Oral History - all
DJ Jazzy Joyce, born in the Bronx, grew up in the era that ushered in the Hip Hop movement of dance, culture and music beginning in local parks. Joyce developed her style with her strong techniques and engaging energy. In 1986 she teamed with Sweet Tee for the hit recording of “It’s My Beat” and... more
Birth Date: December 1, 1938
Deceased Date: February 14, 2022
Sandy Nelson was among the small group of musicians who scored a top ten instrument hit record when he recorded "Teen Beat" in 1959. The song sold a million copies and paved the way for Sandy to become a well-respected studio musician. He followed up his first hit with another called "Let There... more
Birth Date: May 4, 1924
Deceased Date: December 13, 2020
Paul Winther took over his parent’s music store in Boise, Idaho, which was opened in 1943. Paul enjoyed the selling side of the business, especially selling pianos and organs. Paul took great pride in the fact that his son Greg came into the business and would run the store after his retirement... more
Dave "Baby" Cortez recorded an instrumental hit playing the Hammond B-3 entitled "The Happy Organ." He followed that with another top ten hit "The Whispering Organ" and continued to play as a studio musician for countless recordings such as the organ behind "Maybe" and "The Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie... more
Hans Jürgen Nebel is a fourth generation violin maker from Germany who decided that his skills and talents were best served as a repairman. He has rebuilt and restored violins ever since establishing his own business in 1957. From that time on Hans has become one of the true experts on violin... more
Birth Date: January 9, 1926
Deceased Date: April 1, 2020
Bucky Pizzarelli was a jazz guitarist who helped bring the sounds of the electric guitar into jazz and into popular music, beginning in the 1940s. As a stage performer and later a studio musician, Bucky's guitar can be heard on countless recordings both by other artists as well as on his own. He... more
Birth Date: March 21, 1924
Deceased Date: January 21, 2017
Ivan Mogull had a special connection with the Brill Building in New York City, the long time hub of music publishing for decades. Ivan was born the same year the famed building was built and his father, a foot doctor, was the first tenant. As a boy Ivan ran the halls and got to know many of the... more
Birth Date: January 4, 1923
Deceased Date: March 21, 2015
Miriam Bienstock was one of three founders of Atlantic Records, which set the stage for over 60 years of recordings of primarily black artists. In the early years this was one of the only labels giving opportunities for the likes of Ruth Brown and Ray Charles to be heard! Miriam ran the office and... more
Susan Aberbach is the president of the music publishing company, Hill & Range, which was formed by her husband and his brother. The two brothers wanted to publish country music and went to Nashville in the early 1950s representing a new company named to conjure up thoughts of country music. In... more
Birth Date: May 3, 1919
Deceased Date: January 27, 2014
Pete Seeger was the American folk icon who made it a personal goal to bring peace to the world by getting people to sing! His role in the folk music movement, beginning in the 1930's, forever changed the role music played in protest, celebration and sorrow. Within the music products industry,... more
Birth Date: August 12, 1920
Deceased Date: January 2, 2014
Sam Ulano was the drum teacher, performer, method book author and drum shop owner whose name became synonymous with the world of drumming. During his long and celebrated career, Sam played with some of the legends of jazz and popular music. In 1948 he published the first of nearly one thousand... more
Birth Date: December 8, 1933
Deceased Date: July 23, 2022
Keith Jorgensen opened a piano-focused retail store in the Salt Lake City area that would grow to 13 stores in three states! Keith Jorgensen Piano Centers were all run by Keith until his retirement, when his children took over. During his long career, Keith was a retail leader who created several... more
Birth Date: December 17, 1925
Deceased Date: November 9, 2016
Charles Traeger had an impressive reputation in the world of bass making and bass restoration. His long career began when he was a musician in the big band era looking for someone who could help with his own instrument. He learned all he could and noticed there was a real need for literature for... more
Birth Date: August 27, 1937
Deceased Date: October 30, 2014
Al Rinaldi was the first person ever to receive the Steinway Lifetime Achievement Award, which was given to him in 2012. Al never worked for the piano manufacturer nor did he work for any of it's sister companies. Al was a Steinway dealer in Philadelphia, who in fact was turned down from being a... more
DJ Cash Money, one of the most famous Hip Hop DJs, hailing from Philadelphia, he began spinning records as a kid and soon found his musical expression by creating dance mixes for his friends and neighbors. He strived to create his own style and a different sound for Philly DJs. Along side his MC,... more
Caroline Bienstock is the president of the music publishing firm her father, Freddy, established and in fact, named after his daughter. Carlin Music has played an important role in popular music and rock music going back to the 1950s. Her father was active in the career of Elvis Presley,... more
Karen Wojcik began working for Selmer in 1973 and watched the company change hands but stayed with the same company for her entire career. She works in the office for Conn-Selmer in Elkhart and has witnessed some great changes with the use of computers and later the Internet. Her role in... more
Tony Whitt began his career in the industry with the Linton oboe company in Elkhart, Indianan. He later began working for Gemeinhart, which has been where he has been for most of his 52 plus years in the industry. At the time of his mini interview, Tony was working in finishing and final assembly... more
Paula Walker began working in the music industry right out of high school for the Gemeinhart flute company in Elkhart, Indiana. In the early years she worked primarily on student instruments for Gemeinhart, which provided products designed especially for younger students. Her attention to detail... more
Tommy Tompkins began working for CG Conn in Elkhart, Indiana right after high school. He worked in a variety of positions within the company before his training and certification on waste water management. Tommy, like so many of the factory workers at Conn-Selmer, enjoys working with his co-... more