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In Memoriam

Remembering oral history interviewees who passed away in 2013.

George Quinlan Sr

George Quinlan is proud of his store outside of Chicago, for which the walls are full of photographs of the children he rented or sold an instrument to, and the fact that he survived...

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Wolfe Taninbaum

Wolfe Taninbaum was a leader in the development of synthetic reeds, although he is best known for his mouthpiece designs. The Taninbaum mouthpiece company was established in 1952 to provide a range of tones he was unable to find...

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Vivian Artley

 Vivian Artley’s brother formed the Artley Flute Company in Elkhart, IN, during the 1930s.  With an innovation that allowed the instrument to be made cheaper, Artley...

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Dale Hyatt

Dale Hyatt was hired by Leo Fender while the iconic guitar building was still a radio repairman in Fullerton, CA. The year was 1948. Dale recalls all of the major landmarks that helped establish the development of the...

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Robert Zildjian

Robert and Willi Zildjian were interviewed together at the NAMM show in Anaheim on January 18, 2006, the year which marked the 25th anniversary of their cymbal company. SABIAN, whose name comes from the first two...

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Morley Thompson

Morley Thompson’s financial background was a key element in the expansion of the Baldwin Piano Company during the 1980s. Morley created a credit company and finance programs under the Baldwin name to branch off...

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William Fuller

William Fuller began working as a salesman for the Wurlitzer Company in 1953. His original idea was to gain some sales training and look for a job in the office, which was based in his hometown of DeKalb, Ill. William really...

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Bertil Larson

Bertil Larson was like so many of the former employees at the mighty Wurlitzer Company that found his experiences there to have been happy ones and the friends he has made like family. The DeKalb, Illinois plant and main...

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Bill Crowden

Bill Crowden is one of the true veterans of the music products industry!  He owned and operated Drums Ltd, one of the hot spots for jazz, symphonic and rock drummers for several decades.  The store was...

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Jerry Osiecki

Jerry Osiecki’s grew up in the music industry. His father started Osiecki’s Music store out of his parent’s home in the middle of the Depression. When he little his father passed away but his mother...

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