Alvino Rey

Buddy Emmons is on the short list of the most influential steel pedal guitarists in the world. Along with Alvino Rey and Speedy West, Buddy helped define the role of the instrument in pop and country music. We proudly note that all three of these legends are now included in the NAMM Oral History Collection. Buddy was co-founder of ShoBud and later worked closely with George Lewis on several noted adjustments and improvements to the instrument.

Frank Nelson played trumpet and cornet during the swing era, touring with Alvino Rey’s Orchestra among others. He arranged music for the bands, both small groups and the larger outfits and worked on a wide range of materials during his long career. In later years he worked in recording studios, television and the movies. Frank was a product consultant for Yamaha, where he worked with his long time friend and fellow musician, Karl Bruhn.

Lynn Wheelwright has always been fascinated with the guitar, especially the craft of building the instrument. After performing as a teenager, he developed many of his luthier skills from repairing guitars in his own shop. After befriending Alvino Rey in the 1980s and repairing several of Mr. Rey’s instruments, Lynn began studying the history of vintage guitars. In recent years he has provided lectures and written articles about vintage guitars all the while researching all he can about the history of the guitar.