Arthur Sloatman was working at Valley Sound in Los Angeles when he was called to the Record Plant to repair a synthesizer that required attention during a session with Frank Zappa. Later when Frank had a question while learning the Linn Drum Machine and other synths, he called on Art to help. With Frank’s encouragement, he formed his own company to provide...
Library
Recently Completed
David Kramny proudly joined his father in business to help run PPV Media. His father, Thilo, formed the company in 1984...
Dr. Merryl Goldberg grew up inspired by music. Her parents wanted her to learn guitar, but she always had a soft spot...
Robert Hobbs is very proud of his father’s role in music. His father, Revis Hobbs, was a radio engineer for station WSM...
Recent Podcasts
Recent Podcasts
Dan, Mike and Michelle are talking Big Bands in this week’s episode of The Music History Project. In part one of this...
In this week’s episode of The Music History Project, we are highlighting the inventors Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie. This...
This year to the day marks the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival. The Music History Project team...
Vignettes
The piano sticker program was a NAMM program in the late 20's to the 30's and again briefly in the 1950's. The sticker...
Long time music store owner and rights advocate, Fat Dog, was looking for a way to pay tribute to his all-time favorite...
Studio Engineers make the music come alive for the listener. As Brooks Arthur notes, engineers are like the extra band...
About the Library & Resource Center
The NAMM Oral History Collection is unique, unlike any other collection in the world. The heart of the Collection is the depth of its narratives that cover innovative creations, the evolution of musical instruments, the ever-changing world of music retail, as well as our collective quest to improve music education around the globe. Oral History participants have come from 72 different countries, 49 U.S. states and were born between 1903 and 1997. This collection is our journal, our own way of chronicling ourselves and our community—the community we so eagerly embrace at the NAMM shows and so proudly celebrate throughout the year. This library of video interviews, now over 3,500 strong and always growing, contains the story of our industry told by those who helped to shape it and have watched it expand and develop through the years.
We hope you find what you're looking for right here, but if you have any questions, please contact us at 760.438.8001 or via e-mail