Music Publishing

Edna Adams has been a mentor to many within the music publishing and music retail business since first entering the industry in the early 1970s. She joined Charlie Hansen Music Publishing and Warner Brothers Publishing for which she traveled to dealers around the country. Her extra attention to details provided suggestions on product placement in the stores and ideas on bringing more customers to the store through special programs and promotions. Edna approached her customers with the theory that if they succeeded, she would be successful. After leaving Warner Brothers she worked for FKH Publishing before joining World Wide Music Publishing in 2010. 

Hawley Ades was hired by Irving Berlin in 1932 to assist the legendary American songwriter with musical arrangements.  Hawley stayed with Berlin for five years before being hired by choir master and bandleader Fred Waring.  He joined Mr. Waring at the time the bandleader hoped to launch his own music publishing company, which became Shawnee Press.  Hawley wrote a noted method book on choral conducting and thousands of published arrangements for Shawnee.  In Fact, he worked for Shawnee Press until Mr.

Henry Adler helped define the percussion industry with his music publishing company, drum shop and method books.  His amazing life in music began as a drummer during the big band era.  His many gigs and one nighters gained the attention of a friend who encouraged Henry to open a drum studio and music studio in the heart of New York City.  The Henry Adler Music Store near Time Square was an important resource for drummers, both those playing in town and those traveling.  He established the Henry Adler Publishing Company and released a method book he co-wrote with Buddy Rich on the rudiments of percussion, along with the Latin drummer’s guide and method book he wrote w

 John Aldridge has become one of the leading experts on the history of drums, percussion companies, and their products.  As a publisher and editor, John established the magazine “Not So Modern Drummer” and dedicated its pages to the vintage drum, the history of which otherwise might have been lost.  John has been instrumental in preserving important percussive collections and documentation to ensure the material could be accessed by those interested.  John’s NAMM Oral History interview was

Van Alexander co-wrote “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” with Ella Fitzgerald while both worked in the Chick Webb Orchestra back in 1938. The success of that song led to a job as arranger for Webb as well as Benny Goodman and Paul Whiteman and super stardom for Ella. Van formed his own band during the wonderful swing era but gave it up to work in the movies when Bing Crosby offered him a job in 1948.

 Eleanor Anderson and her son Kurt Anderson are co-managers of Woodbury Press, the music company formed by Eleanor’s late husband, Leroy Anderson.  As composer and arranger, Leroy published popular classical music that helped create a whole new musical genre during the late 1940s and 1950s.  The Boston Pops featured most of Leroy’s works with several becoming hit recordings, including “Sleigh Ride” and “The Blue Tango.”  Since Leroy’s passing in the early 1970s, Eleanor has ensured her husband’s music is available to all who ask.  They have worked hard to keep Leroy’s legacy a live and worked with PBS to create a centennia

Kurt Anderson took over the music publishing company formed by his parents and more importantly kept the flame of his father’s extraordinary music legacy alive and well. In 2009, upon the centennial of Leroy Anderson’s birth, Kurt wrote several articles and helped produce a PBS program on his father’s music. The Woodbury Publishing Company continues to make Kurt’s father’s music available to bands and orchestras around the world. 

Whispering Bill Anderson began his music career as a songwriter penning the 1958 hit “City Lights” for Ray Price. Within a few years Bill was encouraged to sing some of his songs in his low and mellow way. The results were a string of hit songs including the cross-over smash record “Still” in 1963 and a nickname, Whispering Bill. Over the years he has been an actor, game show star and television host but found himself back to songwriting from the 1990s onwards. Music is a great part of Whispering Bill and, luckily for us, he is still sharing it with the world. 

Hans-Jorg Andre’s great great grandfather formed Musikhaus Andre Musikverlag Johann Andre in 1774. The company was the first to bring lithograph processes to the production of printed music, making a profound and everlasting impact on the way music was printed. Over the years the publishing company expanded to become a music retailer in Offenbach. Under Hans-Jorg’s leadership the company embraced the computer age and on-line commerce.  

Tom Baker began his career in the industry at Menchey Music outside of York, Pennsylvania, where he developed and managed the sheet music department. After 30 years, Tom is right where he started, with one exception. Today he is one of the most recognized and respected sheet music retailers in the industry. At any given Retail Print Music Dealers Association (RPMDA) meeting, you will see Tom, most likely in the background, doing what he does best -- learning and gathering information always with the hopes of improving his company’s sheet music department.