Sam Hart’s father was a preacher who sang with his siblings as the Hart Brothers. Sam grew up surrounded by music and was encouraged to join the school band in the sixth grade. In 1975, after studying music education, Sam was hired as a repairman for Wright Music in Jackson, Mississippi. Sam later joined Mississippi Music where he continued to repair instruments as well as...
Library
Recently Completed
Jewel Bass is known for singing backup on countless Malaco recordings since 1969 and with her own band, These Days. She...
Donna Reed wanted to continue to provide music lessons even after retiring from teaching in a traditional school...
Bobby Rush won his first GRAMMY at the age of 83 in 2017, some sixty years after his first professional gig as a...
Recent Podcasts
Recent Podcasts
Columbia Records Engineer, Fred Catero, is the topic of this week’s episode of The Music History Project. Join Dan,...
In this week’s edition of The Music History Project, the team dives into the deep subject of Vintage Guitars. Join Dan...
I wonder if you will listen to the Yes hit song “Owner of a Lonely Heart” the same way after you learn where the lyrics...
Vignettes
William Gard (1915-1987) served as the NAMM Executive President for over 35 years, beginning right after World War II...
Women’s role in the music industry has progressively grown and developed over the years. When the NAMM Oral History...
Bluegrass Music blends Irish Folk Music with Appalachia Mountain Music, resulting in a unique American roots style...
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