35 Interviews Completed in June 2010

Thirty-five Interviews Completed in June!

With a trip to the NAMM Summer Show in Nashville, the Music Publishers Association meeting in New York and road trips on the East Coast and in the South, we were able to add 35 interviews to the NAMM Oral History collection this month.

It was an honor to finally complete interviews with several key industry leaders who we had hoped to capture on film for several years.  This month was the right time to sit down with Vermont retailer Richard Ellis who opened his store in 1946 and long time LeBlanc vice president Ralph Zumpano who knew Vito Pascucci (who was interviewed in 2002) as a kid and would become his brother-in-law after marrying Vito’s sister.

Thanks to the help of long time Tour Manager & Production Supervisor Patrick Stansfield (interviewed last year), two legendary pro-lighting innovators were also interviewed this month; Imero Fiorentino and See Factor founder Bob See!  Now there is some incredible history!  Both men are pioneers and inventors in one of the fastest growing segments of our industry.

Several long time reps were interviewed in June.  Bill Cooper and John Maher both worked for St. Louis Music before branching out into their own careers. Dick Christian became one of the most noted piano salesmen in the industry serving Wurlitzer and Samick, among others.

While in the south we made a road trip to Greenwood, Mississippi and Trumann, Arkansas, the locations of two Baldwin Piano factories.  With the help of Harold Smith (who was interviewed in 2008) and Jim Funada, we captured interviews with Bob Sowell, Glenda Mims, Jimmie Smith, Joe Ussery and Greenwood workers Doug Segars, Rodney Ethridge and Joe Seawright.

As if that was not success enough, we also were able to interview a handful of company namesakes such as Don Oriolo of Oriolo Guitars, Rick Shubb of Shubb Capos, Mike Ladd of Mike Ladd Music, Gayle Beacock of Beacock Music Company, Ken Parker of Parker Guitars and a follow-up interview with John D’Addario of D’Addario & Company!

But wait, there are a few more, such as music publishers Bugs Bower, Ted Chapin, Nick Firth, John Kozar and Daniel Dorff (thanks to Keith Mardak and the MPA). David Ellis, who is the current president of Ellis Music in Bethel, Vermont, and Elvis’ music director Joe Guercio (thanks again to Patrick Stansfield) were also interviewed in June.  We recorded some great stories with Country and Bluegrass performer Ricky Skaggs who is also an expert on pro-audio gear (thanks Steve Block).  Songwriter and publisher Bobby Feldman, who penned “My Boyfriends Back” and “I Want Candy” was also included in the collection.  Jim Whitehill served as vice president of Gibson Guitars back in the 1970s when Norlin owned the brand.  Jim shared some great stories during his oral history interview (thanks Roger Cox).

Canada’s JAM Industries founder Marty Golden (thanks to Dominique Agnew and  Harvey Levy) and Memphis Horn’s co-founder and studio legend Wayne Jackson were also filmed after several years of trying. The NAMM Oral History team also interviewed Musictoyz.com founder Ted Rasch, Hartland Music’s Ellen McDonald who served on the NAMM Board, and Road Island’s Twin City Music president Bob Petteruti (thanks Joe Cardinale).

Speaking of thanking people for this incredible collection of interviews, I extend my thanks to the NAMM staff and Board as well as the Oral History team that includes Katie Wheeler and Tony Arambarri and ALL of those who assisted with this project this month, last month, last year and next year.  Without you, we would still be plugging in the camera!

To view our recently added webclips, please click here:
http://www.namm.org/library