In Memoriam

Travis Wammack was a recording artist, studio musician, and songwriter who worked closely with Rick Hall, founder of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Travis charted his first hit at just 17 years old with the instrumental “Scratchy,” recorded in Memphis and engineered by Roland Janes, an experience that gave him early insight into the recording studio process. After moving to Muscle Shoals and working with Rick Hall at FAME Studios, Travis played on numerous hit recordings as well as demo sessions, including many of his own compositions.

Gerhard Meinl represented the seventh generation of a distinguished family of brass instrument makers whose leadership helped shape the modern wind instrument industry. After the reunification of Germany, Gerhard played a pivotal role in integrating the formerly state-owned B&S GmbH in Markneukirchen with Melton Meinl Weston in 1991, helping preserve and strengthen an important tradition of European instrument craftsmanship. In 1994, he and an investment group acquired the renowned clarinet maker Antoine Courtois, further expanding the family’s global influence.

Herb Trawick and Dave Pensado became lifelong friends after meeting in the lobby of a recording studio in Los Angeles. Both were searching for opportunities in the music industry and exchanged contact information, beginning a partnership that would span decades. Over the years, the pair established the weekly online program Pensado’s Place, dedicated to recording engineering techniques and industry insight. The show became widely respected for featuring guest mixers and engineers who shared their knowledge and experiences with audiences around the world. Herb’s career as a music i

Jim Hennessey was working for Kaman Aerospace when he was transferred to the Ovation Guitar division. There, he collaborated closely with Charlie Kaman on several projects before moving into Ovation’s advertising department. Jim later expanded his responsibilities by leading the company’s endorsement program, helping sign more than 300 artists to Ovation during the 1970s. After leaving Kaman, Jim founded The Music People in 1979. What began as a distribution company steadily grew into a successful manufacturing operation.

Matteo Galanti and his family were instrumental in the growth and development of the accordion and organ industry, both inside and outside the United States..

John Riddle played a vital role in the NAMM Trade Show for decades. His strong relationships with exhibiting companies reflected a deep commitment to customer service as he supported NAMM members while ensuring adherence to show rules and regulations. Walking the show floor with John was an education in itself, as his knowledge, professionalism, and steady presence helped guide both exhibitors and staff alike. He was dedicated to the core values of NAMM in such a lasting way that it often became difficult to distinguish which services had always existed and which ones John had tho

Jerry Kennedy was just a young teenager when he and a friend heard Elvis Presley’s first Sun recording. They were blown away by the electric guitar they heard but later realized from photographs that Elvis played acoustic. Determined to learn more, they went to see Elvis when he performed in their hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1955, before his meteoric rise to fame. They eventually discovered that the guitarist was Scotty Moore but were disappointed that the screaming fans made it difficult to hear his playing. Ironically, Jerry’s remarkable talents as a guitarist later le

Cliff Acred began playing music in junior high school and later majored in music in college.  He played in the 3rd Army Band out of Atlanta while in the service and once out returned home to Memphis.  Cliff was hired to play bass in the house bands for Sun Records and later for Stax Records.  At the same time he operated the American Music Store with his friend Jack Hale.  When both men were busy doing session work they decided to close the store.  He worked at the store from 1963-73, when he and Jack closed the doors.  After his studio work moved to Nashville in the 1970s, Cliff

David Gold created a special formula that became the defining element of the echo chambers in his Hollywood recording studio, Gold Star Studios. The studio itself reflected David’s inventive spirit — filled with furniture, electronic machines, and custom-built equipment crafted by his own hands. Every control board and every modification made over the years bore his personal touch, resulting in a sound that was unmistakably unique.

Marvin Blickenstaff had an indelible mark on countless music students of all ages over his long career. As an educator, he taught at the college level and provided thousands of workshops, clinics, and masterclasses on many aspects of music, especially in the field of pedagogy. As a method book author, Marvin teamed with Louise Bianchi and Lynn Freeman Olson to create the Music Pathways Series for Carl Fischer Music. The series was innovative and created the foundation for many of Marvin’s well-attended workshops.

Jim Van Hook has played an enormous role in the growth of the church music publishing industry. As founder of Brentwood Music and later as president of Word, he has overseen two of the three largest Christian music companies in the United States. His insight on current conditions of the industry as well as the changes he has observed within our interview with him was fascinating. He grew up in southern Georgia, the son of a preacher who went to Bible school and began playing trumpet at Peabody University where he earned his masters degree in music education.

