Jack Ripperger

Jack Ripperger was the director of marketing for the Hammond Organ Company for seven years, at the height of the home organ boom in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. During his time in the industry Jack played a vital role in increasing the promotion of African-American musicians who were already using musical instruments but who were not getting recognition from the manufacturing and suppliers of the products. He began this effort with jazz pianist Jimmy Smith who at the time was producing a string of hits using the Hammond B3. Jack brought Jimmy to the NAMM Show, along with other such artists including Don Lewis, who would later have a long career with the Roland Corporation.