OH Taxonomy
Adam Ash likes to joke that he never attended sleep away camp during the summers from school as his summer months were spent in the store, and he wouldn't have had it any other way! Adam's great-grandfather formed Sam Ash Music, with the help of his wife, Adam’s great grandmother. Since then, the...
Steve Prisco has been active in music since he was 14 years old playing trumpet for the school band program. He studied graphic design and worked on the early computer desk top publishing programs for creating advertisements. In 1989, Steve began working for Sam Ash Music. He worked closely with...
Barry Horowitz first joined the team at Sam Ash in 1971! The small retail store was just expanding under the direction of the founder's two sons, Jerry and Paul. Jerry became like a second father to Barry, taking extra time to create learning opportunities. As a result of Jerry's encouragement,...
Larry Nitka grew up listening to the big bands as his father was a sideman during the great Swing Era. His father, Artie Nitka, became a well-regarded authority on the recorder, writing method books that are still in print today. While writing and teaching, Larry's father started a music store near...
Judd Goldrich and his brother worked alongside their father, Henry, in the store his grandfather Manny opened in New York City. Manny's became the hub of musical retailing and Judd grew up right in the middle of it! He loved the excitement of new products being introduced in the store and going...
Howie Mendelson played the recorder and trombone in school but, like so many of his generation, picked up the guitar when he heard the Beatles. Unlike most, Howie didn't just see the Fab Four on television, he saw them perform live at Shea Station in New York in 1965 and again in 1966! Nine years...
Kool DJ Red Alert, from Harlem New York, grew up listening to the Caribbean music of his grandparents as well as his brother's record collection. He was greatly inspired the day he first witnessed the father of Hip Hop, Kool DJ Herc, performing. He soon began bringing his turntables out to the park...
DJ Hollywood always had the showbiz bug, even at six years old he would perform at his mother's parties. As he saw crowds gather to hear music in the Harlem parks, Hollywood brought out his records to get the people to dance, and they have been dancing ever since! During his NAMM Oral History...
DJ Mean Gene (L Brothers) from the Bronx, was not only a legendary DJ but an early Hip Hop promoter and organizer of jams and shows. Gene was Grandmaster Flash's first DJ partner. His youngest brother is Grand Wizzard Theodore who invented the Scratch. Gene, Theodore and their other brother Cordio...
DJ Spindarella, from the Bronx New York, grew up in love with the Disney character Cinderella. She was wearing a Cinderella watch while spinning records in her local park, the day she got her nickname. Known as The Original DJ Spinderella, she went on to record with several top names in Hip Hop...