OH Taxonomy
Andrew Surmani was always interested in both music and business. His parents owned their own business and even in high school while in the band, Andrew took care of the books for the band. A friend later told him about an opening at Alfred Music in Van Nuys, California. One of his first jobs was...
Gayle Kowalchyk loves teaching piano! She studied piano in college, taught at the university level, and then established a piano studio in her home with her husband, E. L. Lancaster. Together, they taught and eventually began writing piano teaching materials. Morty Manus, president of Alfred...
Carol Cuellar has always had a love for music, especially classic country music, which was somewhat rare for a young girl growing up in England. When she moved to Florida she landed a filing clerk job at Screen-Gems. She has been in the music publishing industry ever since. Early in her career ...
Patrick Wilson grew up in a very musical family. His father played piano in his own tenor band that his mother sang in and his sisters also played and sang. Patrick recalls the first instrument he picked up and played at age 6: the triangle. All throughout high school he played percussion in band...
E. L. Lancaster was destined to become a teacher. His mother was a school teacher, and his years of piano lessons led him to major in music education in college. He continued his studies, receiving his masters and doctoral degrees, and began teaching at the college level. He taught at the...
Ron Manus is as passionate and focused as anyone in our industry. His interest in developing new music makers has much more to do with sharing what he personally knows as the benefits than making an extra dollar. In thinking of the passion of his parents, Morty and Iris, this way of thinking...
Ralph Johnson joined Earth, Wind and Fire in 1972. That was an important year for the band as founder Maurice White changed the line-up to include singers Jessica Cleaves and Philip Bailey, keyboardist Larry Dunn, guitarist Roland Bautista and Ronnie Laws on flute and saxophone. The newly reformed...
Lenise Bent, as an assistant or chief recording engineer, has been associated with some of the most successful and creative albums in rock history. Her passion for music and her incredible talents to bring out the best in musicians have been key elements in a career that includes such projects as...
Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams is the songwriter and blues singer who began his recording career in 1954. His soul and R&B-based blues included "There Ain't Enough Love," "She's So Devine" and "I'm in the Danger Zone." His popular singles of the 1950s and 60s on 45rpm changed with the trends of...
Larry "Moogstar" Clemon gained his nickname playing synthesizers for several funk and R&B bands such as the Zapp Band and Cameo. While working with Roger Troutman with the Zapp Band, Moogstar helped design a wireless vocoder to make it possible for Roger to walk into the crowds while...