Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

Dave Bartholomew is a noted bandleader, trumpeter, and songwriter who captured a pioneering sound known as the “big beat” of rock and roll. His uncanny ability to provide the perfect musical expression to the words of his band mate Fats Domino resulted in a long list of classic recordings. Together the team wrote “I’m Walkin’,” ”Ain’t that a Shame,” “I’m in Love Again,” “Blue Monday,” and “Valley of Tears.” Equally impressive are his talents as arranger and bandleader. Over the years, he has cultivated the talents of legendary musicians including his drummer and life long friend Earl Palmer.
 

Hal Blaine is perhaps the most recorded drummer from the California recording studios of the 1950s-'70s.  His influential style can be heard on more than 170 number one hit songs and 450 tunes that made the top 40 on the charts during those decades.  His beat can be heard on hundreds of albums by artists ranging from the Beach Boys and Elvis Presley to the Carpenters and Barbra Streisand.  As a creative performer, Hal became one of the early studio players to gain such notoriety that he was asked to endorse drum kits, heads and sticks.  Shorty after the opening of the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA, Hal attended a drum exhibit and spoke to the guests about his long career in music.

Solomon Burke’s amazing career in music included a number of important landmarks! His early recordings, which combined gospel and the blues, have become important and influential material for generations of soul singers. Known as the King of Rock and Soul as well as the Bishop of Soul, his shows often included new artists, including the soon-to-be legendary Otis Redding and Joe Tex. Solomon also helped to establish the category of “soul” at Atlantic Records. He won countless honors including two WC Handy Blues Awards, a Grammy, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. King Solomon’s powerful vocals and charming personality encouraged many to become music makers the world over.

Bo Diddley was the pioneering rhythm and blues performer who taught the industry one main point in the early days of the electric guitar era. With his square cigar box guitar, patented by Gretsch, Bo demonstrated that, if it’s electronic, it could be any shape and size. Soon after he played the square guitar, companies such as Gibson patented other uniquely-shaped instruments such as the Flying V and Explorer. What people didn’t know were the hidden sides of Bo that made him what he was, 12 years of classical music lessons, violin building and a softer, more compassionate side. Bo’s NAMM Oral History interview was completed on June 23, 2005 (click on the image to view the video clip). Bo passed away on June 2, 2008.

Duane Eddy has been a strong influence on generations of guitarists and played a key role in making instrumental songs viable as hit makers in popular music. Duane recorded several hit records beginning in the late 1950s, which continued into the 1960s including “Rebel Rouser” and “Boss Guitar.” His driving bass line turned many players on to the guitar in the heyday of rock and roll including John Lennon and Jimmy Page. Duane became a much-recorded studio musician and continues to record and perform. 

Nokie Edwards was an original member of the Ventures, a rock group of the 1960s that helped popularize instrumental recordings. The band enjoyed several hit records including “Walk Don’t Run.” They remained active during much of the 60s even providing the music to the “Hawaii Five-O” television theme. Nokie has been active within the music products industry as an advisor on product design and endorser. NAMM attendees have been able to hear Nokie over the decades including as a guest on Muriel Anderson’s All Star Guitar Night. 

DJ Fontana drove down to Houston in a pink Cadillac with Elvis Presley after being hired as the then unknown singer’s first drummer. They pulled up to Herbie Brodstein’s Drum Shop (Herb would later form Pro-Mark Drum Sticks) to buy a kit. After playing on all of the sets Herb had out on display, young Elvis sat at Herb’s own set and asked if it was for sale. It was. Months later Herb saw his drum set in the pages of Life magazine. DJ recorded with Elvis beginning in 1956 and throughout the 1960s, most notably on “Jailhouse Rock,” “Treat Me Nice” and “All Shook Up.”
 

Eddie Holland gained worldwide fame as a Motown Record’s songwriter and music publisher along with his brother Brian. Eddie was also a recording artist who performed the chart-topping hit “Jamie” in the early 1960s. During the same time he penned a string of hits for some of the biggest names in soul music, many of which have had crossover covers over the last 40 years. The brothers were interviewed together for the NAMM Oral History project and remarked on more than one occasion that they felt blessed to remain strong as brothers and as a songwriting teams after so many years.
 

Brian Holland and his brother Eddie are among the most popular songwriting teams in the history of popular music! For decades they have created the words and music to Motown’s classic sound that has forever changed the way people dance, fall in love and celebrate life. The key to their success as Brian put it during their interview together, “We balance each other and watch out for each other. We never stop being brothers and that has proven to be a blessing!” The Holland Brothers represented a younger voice when they joined the ranks of the music publishers in the 1960s and they helped set standards involving copyrights of multi-media and broadcast use.  

Ike Turner was well known for his role in the life of Tina Turner and as the guitarist and arranger of her early career. However, during our interview with him, Ike took the time to discuss the early part of his own music career beginning with the first rock and roll song “Rocket 88” for which Ike played the great piano boogie-jump style that defined the early days of rock. Ike produced a host of recordings for performers such as Bobby “Blue” Bland and Otis Rush and is credited for discovering harmonica legend James Cotton. His Oral History interview was completed in Carlsbad, CA on December 1, 2005. Mr. Ike Turner passed away on December 12, 2007.