Oral History - all
Birth Date: November 30, 1941
Deceased Date: April 15, 2021
Pat Rizzo heard Sly Stone was looking for a sax player to join the band. He went backstage at a concert with his horn and Sly told him to go into the bathroom. Sly asked if he was good and Pat said, "Yes, I am." At which Sly said, "You are hired." That fast job interview launched Pat into a long... more
Don McLean walked into the House of Music in New Rochelle, New York as a kid dreaming of owning a Martin Guitar. When he finally owned one, that instrument assisted him in writing several hit songs. The rock and roll anthem "American Pie" and "Vincent" were both written on his Martin, as were... more
Chan Romaro played an important part in pop music in the late 1950s and early 60s when he blended his Mexican and Native American roots with rock and roll. He wrote and recorded several songs during those early years including the classic "Hippy Hippy Shake," which was later recorded by several... more
Mike Post wrote many hit television theme songs including "Law & Order," "Hill Street Blues," and the "Rockford Files." His theme for the show "Greatest American Hero" was also a number one hit song on the Billboard charts. Behind this amazing list of accomplishments is a rock and roll... more
Birth Date: May 28, 1927
Deceased Date: November 26, 2020
Fred Tinker and Rodgers Jenkins formed the Rodger Instrument Company in 1958. The partnership began when their church asked if they would join the team to help purchase an organ. Fred and Rodgers thought they could build one instead. Over the years the company introduced many innovative products,... more
Joan Gand followed her drummer to a gig while still in high school. There, he introduced her to a guitarist from another school who eventually became her future husband, Gary Gand. Together they formed a very successful music store in Highland Park, Illinois that focused on the innovative... more
John Durrill has enjoyed a long and successful career in music, which ranged from performing to songwriting! In 1963, he was a member of the rock band The Five Americans, which enjoyed several hit records including Western Union and I See the Light. John later joined the instrumental band The... more
Mike Ponce enjoys managing the Suhr Guitar factory at JS Technologies Inc. in Southern California as the job allows him to apply his expertise in all aspects of guitar building. Mike was a master builder at Fender before developing an acoustic line of guitars for Rickenbacker. His inspiration to... more
Kevin Prosser took over the piano and organ store his parents established in the mid-1980s. His brother later came into the business, which had several locations throughout Washington State. In the late 1990s, Kevin opened a store in Palm Springs and ran it for several years. During that same time... more
Lol Tolhurst formed a rock band with some friends in high school that went on to revitalize and define music in the 1980s. The Cure enjoyed wide success with millions of albums sold, live performances around the world, and was among the first acts to chart hit records before alternative rock became... more
Jim Minch purchased his first musical instrument at Milano Music having no idea as a child that he would spend his entire career with the store. The Mesa, Arizona based company, which was formed in 1946, had seven locations at one point throughout the state. Jim specialized in the guitar and amp... more
John Suhr began formulating ideas of designing and modifying the electric guitar while working as a repairman at Rudy's Guitar Shop in New York City. After sharpening his skills as a master builder in Fender's Custom Shop in California, John established JS Technologies Inc. to produce his own line... more
Matt Milldebrandt feels privileged to play a pivotal role in bringing a child their first musical instrument. Matt had desires to become a band director in his youth and found his long career at Milano Music to be just as satisfying in terms of his role in encouraging music within the lives of... more
Chris Proctor has always been inspired by his instruments and the craft of music making. As a result, he has sought out opportunities over his career to enhance and expand the range, style, and functionality of his gear whenever possible. From picks to guitars, Chris has focused on his ideals to... more
John Blair grew up during the first wave of the Surf Music craze in America during the late 1950s and early 1960s. John later formed his own surf band and again, years later, in the 1970s when he was credited for the "second wave" of the popularity for surf music. While his band has recorded and... more
Peter Asher teamed with his school friend, Gordon Waller, to form the group Peter and Gordon. The two hit the pop charts during the golden era of the British Invasion in the mid-1960s. They topped the charts both in America and England with several popular tunes, some of which were written by... more
Jeff Shrieve was playing drums in a rock band during the 1960s when he was offered a job at Muncie Music Center. Jeff was hired in 1968 and became one of the store's three road reps calling on local school band directors. Jeff was taught band instrument repair in the early part of his career and... more
Birth Date: December 24, 1929
Deceased Date: May 14, 2021
Joan White began her career with Muncie Music Center in 1944, just three years after the store opened. She remained with the store until her retirement in 2016. Although she started by organizing the sheet music department, Joan (pronounced Jo-Ann) assisted with all areas of the business. One of... more
Dave Helms is the owner of Muncie Music Center. He joined the store right out of high school and had the opportunity to purchase the business in the early 2000s. By 2012, Dave was underway in designing a new building for the store, which is complete with teaching studios, a band repair shop, as... more
Larry McWilliams developed the jazz program at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He joined the faculty in 1970 and soon organized a jazz band that turned into two and three and then seven or eight combos. Having played jazz as well as classical trumpet, Larry had a real clear... more