OH Taxonomy
Dale Kroke has been a passionate music maker since he was a kid. He studied music in college and earned a teaching degree before pursuing an advance degree in composition. His first job in the music industry was with Kaman Music in 1990, working with overseas distributors within the company's...
Stu Hamm attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he credits a good deal of his understanding for creating his own style as a bassist. During that time Stu met several musicians who were key to his early career including Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. His impact on the bass has been...
Jimmy Vivino wanted to be a blues guitarist when he first heard “Foxy Lady” by Jimi Hendrix! He has since been a successful musician both on stage and in the studios. He and his brother played the Crown Lounge in New Jersey (Jimmy on B-3) and backed up all the groups that came to club, such as the...
Thomas Austin was a key part of the Sherman Clay team for over 40 years! The store chain focused on pianos; however, Thomas recalls the home organ boom in the 1970s as the company was a Hammond Organ dealer. The company was formed in San Francisco in 1870 and grew to be the biggest (for a time)...
Honoring Jim Funada for his invaluable service in assisting the NAMM Resource Center in obtaining fantastic interview contributions to the NAMM Oral History Program.
This video contains some of the highlight interviews that Jim helped us gather over the years. Thanks Jim!
Kurt Zentmaier fondly recalls the stories his father told him on how the family music store was established back in 1959. Rondo Music’s first location was right outside of New York City and soon developed a strong business known for its customer service. The full line store gained a reputation...
Ellis Seal was working for an aerospace company, working long hours and never having the time to spend with his family or his hobby of guitar building. In 1998 he opened his own company and said goodbye to his aerospace career to focus on his dream. Ellis took an interest in composite structures...
Gerard Garnier is the president of ALGAM in France and likes to say with a proud smile that he started in the music industry with only one thing, a Black & Decker drill! He began making wooden flutes with his drill and soon expanded to 50 employees. He then began to import musical products...
Allan Small played music as a young student and earned his degree in music education, then became a band director for almost a decade. As a band director in Pennsylvania he was involved with a program created by the Selmer Company called Bands for America. The training for this program was a...
Earl Bryant has enjoyed a long career in the music business with a good many years related to artists within the Motown family. As a concert manager, Earl has worked with Smokey Robinson for many years and has many fond memories of working with the legendary singer and songwriter performing all...