George Mantoan got his start in music by playing in a rock and roll band. He took his knowledge of music products and ran a successful music store in downtown Chicago. He also offered credit to musicians in the area that needed to finance instruments, and would go around to local clubs on Saturday nights to collect payments - a very smart tactic! George is currently president...
Library
Recently Completed
Steve Bishir found his passion for engineering while attending Belmont University in Tennessee. Steve first had an...
Terry Christian is a noted recording engineer whose passion for music began as a drummer. While playing in bands as a...
Jimmy Gilmer was born in Chicago, but spent his formative years in Amarillo, Texas. As a singer and guitar player,...
Full Interviews
This is the full length NAMM Oral History interview with Pauline Oliveros, which was captured on March 16, 2016. For...
This is the full length NAMM Oral History interview with Hyman Peller, which was captured on May 9, 2017. For his...
This is the full length NAMM Oral History interview with Laurie Spiegel, which was captured on June 15, 2017. For her...
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...
Out in the village of Bubenreuth, Germany lays the incredible history of a group of independent luthiers who in...
Music Stores are the first glimpse into the music industry for many of us, and often ignite the passion to play. This...
About the Library & Resource Center
The NAMM Oral History program is unique, unlike any other collection in the world. The heart of the collection is the depth of its narrative that covers 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 46 different countries, 49 U.S. states and were born between 1903 and 1988. 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 3,000 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 at dand@namm.org.