Pro Audio

Tom Beckman opened a music store with his band director while still in college in 1958. The relationships he created in the store lead to a road salesman job with C. Bruno. He traveled the country for nearly a decade before establishing his own distribution company, Beckman Musical. He later began a long association with Roland Corporation. Tom’s interview included a review of the changes he has witnessed in the industry over the past 50 years, including the growth of the NAMM show.
 

Ray Benson and two friends formed a country rock band in 1970 called Asleep At The Wheel. Ever since that time Ray has continued to play with the band, which has seen nearly 100 musicians come and go, but Ray remained! His colorful career has had its highs and lows, most of which he has expressed in song over the years including in 1975 hit “The Letter That Johnny Walker Read.” In more recent years Ray has worked with Willie Nelson and others on Asleep At The Wheel material, which has continued to find a growing audience for over 40 years.
 

Andy Bereza was on the team that created the now famous Portastudio products for TASCAM. In fact, Andy is credited with the mixer’s first blue prints as well as coming up with its clever name. The product forever changed the industry by offering a small mixer for home and road use. His work with TASCAM resulted in several products as did his association with Fostex and before that for the famed Allen & Heath Company. Andy’s mixing boards led him to work with several British musicians and bands such as Pink Floyd as well as with master engineer Yoshiharu Abe.

Athan Billias had a rather impressive vantage point to witness the growth and development of the synthesizer in the late 1970s and early 80s. After performing as a professional musician in New England for several years, Athan found himself working on the landmark M1 keyboard as an engineer for KORG USA. He was later asked to work in Japan, where he lived for six years before returning to the United States. He would later serve as Director of Marketing for Yamaha Corporation of America in the Pro-Audio Division, where Athan continues to serve the industry.
 

Graham Blyth began playing music at the age of 4 and studied electrical engineering in college, which led to his final paper on the topic of electronic organs. While writing the paper, Graham visited a local organ company and met friends who helped shape his ideas of having a career in the music industry. Graham built his own mixers, which were used by the Kinks and other bands. As the idea of a company grew from their product creations it was given the name Sound Craft Electronics and grew into a very successful and innovative company for the industry.

John Booth has played an enormous role in the development and growth of Roland within the United Kingdom. As President of Roland UK, he has witnessed the expansion of the market in England and assisted in creating the infrastructure to accommodate the growth within the company. As an industry leader, John has provided many contributions to address worldwide industry issues through his participation in the Global Economic Summit.  

Ham Brosious began his career in the audio industry as a salesman for Scully in 1960. He went on to establish Audio Techniques, which became a source of innovative pro audio products for years. Among the many products he handled was the mini mixing board created by Andy Bereza for the Allan & Heath Company in England. Ham's influence on the industry can be measured in the number of people who claim him as a mentor and the many who call him friend. Before Ham was interviewed in 2011 for the NAMM Oral History program his was the most-often suggested name to be included in the collection. A sure sign he made his mark on many!

Gene Fresco is one of the top sales reps of our industry. As a mentor and teacher, he has provided real and practical sales methods to countless men and women in and out of the music products industry. His first love is selling and he has made a career of it and the craft of teaching it to others. His pioneering skills revolutionized the Sunn Company in the early 70s. In fact, it was Gene's idea for them to sell lighting gear –get it Sunn light! Gene took on over 20 lines over the next 30 plus years and still enjoys the craft of selling.

Mateo Galanti and his family have been instrumental in the growth and development of the accordion and organ industry, both inside and outside the United States. Beginning in the 1950s, the accordion became one of the leading instruments in the industry; however, dealer relations were not yet well organized for imported goods. The Galanti family pioneered these efforts and worked the accordion explosion right into the organ craze of the 1950s and 60s. Mateo developed one of the first portable keyboards, which was the first of many innovations enjoyed by the company.

Mitch Gallagher grew up in a musical family. His mother and her sisters sang three-part harmony for dance bands, encouraging all of the children in the family to get involved with music. Mitch followed his love of music throughout college and into a salesman job for the Sweetwater Sound retail store beginning in 1992. He grew in that position and helped with the marketing side of the business and writing for the company’s newsletter. Mitch enjoyed writing about the gear and in fact left Sweetwater for a time to become editor of Keyboard Magazine as well as EQ Magazine. In 2005, Mitch returned to Sweetwater as Editorial Director in charge of the catalogs, newsletter, e-newsletter and website, a position he enjoys very much.