Library | NAMM.org

Library & Resource Center

Established in 1946 when NAMM was only 45 years old, the NAMM Resource Center provides its Members, the media, academic researchers and the general public with access to historical data about this great industry.

Scope
The broader scope of the collections is the history of the music products industry. Within that broader scope, materials are categorized into five main subject categories:

NAMM History
Manufacturer History
Retail History
Music History (especially as it pertains to instrument and product innovations)
Legacy Collections

Drawing on more than a century of NAMM research, records and archives, the Resource Center has access to everything from statistical records on retail music products sales to videotaped interviews with more than 1,000 of the people who have shaped this industry's history.

We hope you find what you're looking for right here, but if you have any questions, please contact us at 760.438.8001 or via e-mail at library@namm.org.

Publications

PLAYback Magazine

View Previous Issues of PLAYback Winter 2009 Fall 2008 Summer 2008 Special Edition Summer 2008 Spring 2008 Winter 2008 PLAYback...

2008 NAMM Global Report featuring Music USA

NAMM's mission is to unify, lead and strengthen the global music products industry and to increase active participation in music making. In addition,...

Cost of Doing Business

Thank you to the Retail Members who participated in the 2009 Cost of Doing Business Survey!
NAMM Member participants will receive access to a...

Oral History
In Memoriam
What's New

Oral History

Andrew Barta

Andrew Barta was born in Hungary and came to the United States with a dream of working in the music industry. Having been in rock bands in Europe,...

Billy Cobham

Billy Cobham is the acclaimed drummer who was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society’s Hall of Fame in 2006. Billy was born in Panama but...

Wesley Schaum

Wesley Schaum’s father wrote and arranged music with the hope of serving school band programs in a meaningful way. He wrote several important...

Murray Sunshine

Murray Sunshine has become a legend in the New York music retailing business. As an employee of Manny’s Music, hired by Manny himself, Murray...

Dan Vedda

Dan Vedda grew up playing music. As an arranger and trumpeter he gained a respected reputation in the Westlake area of Ohio. After working for a...

Allan Ward

Allan Ward has enjoyed nearly 40 years in the print music industry. He has become one of the leaders in promotion and education regarding sheet...

George Westjohn

George Westjohn was hired by Lowell Samuels to oversee the expansion of Mr. Samuels’ interests in the wholesale music business. Mr. Samuels, a...

More Oral History

In Memoriam

Remembering oral history interviewees who passed away in 2009.

George Lewis

George Lewis is the founder of George L’s in Madison, Tennessee, one of the industry’s leading innovators of cable and electronic...

Heribert Glassl

Heribert Glassl had two musical loves, the tuba and the cello. While it may seem like a strange pairing, Mr. Glassl made it work. In fact, after a...

Ed Garbett

Ed Garbett was the founder of the Progressive Music store in McKeesport Pennsylvania in the years following World War II. He worked for...

Harry Benson

Harry Benson became the president of William Lewis & Sons when the company was under the ownership of Chicago Musical Instrument...

Ernesto Gittli

Ernesto Gittli was born in Uruguay and moved to the U.S. as a small boy before he began taking piano lessons. He met his wife, who also taught music,...