AMC

Remo Belli revolutionized the music products industry by introducing the Weather King, the single most popular drumhead in the world! As a jazz drummer, Remo was looking for ways to improve the percussive products he was using. Once his team of chemists found the perfect formula, Remo took it around to his many drummer friends to test the product out. Remo has also pioneered the use of music and wellness with his dear friend Karl Bruhn and a wave of instruments aimed at getting all ages involved with music and music making.

Richard Berger is the President of Grover Musical Products. Richard also oversaw the Trophy Grover Company as well as Grossman Musical Products, which was formed by his great uncle, Henry Grossman. During his interview, Richard provided great perspective on the way wholesale and product representative companies operated in Henry Grossman’s heyday of the 1930s to 1950s and how that is different from the way companies run today. Like his great uncle, Richard has been a long and valued supporter of the American Music Conference (AMC).  

Charles Bickel was working on the bench at Selmer when George Bundy decided to try a different plastic emulsion for his idea of a plastic clarinet. The first try was not successful. Mr. Bickel recalled the look in Bundy’s eyes when the first Resonate clarinet was tested, “We all started to clap and cheer.” The product saved the Depression-weary company and, because of its low cost, allowed many families on tight budgets to still afford music for their children. Charles worked his way up to president of Selmer before his retirement in the 1970s.

 Tom Burzycki served as President of Selmer Band Instruments while at the same time being on the NAMM Board as one of the first four commercial members to do so.  He followed that term as President of the American Music Conference during the important transition and growth of the organization during the 1990s.  His long career in the industry was followed by a part time teaching position at the University of Indiana, covering both business and advertising.  Tom’s unique approach to music education has played a vital role in many of the ind

Robert Campbell began his career in the music industry working for Conn Organ in 1947, the year the company gave a unit to President Harry S. Truman. Bob later worked with Don Leslie, the inventor of the famed Leslie organ speaker. Bob played an important role in the Leslie Speaker Company being purchased by the musical instrument division of CBS. Don and Bob made a dynamic duo in the promotion and marketing of the speaker products; they had several obstacles to overcome and yet still wound up on top. He stayed on with the Leslie product under CBS for five years before he was promoted to President of CBS Musical Instruments. He retired from CBS in the early 1980s to Bloomington, IN.  

Jack Coffey is the founder of Coffey Music in Massachusetts. Coffey Music was a one-store operation that later grew to a chain of retail stores noted for their music lessons and attention to details. As a leader in the industry, Jack held many key positions within a number of organizations, including president of the NAMM Board. Jack was one of the NAMM past presidents in attendance at the 100th anniversary of the association in 2001. He also played an important role in the development of the American Music Conference (AMC).  

Robert C. Cosgrove was hired by the Baldwin Piano Company following World War II and later worked his way up to vice president. He witnessed the re-building of the production line, which during the war was used to assemble wooden gliders. Bob also took part in what he described as a historic meeting of the piano giants when in the 1950s he served on the AMC Board along with Henry Steinway of Steinway & Sons. Bob was told at the time that it was the first time the two competing companies worked together. In the early 1960s Bob was sales manager for the piano company before becoming Vice President of Sales in the 1970s.  Bob passed away in 2010 at the age of 100.

Sid Davis took over the Musical Merchandise Review (MMR) trade magazine in the 1980s. Originally the magazine began reporting on the industry in the 1880s and has become an important resource for suppliers and retailers alike. Sid hired the magazine’s first editor, Don Johnson, who was with the publication for over 25 years and stayed on until his passing in 2008. Sid also assembled a jazz and school band magazine designed for educators. His list of innovations includes providing the industry’s first electronic weekly newsletter.

Alfredo Flores Jr. proudly took over the music store his father established in 1928. Alamo Music Center in San Antonio, Texas, has long been established as a focal point for music making in the area. Under Alfredo Flores Jr’s leadership, the product lines have increased as well as the store’s community and industry involvement. In fact he served on the NAMM Board for many years including the role as president from 1985 to 1987.