Believe in Music Week Sees Premier of New Content From NAMM Oral History Program
Believe in Music Week is rapidly approaching, and with it, much like a child waiting for Christmas, the industry is buzzing with the promise of exciting programming from across the industry in first-ever digital gathering to unify and support the people who bring music to the world. Even though we aren’t able to gather in person this month, Believe in Music Week provides an opportunity to view one-of-a-kind content from throughout the industry.
The NAMM Resource Center, led by music historian Dan Del Fiorentino, has been conducting oral history interviews for the past 20 years. These interviews are the largest and the only repository of its kind and have inspired other programs like the departments, The Music History Project podcast, scores of vignettes, and NAMM Show staple programs like the Industry Tribute, which honors those we have lost in the last year.
Believe in Music Week has created a unique opportunity for the Resource Center to grant people an inside look at some of the 4,500 interviews captured over the last two decades and to act as a platform to debut brand new interviews that have taken place over the last year. Lucky for those of us that can’t wait, Del Fiorentino, Michael Mullens (Resource Center Multimedia Specialist), and Ashley Allison (Resource Center Coordinator) shared a sneak-peek at what Believe in Music Week attendees can look forward to this month.
Artist Interviews: Zoom-based interviews with iconic artists like Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Steve Miller (Steve Miller Band), saxophonist Ernie Watts (Buddy Rich, The Tonight Show Band, Marvin Gaye, Rolling Stones, and Christopher Cross), Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), and film and television composer Charles Fox (Love Boat theme and Laverne & Shirley theme).
Industry Veteran Interviews: Zoom-based interviews with icons from throughout the music products industry including Eveanna Manley (Manley Laboratories), Tosin Abasi (Abasi Concepts), Sherry Klein (Recording Engineer), and Dan Slick (Retailer and of Baldwin and Technics).
First-Ever Video Podcast: The Music History Project will premier their first-ever video podcast, “The British Invasion,” which will feature content from Spencer Davis, Peter Asher, Sara and Bernard Michaelson, and Rod Argent.
Allie Willis Screening Interview: Join Del Fiorentino and Resource Center Volunteer Suzanne Del Fiorentino for a unique screening of songwriter and artist Allie Willis’ full-length oral history interview. Willis co-wrote Earth, Wind, & Fire’s “September” and “Boogie Wonderland” as well as the iconic theme song to Friends, “I’ll Be There for You.”
Be sure to check out https://app.swapcard.com/event/believe-in-music/exhibitor/RXhoaWJpdG9yXzI1NzQ1Mw%3D%3D (you must be registered for Believe in Music Week for access) for all of this and more during Believe in Music Week and join us in conversation using #BelieveinMusic.
It’s not too late to register for Believe in Music Week. Open to everyone, head to https://attend.believeinmusic.tv to register and start planning your Believe in Music Week experience.