flutes

Ian Anderson grew up in England during the 1960s and had a long list of guitar heroes who inspired him to play music. However, he found the power of people like Eric Clapton to be disconcerting, as young Ian felt inferior next to such guitar gods. He felt his best chances to success in rock was to play an instrument that Clapton did not play and so he found his way to the flute. Ian’s ear and passion for music allowed the otherwise non-rock instrument to not only fit in, but to become an influence.

 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 became a successful product for school band programs as well as a well-established and noted professional line of products.  Vivian’s brother, Hube, and their cousin Don went into business together developing a brand of flutes still being made today.  The family history has not been well documented until our interview with Vivian, which was full of family stories and her memories of the flute making days. 

Rod Baltimore has been a music retailer in New York for over 40 years. Much of that time was spent on the famed 48th street music central. Working with brass and woodwinds, Rod has maintained one of the most sought after repair shops in the state and often does work for customers outside the state and country. His career is highlighted by stories of Manny’s Music across the street and Sam Ash as well as the many friends and celebrities he has worked with over the years. Today, Rod is owner of New York Woodwind and Brass Music Company and, yes, you guessed it, it is located on 48th street, New York, New York.

Carl Bosse played an important role in the uncovering of our industry’s history when he sat down for our interview to discuss the Artley Flute Company. Since Mr. Artley had passed away in the 1960s and Carl’s father, Richard Bosse, who had owned the company but was in poor health to relay his stories, Carl stepped in to help. Carl had worked for the company and kept many of his father’s papers. Carl spoke of his friendship with Mr. Artley and the product line that made the company world renowned. He also outlined some of his father’s innovative marketing ideas that made him a pioneer in the field.  

Buddy Collette changed music in more than one way. As a noted reed man, he played jazz along some of the greatest players in history including his boyhood friend, Charlie Mingus. Buddy was instrumental in the birth of the Los Angeles jazz scene. Beginning in the late 1940s, Buddy set out to break the color line within the American musicians’ union, which at the time separated the black performers from the whites within their directories. Thanks to Buddy’s efforts the Los Angeles chapter of the union was among the first to classify all members as equal.

Michael Cooney taught music in the public schools in Massachusetts for over 25 years. During the time of his teaching he also established a high-end flute company in the early 1970s called Northeast Winds. Over the years the company built a worldwide reputation for quality of product with a special focus to customer satisfaction. After retiring from teaching he spent more time with the company, which expanded to include Cavallaro cases for a time and added products such as piccolos and clarinets. Michael continues to teach and play the flute and takes pride in the products that he offers his customers.  

Emerson Deford may have made more hand-crafted flutes than anyone else. It is a strong statement, but then again he has produced flutes under such brand names as Deford and Emerson since 1952. The years have come and gone and still the master of the flute sat behind his bench hammering and cutting each and every part of the instrument, some 380 parts in all. His brands gained international fame when he was requested to create instruments for symphonic orchestras and for such popular programs as the Lawrence Welk television show.
 

James Glanville was part of the team that relocated the Conn instrument manufacturing operations from Elkhart, IN to Nogales, Mexico, back in 1972. The result was a heavy blow to Elkhart, which had once been the Band Instrument Capital of the World. However, it was a needed move in order to keep the company viable in the changing world of manufacturing. James worked hard to produce quality instruments in the Nogales factory, which remained open until the early 1980s.

Joe Guth’s career in the music products industry began with a short stint with Selmer and as a former band director he brought a great perspective to selling instruments to school music programs. He later had a storied 25-year career at Gemeinhart Flutes in Elkhart, IN, where he furthered his relationships with dealers in larger markets along with the band directors with whom he could so easily relate. One of Joe’s most satisfying aspects of his career in the industry is the many friendships he has developed along the way.

DeDe Guth joined the customer service team at Yamaha’s band instrument factory in Michigan in 1980. There she learned first hand the company’s philosophy and attention to customer satisfaction. Ten years later she was offered a job in Elkhart, Indiana to work at the Gemeinhardt Flute Company, where she also stayed for ten years. During that time she worked closely with then-president Glenn Holtz and the sales team to provide the best possible service to their customers. While working for the company she met her husband Joe who worked as a sales rep for Gemeinhardt.