Stanley Miller received the 2009 Parnelli Audio Innovator Award for his long and successful career in the music and concert production industries. In 1962, he opened a small commercial audio store where he designed sound systems and provided sound for touring acts such as the Smothers Brothers and the Carpenters as they traveled through the Midwest. In 1967, Stanley found himself in Vermillion, South Dakota, working with several artists, including a young singer-songwriter from New York named Neil Diamond. Over the years, Stanley worked with Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, John Denver, and

Jerry Carp volunteered as a docent for the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music and helped share the history of the music products industry with countless museum visitors since its opening in 2000. During his years surrounded by musical innovation, Jerry developed a deep interest in the theremin, the first electronic instrument, and studied its background extensively, ultimately becoming the museum’s expert on the subject. Jerry even assembled a kit theremin for the museum’s interactive gallery, allowing visitors to experience the instrument firsthand.

John Schauer grew up in Indiana where his father offered him some sage advice; “if you listen, you will know what to say.” The quote stayed with John as he developed a career in the music industry. In 1987 he joined the Yamaha team in the corporate communications department.

Joe Teixeira opened a small music store in San Jose, California, in 1964. As the fiftieth anniversary approached in 2013, Joe sat down for his NAMM Oral History interview to begin documenting the contributions of Music Village. The company had grown to two locations and continued to focus on teaching, just as Joe had done from the very beginning. The popularity of the guitar in the early 1960s helped establish the store, both through its strong instrument selection and its commitment to lessons and repairs.

Mick Abrahams was given his first music lessons by his mother, who was a piano teacher. When he transitioned to guitar, he formed a band with some schoolmates and began writing songs. When he met Ian Anderson, the two shared an interest in forming a band focused on original material, and they collaborated on several songs for the 1968 album This Was, the first studio recording by the now-famous British rock band Jethro Tull. Mick and Ian co-wrote “Beggar’s Farm,” and the album also included “Move On Alone,” which Mick wrote on his own.

Jim Kaplan and his longtime partner, Jim Botti, were both respected band directors in Pittsburgh-area schools, where they taught and mentored countless students who benefited from their musicianship, discipline, and dedication to music education. Through their years in the classroom, Jim Kaplan helped shape generations of young musicians, many of whom went on to lifelong involvement in music. While teaching, Jim and Jim recognized a growing need for quality private instruction after school. Together, they opened a small teaching studio that included a modest glass case for band ac

Toshio Akiyama was an internationally renowned figure, widely known for his contributions as the “father of the Japanese wind bands.” After receiving his education at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in the United States, Mr. Akiyama returned to Japan, where he served as Vice President of the All-Japan Band Association from 1961 to 1971 and later as President of the Japanese Band Directors’ Association from 1993 to 1997. After teaching in public schools for 19 years, Mr. Akiyama also conducted the Sony Concert Band.

Gordon Goodwin’s incredible musical journey as a musician, bandleader, composer, and arranger could be traced back to the influence of Count Basie. Basie led a big band during the swing era and was often remembered for the band’s tightness and its driving rhythm section. Gordon’s many musical organizations, including the popular Big Phat Band, were often described in a similar way. Based in Los Angeles, Gordon and his band were active for decades in recording studios, on movie sound stages, and in live musical events. His bands appeared regularly at Disneyland and were heard with

Ken Dattmore was the Marketing Manager for Yamaha’s strings department, a role that reflected his lifelong passion for the music products industry. He began his career with the William Lewis & Son Company, which helped place violins into the hands of thousands of young music students around the world. Ken later operated his own company, Pegasus Strings, before joining Yamaha. During his time there, he played a key role in the growth and recognition of the electric violin, which earned a Best in Show honor at the 2016 NAMM Show—a moment of great pride for him.

Steve Cropper became an integral part of the Stax Studio sound in Memphis as a guitarist, songwriter, and producer. He was a member of the studio’s house band, the Mar-Keys, as well as Booker T. Jones’ MGs, and recorded hundreds of sides for a wide range of artists. Steve famously played guitar on Otis Redding’s last recording—and his biggest hit—“(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” in 1967. After moving to Los Angeles, Steve continued recording as a well-respected studio musician with artists ranging from Tower of Power to Ringo Starr.

