Oral History - all
Andy Marshall has had a deep and rich musical education both in the classroom and on stage. In 1986 he established THD Electronics to focus on manufacturing guitar amplifiers. He set out to provide reissue amps (the A-10 was first), which really had not been done before and it gave Andy a chance to... more
Del Rey lives and breathes musical passion! Since she was a child she had the skills and desire to communicate through music and soon realized her playing brought happiness to others. The bonus is that music brings her great joy too! Early in her career she played guitar in rock bands and thanks to... more
Glen Kersten and his wife were just 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 be connected with... more
Deanie Sigafoos began working for Prosser Piano when it was located on 6th Avenue in Tacoma, Washington. She recalls meeting the owners, Laurie and Duane Prosser, and how a close friendship seemed to have started immediately. This was 1969 and in all Deanie stayed with the store for 32 years,... more
Kerry Prosser can trace his passion for the piano business directly to his parents who formed the family business. Prosser Pianos has served the Tacoma music community since 1955, and over the years has had locations throughout three states. Kerry grew up with a love of selling and wanting to find... more
Laurie Prosser and her husband Duane worked together at a small piano store in Sioux Falls, South Dakota before moving to Washington state in 1955. There the couple opened the first Prosser Piano stores in Tacoma, beginning a family business that would include their two sons, Kevin and Kerry.... more
Earnie Bailey was mesmerized as a kid, sitting in the front row of an Earth, Wind & Fire concert and seeing all the instruments up close! This experience inspired him to go to the library to learn all he could about guitar building and repair. While in high school Earnie made a guitar in wood... more
Deb Olsen provided her views on just how the Guild of American Luthiers began during her NAMM Oral History interview. Her insight offered a wonderful background into the early idea by JR Beal and her husband, Tim Olsen, as they sought to create an organization whose members would share ideas and... more
Tim Olsen set out to build his own guitar out of a cigar box and other items found around the house. He was in the fifth grade at the time! He learned that the luthier Harvey Thomas lived in the next town and sought his help in his quest to build a great sounding instrument. Getting to Harvey... more
Leanne Trevalyan was just twelve years old when she taught herself how to play the guitar using the Mel Bay method book on a no-name instrument her mother picked up at Montgomery Wards. Leanne’s love of music making was inspired by the influences of such performers as Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie... more
Billy Stoops has always been a Fender Telecaster player! He pursued his musical career while having a day job for years hanging wallpaper. Billy took a leap of faith by quitting his day job to focus on music back in 2003, and has never looked back. Billy has played and recorded with several groups... more
Chris Arent is the instrument repair technician for Ted Brown Music in Tacoma, Washington, a position that is near and dear to him. Chris has always been closely associated with band and orchestral instruments, especially the saxophone for which he has played and taught throughout his career. Chris... more
Pastor Dave Brown developed a rich and meaningful appreciation for music when he began playing cornet in his high school band. He attended many concerts as a teen (namely at Cafe Au Go Go and the Fillmore), developing a deep appreciation for the blues music he encountered. As he grew up he also... more
Ellie Stevens has a smile that lights up the room. And when that room is the lobby of Ted Brown Music in Tacoma, people seem to feel right at home right when they walk in the door! As a kid she played the organ and in 1973, as a teenager, she was hired to play at the mall to entice customers to... more
Hedges Capers rose to fame in the late 1960s as half of the folk rock duo Capers & Carson. He and his singing partner, Donna Carson (who was later his wife for several years) began singing together in 1967 and only had a few weeks rehearsal before making a big splash at the Troubadour in West ... more
Pam Aalbers is a wonderful example of the notion that it take a team to accomplish great things. Always working behind the scenes, Pam has been a steady support to the staff at Ted Brown Music in Tacoma since 1976. When she started working at the store she helped out in the mail room but soon... more
Jeffrey Pellegrini was mentored as a General Manager for Ted Brown Music by Kent Isenberg, who had been with the company for over 50 years. Jeffery paid close attention to the way Kent approached each situation, especially challenges. As a result, Jeffrey felt he could carry on the position with... more
Stephanie Howe and her sister Whitney run the chain of music stores their grandfather established in 1931, Ted Brown Music. Stephanie followed in his footsteps to run a business that supports local musicians, especially focused on the school band programs in Washington and Oregon. She moved to... more
Jerry Miller is a founding member of the innovative and influential ‘60s rock band Moby Grape. His roots in music go back to his grandfather, who was a famous violin maker in Sweden. When Jerry was eight he was given a guitar for Christmas and never wanted to do anything else but make music. He... more
Keith Dwiggins and his wife Michelle both work for Beacock Music in Vancouver, Washington. The store has always had that family feeling, being established by the husband and wife team of Dale and Susan Beacock, and now being operated by their children Russ and Gayle. Keith and Michelle just add the... more