Chinese Music Industry

Tony Blair is the proud president of the Kay Musical Instrument Company, which has a long and important history in the music products industry. As Tony points out, many noted musicians today got their first start playing a Kay guitar. Over the years Tony added his passion for distribution and innovative manufacturing ideas, particularly in China, to the Kay business model. As a result he has been able to expand the marketing of Kay’s instruments as well as introduce new products and models over the decades to beginners, intermediate and professional players alike. 

Frank Huang joined the Hohner Harmonica Company along with his brother, famed Chinese performer Cham-Ber Huang, to design a specialized harmonica. Frank’s understanding of the developmental process of musical instruments and his vast knowledge of Chinese/American relations led to the establishment of Huang International in Long Island, New York. The company has gained a reputation for pioneering Chinese exports with strong and consistent quality and with respected dealer relations. Frank also worked long and hard to establish fair and long term commerce and trade practices between the Chinese and American governments.
 

John Lee is the eldest son of Tom, the founder of the successful stores in Hong Kong and Canada. John spoke of the company’s expansion from Hong Kong into North America following his father’s interest in keeping the store growing in new markets. John took over the business in Canada after college but returned to Hong Kong after his father’s health began to fail. Along with his two brothers, John is ensuring the growth of Tom Lee Music, not only in their current locations but in the vast emerging China music market.  

Betty Lee co-founded Tom Lee Music in Hong Kong with her husband in the early 1950s.  In the beginning, Thomas Lee kept his full time work as an English secretary at a textile company while Betty Lee looked after the day to day administration of the small trading company which was to become Tom Lee Music. When the textile business was not doing well, Thomas Lee began working full time in Tom Lee Music. Betty Lee went to the local Hong Kong wood yards to select raw timber for the construction of Hong Kong-made piano cabinets while Thomas Lee ordered the keyboards, actions and sound boards from England. Her passion for the business was transferred to her employees, many of whom have worked 30, 40 and even 50 years with the company!

Tom Lee is one of the most famous names in Asian music retailing history.  With Tom Lee Music stores all around Hong Kong and parts of China, his name has been synonymous with music since the early 1950s.  In addition to the stores that he established with his wife Betty, the Lees also formed a music foundation in 1967, which has provided greatly needed support to thousands of music programs.  Four of their seven children work for the company, which has expanded into Audio and Music instrument wholesale and retail in Hong Kong, China, and Canada. Real Estate holdings and development have also become a main part of the Tom Lee Group's operation. 

Amy Mao teamed with Dr. Paul Shelden in 2004 to create a new line of band instruments. With the growing technology available in China, Amy and Paul set out to produce the finest musical instrument possible within the setting of a manufacturing factory. With an eye for detail, Amy produced the workflow and quality review for each step of the progress and worked carefully to train each manager and inspector to help provide consistent and high quality products. In recent years the Diplomatte International Musical Instrument Company has gained a wider audience of professorial musicians around the world. 

Paul Shelden is a Professor Emeritus in Music for Brooklyn College and has both studied and taught music at Juilliard beginning on clarinet and saxophone, but branching into electronic music, which he focused on for his doctorate. While teaching, Paul was introduced to the idea of improving on the sound of band and orchestral instruments with design and engineering improvements. In 2004, with Amy Mao as his director of manufacturing in China, he formed Diplomatte International Musical Instrument Company. Over the years the company continues to expand its product line, gaining a larger audience of symphonic musicians as well as novice players around the world. 

Fredy Shen has worked closely with Remo Belli becoming a Vice President in the Remo Corporation. Mr. Shen oversaw the expansion of the company’s manufacturing overseas. The relationships that he helped develop were vital in the company’s global marketing growth over the last 20 years. In addition, Mr. Shen has always felt that there is no substitute for hard work and honesty, qualities clearly evident in his long and successful career in the music products industry.
 

 Zhi Cheng Tong is the Chairman for Pearl River Pianos in China and one of the longest-term employees of the company that was established in 1956.  Chairman Tong joined the company just two years later.  Since that time, Chairman Tong has made his products among the best known pianos in the world, while maintaining the great responsibilities he feels all piano makers should display towards nature for providing the wood to make their instruments. 

Agness Tsao earned her college degree in banking and always had a love of music, singing in choirs from a young age. After college she began working for KHS Musical Instruments, which had a retail store in Taiwan and its manufacturing in the country as well. Agness was only the fourth employee to join KHS’s new division for international sales. She worked her way up in the organization and is now the president of marketing and sales. In 1994, she played a vital role in the establishment of a second manufacturing factory in China, which has allowed the company to stay innovative and competitive in the making of musical instruments.