Oral History - all
Birth Date: June 26, 1942
Deceased Date: August 19, 2019
Larry Taylor joined the rock/blues band Canned Heat in 1967 just before the band’s string of hit recordings. The gig came after nearly 6 years as a recording artist playing both guitar and bass. As a member of Canned Heat, Larry played Woodstock and Monterey, performing the band’s hits including “... more
Jay Schreiber is the General Manager for the Band & Orchestral Division of Yamaha Corporation of America. It is a fitting position as the horn player worked for some 12 years as a traveling sales rep for the company after working in the music retail segment for several years. These experiences... more
Rosemary Rodd is the president of Leo’s Pro Audio in Oakland, California, and a strong supporter of several key music industry advocacy programs designed to encourage music and music making. With a strong background in business, Rosemary arrived in the music industry with a slightly different... more
Birth Date: March 22, 1928
Deceased Date: September 28, 2014
George Roberts is known in the jazz world for his recording of “Stella By Starlight” with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, which featured George on bass trombone. He is known among music instrument makers as Mr. Bass Trombone, who helped make a market for the instrument beginning in the late 1940s.... more
Birth Date: February 7, 1930
Deceased Date: April 1, 2017
Ikutaro Kakehashi, the founder of Roland Corporation, created more than a successful business with a host of important innovations in electronic musical instruments; he has also paid tribute throughout his career to those who first inspired him. Mr. Kakehashi was born in Japan and formed Ace... more
Charlotte Jansky and her husband Joe set off to fulfill his long time dream, owning a music store. They opened Allegro Music in Fremont, California, in 1960 much to the delight of Joe who proclaimed his dream was realized. Tragically, Joe suddenly passed away just a few years later. Charlotte at... more
Jerry Jackman is proud of the strong ties he has developed by providing choral and orchestral music to the LDS church in his native Utah. As a music publisher, Jerry has focused his efforts on the needs of the Mormon Church and Choirs. When Jerry began working in the music industry in the early... more
Stuart Isacoff, a pianist and composer, is founding editor of the magazine, Piano Today, Executive Editor of Sheet Music Magazine and the author of the 2000 book Temperament: How Music Became a Battleground for the Great Minds of Western Civilization. Stuart began his career in music publishing as... more
Birth Date: March 26, 1928
Deceased Date: September 4, 2016
Bud Isaacs designed a line of pedal steel guitars, teaming with fellow country music performer Shot Jackson to form the Sho-Bud Company. In his pursuit to create and develop new sounds for the instrument, Bud went to Paul A Bigsby to request a custom pedal steel guitar. The Bigsby became Bud’s main... more
Glenn Holtz was raised in the music products industry. His father, Ed, was a sales manager for Ludwig Drum Company. Glenn spent 9 years as Selmer District Manager then 2 years as Field Manager. He left to be President of Gemeinhardt Flutes for nearly 20 years, and as a sales manager for Selmer. In... more
Don Hogue worked with Dr. Kent in the C.G. Conn Research Department. The historic lab created or improved many mathematical and engineering theories that had been used in countless musical instrument designs. Don is particularly proud of the Stroboconn, as it served as the first tool to measure... more
Birth Date: May 2, 1942
Deceased Date: September 28, 2019
Karl Hirano was an electronic engineer for Yamaha in Japan during the great MIDI boom of the early 1980s. In fact, Karl was a member of the team that gathered at the 1983 NAMM Show to discuss the MIDI spec and agree on the protocol and how MIDI would be engineered into the vast number of new... more
Birth Date: July 9, 1925
Deceased Date: November 4, 2016
James Glanville was part of the team that relocated the Conn instrument manufacturing operations from Elkhart, IN to Nogales, Mexico, back in 1972. The result was a heavy blow to Elkhart, which had once been the Band Instrument Capital of the World. However, it was a needed move in order to keep... more
Paul Gentile has created a series of artwork in the form of miniature musical instruments. His art incorporates the passion and history in works such as the saxophone, violin and piano. Like musical performers, Paul feels a great satisfaction when people connect with his art. In creating his... more
Birth Date: October 29, 1930
Deceased Date: September 10, 2018
Marv Drucker spent his early career in New York playing all types of venues from showrooms, to hotels, dives, clubs and theaters, more than you can imagine. Such performers were referred to as “musical journeyman,” and Marv was among the best. He witnessed firsthand the changing of musical styles... more
Herbert Deutsch was down in Robert Moog’s basement when the two men were redrafting the design of an electronic synthesizer in the early 1960s. Herb suggested that the modular unit with patch cords was hard to play as a musical instrument and wondered if it could be controlled by an organ-type... more
Birth Date: January 4, 1923
Deceased Date: April 14, 2020
Ellis Day was a familiar face to NAMM show attendees for several decades as the front line trombone player on the opening day’s Petiot All-Industry Marching Band performances. Ellis has had a long and successful career in the music industry following his service in World War II and his work for the... more
Madeleine Crouch always has an endless amount of energy. In the role of industry association manager, Madeleine took over the company established by Don Dillon, which offers organizational and planning services for a number of music industry associations including RPMDA, ISB and NASMD. Madeleine... more
Birth Date: July 19, 1930
Deceased Date: August 26, 2017
John Connolly established the Connolly Music Company (originally Connolly & Co., Inc.) back in 1970. Best known for distributing such brands as Thomastik-Infeld and König & Meyer, the company remains a family owned enterprise, with John's son, Jake, now at the helm. In 1954 John was hired... more
Gene Chrisman was among the celebrated studio musicians from Tennessee who played on countless recordings and helped shape the Memphis Sound during the 1960s and 70s. Gene’s creative drumming style has been cited by percussionists around the world as an influence on their own careers. Gene was the... more