OH Taxonomy
Syl Johnson recorded a string of popular blues and R&B songs in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, which have been inspirational for generations of musicians. Soul, funk and Hip-Hop artists have cited Syl and his style of playing as influences including Jay Z. Over the years he performed with such icons...
Bob Gand opened a music shop in Deerfield, IL in the early 1960s, which was an influence not only to the community but to his son Gary. Gary went on to open his own successful retail business. Bob fell in love with folk music in the 1960s and formed the Gand Family Singers, which included his...
Tim Vear was interviewed for the NAMM Oral History program in the months leading up to the 75th anniversary of the famous Shure microphone. Tim covered much of the history of this iconic product, as well as some of the reasons why it was such an important cornerstone for the company. He has been a...
Betty Kline was getting a little tired of running to town for band accessories when her husband, a music director, needed something for his students. What started out being a large box of accessories in her home developed into some of the key band and orchestra music stores in the Sacramento area...
Melvyn Libman was a child prodigy and toured the world as a classical pianist. He performed in many of the grand concert halls in Europe and Town Hall in New York City. When he decided to settle down and start a family one of his business ideas was to open a music store. Libman Music, which...
Penny Kline grew up in the music business as her mother was the founder of Kline Music in Sacramento, California and her father was a band director in area schools. When her father needed musical accessories for his students he asked his wife to run downtown to the music store. After months of...
George Travis has been to nearly every Bruce Springsteen concert since 1978! As a noted concert producer, George has been a key element in the innovative concert experiences fans have come to expect when they go to a Springsteen performance. George has worked with some of the giants in concert...
Roy Bickel joined the circus as a teenager and at one point held the record for traveling the longest distance after being shot out of a cannon. One day he was asked if he wanted to make a little extra money helping with the rigging of the sound system –and Roy soon found his career! He rigged...
Stanley Miller received the 2009 Parnelli Audio Innovator Award for his long and successful career in the music and concert production industries. In 1962 he opened a small commercial audio store designing sound systems. He would provide sound for acts like the Smother’s Brothers and the...
Mark Engebretson has enjoyed a very long and successful career in pro audio product design and engineering. In fact, when he was introduced at the 2013 Parnelli Awards to receive the Audio Innovators Award, it was suggested that his finger prints were on more audio products than just about anyone...