OH Taxonomy
Peter Dods was an investment banker on Wall Street on September 11, 2001, which in his words, “uprooted my life and caused me to rethink what I wanted to do.” Having been a music maker himself, Peter returned home to Hawaii where he sought to open his own music store. At that time he learned that...
Billy Ray Hearn is credited by many for pioneering the concept of Contemporary Christian Music during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Influenced by the folk musicians of the day (Peter, Paul and Mary and others) Billy Ray brought these modern sounds into the church to surprising results. The...
Jeff Millar-Sax began his association with the music products industry as a consultant while developing a family of friends and companies he has proudly worked with over the years. One of his themes during his interesting interview for the NAMM Oral History collection was “only at the NAMM Show...
Jack Pearson grew up listening to the Allman Brothers not knowing that one day he would join the band and tour the world playing the songs he loved. His talents on the guitar developed as a teenager playing along to his musical heroes like Duane Allman on records and the radio, but he cut his...
Eddie DeGarmo grew up across the street from Graceland (he has a great Trick or Treat story from 1960) and somehow always knew he wanted to have a career in music. As a member of a Christian hair-band of the 1980s he recorded 17 albums with that band and performed for many years with several...
Ron Bienstock was playing gigs by night and the editor for the International Musicians & Recording World when he was hired by Hoshino to serve as their General Counsel. It was at that time when Ron realized he could combine his two loves, music and the law. In 1987 he opened Bienstock &...
Tony Falcetti grew up in the music business and developed his passion for music before he can remember. The store his parents started in Springfield, Massachusetts soon became the learning place for Tony and the hub for his own musical interest. He swept the floors, made sales and grew into...
Brad Wittmer and his friend and co-worker Richard Schiemer were given an opportunity to purchase the store they were working in, and they took it! The two met while working for Brighton Music Center and were approached by the owners to buy the store upon their retirement. Since that time the two...
Tim Pratt is the president and one of the three owners of Dietz Music located in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1927, Mr. Dietz established a small music store to help provide musical instruments and lessons for the local community. Over the years the company has focused on serving the needs of the...
Ted Eschliman is the Director of Marketing and Forecast for Dietze Music located in Omaha, Nebraska. He was educated in college as a band director, which was a bonus in his hiring at Dietze, because the store was looking for someone to head the band and orchestra department; a perfect fit. Over...