Oral History - all
Martins Saulespurens and Skipper Wise formed Blue Microphones in 1995 and set off to change the way people thought of and heard microphones. Their impressive line of innovative products with clever names and unusual styles, addressed issues studios and even large venues were having regarding... more
Jens Kruger is one of the world’s most technically accomplished 5-string banjo players who have worked with the Deering Banjo Company to create a more sophisticated instrument; one that could holds its own in a classical music concert. Jens has played the banjo is many settings and finds the... more
Jack Wyatt is well known in the piano industry as the historian of the Piano Technicians Guild. In fact, when the PTG opened a museum in their home office in Kansas City, MO, Jack was there to take on the project of telling the important story of the organization’s contribution to the industry.... more
Birth Date: June 9, 1935
Deceased Date: February 26, 2015
Spider Wilson began recording with Little Jimmy Dickens in 1947 and over the years backed nearly every performer at the Grand Ole Opry as a house band guitarist from the late 1950s until 2006. Spider was a sought-after studio musician playing guitar on recordings by country, rock and bluegrass... more
Bob Williamson has been involved in the piano and organ business since he was a boy. His father sold Baldwin Pianos out of his barn in Southwest Nebraska. The Williamson Baldwin store never had a store front but called on farms and local families directly. For over 50 years Bob and his father... more
J.M. VanEaton was the house drummer for a little recording company in Memphis that began one of the centers of the birth of rock and roll. Sun Records was formed by Sam Philips in 1951 and was put on the map when Elvis Presley began his career at Sun Records. Just a few months after Elvis left for... more
Birth Date: March 12, 1938
Deceased Date: October 16, 2021
Ron Tutt is best known for playing drums behind Elvis Presley during most of the king’s tours during the 1970s. Ron grew up with a deep passion for music and the drums, which led him to audition for Elvis as he was putting a band together for his Las Vegas comeback. Ron toured with Elvis, which may... more
Dee Starkey recalls the days when his father, Jim, had a well known dance band in Wichita and played at night while teaching music during the day. In 1954 he opened Jim Starkey Music with a strong focus on lesson programs and hiring the best teachers in the area. His wife, Sally, who he met in... more
Birth Date: December 25, 1919
Deceased Date: December 27, 2017
Curly Seckler was a pioneer in the development of Bluegrass music. He began performing professionally in 1935, on a daily radio program on WSTP in Salisbury, NC. After the breakup of the Monroe Brothers act, Curly was the first tenor singer selected by Charlie Monroe for his Kentucky Pardners band... more
David Saul is a leading expert on player piano rolls and the AMPICO Company. David was interviewed in his El Cajon, CA home in June 2011 and spoke of his career as an engineer. He worked in Texas for the space program in the late 1960s and early 70s before gaining his master’s degree and moving to... more
Birth Date: January 5, 1923
Deceased Date: January 10, 2018
Ted Sambell was born in London, England and made his living as a piano technician in London, and Ontario, Canada. With poor eyesight Ted was often told he was limited in his career choices, but has said many times that being a piano technician was the ideal job for him and one he has enjoyed for... more
Birth Date: March 10, 1932
Deceased Date: December 9, 2017
Leon Rhodes was one of the most beloved country music guitarists in history. He established himself as a clever and hard driving musician as part of Ernest Tubb’s Texas Troubadours. Leon’s guitar style helped make up the distinctive Tubb sound on recordings such as “Texas Troubadour Stomp”, “Cool... more
Bobby Osborne is the mandolin/guitarist who teamed with his brother to form one of the most beloved duets in bluegrass music history. The Osborne Brothers recorded several key songs for bluegrass including “Ruby” in 1953 and “Rocky Top” in 1967. Bobby also recorded with other musicians and... more
Birth Date: August 31, 1925
Deceased Date: February 6, 2015
Fred Morgan was one of the few GI’s, returning home from World War II, who were accepted to the Conn School of Musical Instrument Repair the first year it started. The year was 1946 and Fred was excited to learn first hand at the factory from many of the craftsmen who built the instruments from the... more
Dale Miller was just 27 when he decided to open a music store. The year was 1974 and it was the first of many firsts for the passionate guitarist who enjoyed working with others to bring music into the lives of those who came into his store. While the store did not last, Dale’s drive and love of... more
Birth Date: September 11, 1922
Deceased Date: January 14, 2014
Ben McKlveen had a very colorful life as a service man during World War II and a piano technician who cared for the instruments of many top performers and orchestras. He played oboe in the military band before serving in George Patton’s Third Army and traveled straight across Germany with Patton.... more
Taylor Mackinnon grew up in a very musical family and his father played a key role in introducing Taylor to a variety of instrumental music. Taylor was a choral music major and earned a masters degree in music before teaching for nearly a decade. In 1974 he moved to Oregon where he began working as... more
Birth Date: November 3, 1918
Deceased Date: May 16, 2015
A. A. (Sid) La Grandeur was trained in band instrument repair in Elkhart, Indiana before returning to Santa Barbara, California where he opened his own shop. The repair shop soon became a retail store and La Grandeur Music was born. Sid hired a young man to train on repair, who later became a key... more
Birth Date: April 20, 1928
Deceased Date: November 7, 2015
Ken Ingram served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Selmer Company in Elkhart, Indiana. He enjoyed working with the dealers around the country and the staff at Selmer, which he felt were the best in the business. Ken worked for Selmer from l952 until 1974 when he became Vice... more
Colin Hilborne has stories to tell! As the drum tech for performers such as Faces and Elton John, Colin has seen his share of wild concerts and screaming fans! Behind those stories are the moments Colin worked his magic to set up and often repair the musical instruments needed for each performance... more