Yamaha

 David L. Abell formed his piano retail store in Beverly Hills back in the late 1950s.  Since that time he has established one of the finest reputations in our industry.  Noted musicians, industry leaders and movie stars alike have boasted of his quality of service and the fact that most of his deals have been based on a handshake.  David, however, is equally proud of the regular customers who may not be famous but are treated as if they were.  Back in the early 1960s, David L.

 Takehiko Akaboshi, the legendary Japanese music therapist and founder of the world renowned Japan Music Volunteer Association, began his career as a popular singer who recorded traditional and new folk songs as early as the 1950s.  While singing around the country he began seeing the benefits of music on the ill and in 1972 created “ryouiku ongaku” or therapeutic music programs that have since been proven to reduce stress and pain in mind and body for his many patients.  Mr.

 Ray Anthony has only endorsed two products during his long and successful career-- only two because he doesn’t give use of his name lightly.  As a teenager he played trumpet for the famed Glenn Miller Orchestra during the swing era.  A decade later he formed his own band and recorded a number of his own tunes including “The Bunny Hop.”  He played a Selmer trumpet in his early career, but switched some 40 years ago to a Yamaha trumpet.  Ray also formed his own music publi

John Carruthers has established himself as a leading expert on guitars and amplifiers as a designer, builder and repairman. Working along side Leo Fender at Music Man, John helped improve the quality of the product line and years later helped establish a series of instruments for Yamaha including their electric bass and acoustic guitar line. John’s reputation grew in part due to a decade long column he wrote for Guitar Player Magazine and his dedication to teaching.

Dr. John Chowning is known throughout the world for his discovery of FM sound synthesis, which, when used in the context of electronic musical instruments, provided an alternative to the way synthesized music was being created. The technology was first used with great success in the Yamaha DX7, which not only sold extremely well and was a success in the market place, but it changed the way the world thought of and used electronic keyboards. As a professor at Stanford University, Dr.

 Ed Garbett was the founder of the Progressive Music store in McKeesport Pennsylvania in the years following World War II.  He worked for Gretsch as Educational Director and a decade later was hired by Yamaha and oversaw the company’s growing school band programs throughout the 1960s and 70s.  One of his first employees at Progressive Music was the instrument repairman William Schultz, who got his start in the industry thanks to Ed.  When Mr.

Terry Gibbs seems to live for the vibes! As a legendary jazz percussionist, Terry’s power and unique style of mallet playing has singled him out as one of the top vibraphonists in the history of jazz. Being influenced by Red Norvo and Lionel Hampton, Terry gave the vibes a fresh new sound in the pre- and post-Bebop eras. For decades he has endorsed the Yamaha product line and has contributed ideas in function and design for a new generation of products.
 

Charles Hale had an idea to hire a monkey to show how an easy-play organ could be operated by anyone. The hysterically funny ads were one of a million clever ideas Hale used in selling keyboard instruments. As the founder of Hale’s Piano and Organ Company in Florida, he established himself as a creative industry leader, leading to the position of President of the NAMM Board of Directors from 1981-1983.

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.

William Schultz turned the struggling Fender Musical Instrument Corporation into an industry leader after purchasing the famed guitar company from CBS in 1985. Born in McKeesport, PA on July 30, 1926, he began playing the saxophone professionally before World War II and then opened his own musical instrument repair business within the Progressive Music store. He later joined Yamaha Musical Products Co., rising to president before being lured to CBS Musical Instruments, a division of the broadcasting company.