Oral History - all
Barbara Fitzgerald is a member of the NAMM family! For years Barbara has been the trade show event coordinator who quietly in the background has made possible so many of the current services enjoyed during the annual shows. She has worked on improving customer service for our members as well as... more
Birth Date: January 16, 1925
Deceased Date: June 3, 2016
Frank Fendorf served as a school band director for many years beginning with the high school band in Warrensburg, MO in 1947. He enjoyed the role of band director and in fact was doing just that when his friend Merle Jones called. Mr. Jones and his partner, George Wingert, opened a music store... more
Birth Date: September 14, 1920
Deceased Date: December 1, 2017
Norman Erickson was hired by the Lowrey Company in 1947. At that time, the company was still producing cement powder mixture. However, Lowrey’s owner had an interest in the electronic organ that was being developed by Laurinz Hammond, so he sought Norm as an engineer. Norm’s designs, in addition to... more
Birth Date: March 26, 1915
Deceased Date: April 2, 2006
Luella Derwin was one of the first women owners of a music store in America. In 1937, when her bandleader husband Hal Derwin went on the road, Luella was left behind, “So one day I was thinking of all the fun we had with musicians who would come to town and look for a local place to have their... more
Thomas Burzycki served as President of Selmer Band Instruments while at the same time being on the NAMM Board as one of the first four commercial members to do so. He followed that term as President of the American Music Conference during the important transition and growth of the organization... more
Ray Anthony has only endorsed two products during his long and successful career-- only two because he doesn't give use of his name lightly. As a teenager he played trumpet for the famed Glenn Miller Orchestra during the swing era. A decade later he formed his own band and recorded a number of his... more
John Aldridge has become one of the leading experts on the history of drums, percussion companies, and their products. As a publisher and editor, John established the magazine “Not So Modern Drummer” and dedicated its pages to the vintage drum, the history of which otherwise might have been lost... more
Joy Akerman was one of the first volunteers in the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music docent programs back in 1999. Over the years, she became active in many elements of the museum, including the store and the monthly volunteer training classes. Her love of people and music made her role... more
Kenny Burrell is among the most beloved guitarists of post-war jazz. Kenny’s influential recordings and strong interest in musical education has helped establish his name among students and educators alike. His expertise on all things Ellington has parlayed into a popular course at UCLA begun in... more
Birth Date: May 21, 1918
Deceased Date: November 12, 2014
Eleanor Anderson helped establish Woodbury Music Company with her late husband, Leroy Anderson. The company is managed by their three children (Kurt, Rolf and Jane) with a third generation very active in music as well. As composer and arranger, Leroy Anderson published popular classical music... more
Birth Date: July 20, 1921
Deceased Date: December 19, 2012
Takehiko Akaboshi, the legendary Japanese music therapist and founder of the world renowned Japan Music Volunteer Association, began his career as a popular singer who recorded traditional and new folk songs as early as the 1950s. While singing around the country he began seeing the benefits of... more
Birth Date: October 1, 1942
Deceased Date: February 8, 2019
Tony Acosta had a dream to make the world’s finest classical guitar strings. He began working nights to perfect his product and build relationships within the industry and slowly gathered the needed equipment. Several years later, when he quit his day job working for an airline, his friends... more
Ken Achard played such an important part of the industry that he was asked to write a book. The book entitled “The Peavey Revolution” was released in 2005 and covers Ken’s long association with the innovative company and its founder. Ken met Hartley Peavey in 1972, who entrusted Ken to open up... more
Birth Date: May 10, 1930
Deceased Date: February 11, 2006
David Abell formed his piano retail store in Beverly Hills back in the late 1950s. Since that time he has established one of the finest reputations in our industry. Noted musicians, industry leaders and movie stars alike have boasted of his quality of service and the fact that most of his deals... more
Birth Date: March 31, 1931
Deceased Date: January 2, 2013
Yoshiharu Abe is known as the father of personal multi-track recording in the audio engineering field. He was one of the five founders of TEAC in 1957 and went on to become one of the company’s most important product designers. Abe-san designed several landmark products over his long career... more
Sammy Ash was named after his grandfather, the founder of the Sam Ash Music Company in New York City. Like his grandfather, Sammy has a deep passion and understanding of the music business and although both men faced different challenges in different eras, they both felt customer service was the... more
Birth Date: February 11, 1930
Deceased Date: December 22, 2019
Scott Anderson was among the renowned sales representatives at Wurlitzer during the iconic company’s heyday. When Wurlitzer “meant music to millions” (to use their famous slogan) Scott had established long-lasting relationships with many of the top selling dealers for the company. 1954 was the... more
Birth Date: July 27, 1914
Deceased Date: May 2, 2009
Edward Garbett was the founder of the Progressive Music store in McKeesport Pennsylvania in the years following World War II. He worked for Gretsch as Educational Director and a decade later was hired by Yamaha and oversaw the company’s growing school band programs throughout the 1960s and 70s. ... more
Jason How is the CEO and Chairman of Rotosound, the British string company his father formed in 1958. James How was an innovative toolmaker who designed equipment that could produce various guitar string gauges in high numbers while retaining consistency. Jason played a key role in the company’s... more
Martyn How is the Commercial Director or the British string company Rotosound. Martyn and his brother Jason carry on the traditions of their pioneering father who started the guitar and bass string company in 1958. Martyn oversees the sales and marketing for the company as well as performer... more