Oral History - all
Stanley Miller received the 2009 Parnelli Audio Innovator Award for his long and successful career in the music and concert production industries. In 1962 he opened a small commercial audio store designing sound systems. He would provide sound for acts like the Smother’s Brothers and the... more
Melvyn Libman was a child prodigy and toured the world as a classical pianist. He performed in many of the grand concert halls in Europe and Town Hall in New York City. When he decided to settle down and start a family one of his business ideas was to open a music store. Libman Music, which... more
Penny Kline grew up in the music business as her mother was the founder of Kline Music in Sacramento, California and her father was a band director in area schools. When her father needed musical accessories for his students he asked his wife to run downtown to the music store. After months of... more
Birth Date: October 23, 1963
Deceased Date: July 7, 2017
Brian Jemelian didn't think of himself as a musician, although he played violin as a child and later as an employee of Yamaha he took both piano and guitar lessons. Brian studied business in college and was very interested in the business world. After a successful mentoring program at Price... more
Roy Bickel joined the circus as a teenager and at one point held the record for traveling the longest distance after being shot out of a cannon. One day he was asked if he wanted to make a little extra money helping with the rigging of the sound system –and Roy soon found his career! He rigged... more
Charles Anderson displayed his love for music education beginning at a young age. In fact, he was hired at the age of 15 to teach while he was still in high school. Over the years he expanded into group music lessons such as the work he has done with Yamaha over the years. As Director of... more
Mark Engebretson has enjoyed a very long and successful career in pro audio product design and engineering. In fact, when he was introduced at the 2013 Parnelli Awards to receive the Audio Innovators Award, it was suggested that his finger prints were on more audio products than just about anyone... more
Rick Wakeman was a powerful force in the development of progressive rock thanks in large part to his keyboard musicianship, songwriting and his deep passion for electronic musical instruments. His influence as a keyboardist can’t be fully expressed; however, most of the products he used on stage... more
George Travis has been to nearly every Bruce Springsteen concert since 1978! As a noted concert producer, George has been a key element in the innovative concert experiences fans have come to expect when they go to a Springsteen performance. George has worked with some of the giants in concert... more
Birth Date: July 20, 1952
Deceased Date: April 7, 2014
Mo Morrison could often be found behind the stage at every concert and performance by Lady Gaga. As a concert production and tour manager, he worked with many of the biggest and brightest stars in pop music and rock and roll. His career started as a stage hand and rigger, which led to such... more
Birth Date: June 28, 1928
Deceased Date: September 30, 2017
Betty Kline was getting a little tired of running to town for band accessories when her husband, a music director, needed something for his students. What started out being a large box of accessories in her home developed into some of the key band and orchestra music stores in the Sacramento area... more
Hitoshi Fukutome has enjoyed a long and interesting career at the Yamaha Corporation. He joined Yamaha in 1982 and has served in many roles for the company over the years including Manager of the Piano Division in Europe in 1990 and as president of Yamaha Music in Austria five years later. His... more
Bonnie Fitch has always considered herself a music teacher. After her time in the classroom, she formed her own music store in Las Vegas and tried to make every customer experience a learning opportunity. With passion and energy abounding, Bonnie has worked long and hard to serve not only her... more
William Thomas is a recent retiree who served as first the head Band Director at Lakota East High School outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. He gives insights on the challenges and rewards of beginning and building a new music program.
Greg Snyder has been the Director of Bands at Lakota West High School in West Chester, Ohio for 25 years. He talks here about some challenges that come with leading a music program and how to overcome them.
David Eccles is the Director of String Music Education at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. He speaks here about the first steps for any new teacher and how to keep music culturally relevant in the lives of students.
Kevin Cottrill is the Director of Bands at Seymour Community Schools and the Band Director at Seymour High School in Seymour, Indiana. He received his education at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Here, he provides insights into being a new teacher, and how to... more
Cheryl Filipek is the Band Director at Niles North High School. She speaks here about how to connect to students and how to create interest in music to recruit and retain for her program.
David Cole is the Director of Bands at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, Indiana and is a graduate of Indiana State University. Here, he speaks about having a relationship with the administration and finding support for his music program even during tough economic times.
Jason Brown is the Director of Fine Arts for District 219, Niles Township in Cook County, Illinois. A trumpet player, he graduated from the same high school as Miles Davis, and was later fortunate enough to play with Davis. Here, he speaks about his experience of returning to his high school music... more