Sam Tritico spent over five decades as a respected and well-loved music retailer, dedicated to helping musicians find their perfect sound. His love for music began as a child when his sister introduced him to Elvis records, but it was The Beatles’ legendary 1964 performance on The Ed Sullivan Show that changed everything for young Sam. He was gifted a Telecaster in eighth grade, attended Stamps Music School summer camps, and by 11th grade, he had also picked up the bass. Like many musicians, Sam balanced working in music stores by day and gigging at night, gaining invaluable exper

Glen Kersten and his wife had just been married when they rented a small house that turned out to be owned by Frank Lohnes. Mr. Lohnes also owned a music store called Dearborn Piano & Organ. Glen joined the sales team and was introduced to the Rodgers Organ, an instrument he would remain connected with for nearly 60 years. He became the top salesman for Rodgers in the 1960s and later moved into the role of Eastern Regional Sales Manager before serving as manager of the Engineering Division. He worked closely with the company’s co-founders, President Rodgers Jenkins and chief e

Phil Upchurch was a teenager when he joined the solid studio musicians at Chess Records in Chicago. The seasoned veterans took Phil under their wings, showed him the ropes, and embraced the unique style he brought to the studio’s distinctive sound. He later played on hundreds of recordings for artists including Quincy Jones, Donny Hathaway, and Curtis Mayfield. Phil also landed his own instrumental hit with his band, “You Can’t Sit Down.” In addition to his extensive studio work, Phil helped design a signature D’Angelico-style guitar, which he often played during recordings and li

Walt Aldridge attended the University of Alabama as a business major before transferring to the University of North Alabama to enroll in its music business program, drawn in part by the school’s internship with FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals. That internship proved pivotal, showing Walt that he belonged in the studio and leading to a 17-year stint working with Rick Hall, the founder of FAME. Walt received his first guitar, a Silvertone, as a Christmas gift when he was eight years old, and he wrote a handful of songs as a teenager. Still, it was Rick Hall who encouraged hi

Harry Sparks was the founder of the Famous Old Time Music Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. He grew up during the folk and bluegrass era of the 1960s and joined a band at a young age. Over the years, he began repairing instruments—first for his bandmates and friends—which eventually led him to open his own store. For some time, Harry made his own line of banjos, modeled after the vintage instruments of the 1920s and 30s. He studied architecture in college and built a career in that field while always keeping a hand in music.

Yukio Ohashi was the chairman of one of Japan’s leading musical instrument distributors, Prima Gakki. The company was established in 1945 as a sheet-music distributor and wholesaler. Over the years, Yukio became a key figure in the development of Japan’s music industry, helping design associations and creating music-encouraging events and materials to increase active music making. As a leader in the Wholesaler Division of the Japan Music Industry Association, he played an important role in strengthening music education programs and supporting musical events that expanded music mak

Gerhilde Benker served as president of Höfner Music, the company founded by her grandfather Karl Höfner in 1864 in Eger, Germany. A pioneering woman in the music products industry, she led one of its most innovative and influential firms with vision and grace. Her father, Walter, invented the iconic Höfner bass — known worldwide as the “Beatle Bass” after a young Paul McCartney adopted it. The endorsement of the instrument by the most popular band in the world created a demand unlike anything the company had ever experienced.

Donna Jean Godchaux was the only female singer to perform and record with the Grateful Dead, joining the band in 1971 and remaining with them through 1979. As the group’s first female vocalist, she brought a soulful warmth and dynamic energy to their sound, both on stage and in the studio. Born and raised in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Donna Jean’s musical path began early—at just nine years old, she met Rick Hall before he opened FAME Studios and recorded demos in his small studio above the City Drug Store.

Jack DeJohnette was truly a drummer’s drummer — admired by his peers and celebrated by jazz fans around the world. His innovative approach, blending subtlety with power and creativity with groove, made him one of the most respected and influential drummers of his generation. Beginning in the 1960s, Jack became a driving force on countless jazz and popular recordings, performing and recording with legends such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Sonny Rollins, and Pat Metheny.

Tom Szerencse worked his way up to an Engineering Group Manager overseeing Crown International’s design prototyping efforts. In the mid 80’s his team worked with the Marketing department to define new products that would solve customer requirements. Then later he moved to manufacturing as a Sustaining Engineer, where he remedied manufacturing issues on the floor increasing the product quality and value.

Tsunesaburo Kurosawa had a deep passion for instrument building and became one of Japan’s leading classical guitar luthiers. The success of his guitars led him to establish a showcase for his instruments, and he soon opened his own shop in Tokyo. This achievement was followed by a second location. As sales increased, Kurosawa-san expanded his craftsmanship to include folk and even electric guitars to meet the growing demands of his customers.