. While with Kimball, Vic played an important role with the Bosendorfer Piano brand, working his way up to Executive Vice President of International Marketing. While... more
Birth Date: February 12, 1920
Deceased Date: August 11, 2022
Bill Pitman was a first call studio musician in Los Angles who played on a string of hit records and award winning motion pictures. As a member of the Wrecking Crew he played on the Beach Boy's Pet Sounds album as well as hundreds of top 40 hits beginning in the late 1950s. Bill's ukulele can be... more
Jim Plank grew up in San Diego, California and can tell you all about the music stores in and around the area, especially since he began playing drums in the 1950s. Jim became a professional musician playing with the likes of Mike and Joe Pass. He later added to his musicianship by mastering the... more