Ibanez Guitars

Gary Bennett entered the music products industry in 1964 working for Chesbro Music in Idaho. At the time of his NAMM Oral History interview, taped during the NAMM Show in January 2012, Gary was still proudly working for Chesbro. During the 1970s Gary played a vital role in their becoming the distributors for Ibanez and Hoshino brands within the United States. Gary has been a fixture at the NAMM shows for decades resulting in one retailer’s remark, “It does not feel like a NAMM Show until I shake Gary’s hand.”

Bobby Cochran got his start in music playing the licks of his uncle Eddie, who passed away when Bobby was just ten years old. As he developed his own style he performed with Steppenwolf, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Leon Russel, as well as his own bands as singer and guitarist. He formed several important relationships within the music products industry with companies such as Fender, Charvel, Cakewalk, Sonic Foundry, Yamaha, Peavey and with the Ibanez Guitar Company. Working directly with people like Hartley Peavey, and design engineers with all of these companies, Bobby helped test and design many guitars, amplifiers, software, and effects lines that have influenced the musical instrument world.  

Yoshi Hoshino is the president of Hoshino Gakki Company, a music company that has remained in his family since first opening in 1908 to sell sheet music in Japan. The distribution segment of the business began to grow throughout the next hundred years. Along the way the company developed the Ibanez Guitar line as well as the Tama Drum products. Yoshi was involved first hand in the creation of the company’s export business especially with regards to establishing the product names within the United States beginning in the 1960s with the Ibanez Guitar. In the decades that followed, Yoshi played a vital role in the company’s strong reputation for innovative instruments and quality that they continue to enjoy today. 

Harry Rosenbloom is the founder of Medley Music and one of the true pioneers of import relations with the Japanese beginning in the late 1950s. He developed and maintained key partnerships with the Japanese suppliers and was one of the first advocates for better trade relations between the United States and Japan. The Ibanez guitar line was just one of the successful results of his partnerships. Harry is also the father of Gerson Rosenbloom, the second president of Medley Music and a NAMM Past President. Gerson closed Medley Music in December 2008.  

Toshitsugu “Tom” Tanaka, the president of Hoshino Gakki. Ltd, recalled with a smile his early training in the industry under Harry Rosenbloom of Medley Music. That experience not only educated him on the American instrument market, it was also the foundation of his partnership with Mr. Rosenbloom. Together the two men established the Ibanez Guitar brand and brought it to the world market. Mr. Tanaka played a key role in the establishment and operation of Hoshino USA and served as president during the years the company launched the Tama drum line.

Steve Vai is a man that could be described as a planet that revolves around a star named Music. His life is ever entwined in an orbit that includes composing, transcription, performance, acting, and philanthropy. He first gravitated into exposure as Frank Zappa’s guitarist. Affectionately coined “my little Italian virtuoso” by Frank himself, Steve’s fantastic fretboard acrobatics propelled him into stints with David Lee Roth and Whitesnake. Steve’s “do it yourself” attitude is the benchmark for his successful solo career and the creation of his own recording label that spotlights many other brilliant performers.