Buddy Holly

Herschel Blankenship’s love for music all began when he saw Buddy Holly on the Ed Sullivan show as a kid. It sparked his interest and led him down a path filled with performing and touring. After working for many years in the music industry, he became a founder of Schecter Guitar Research – a company focused on the hot-rodding of guitars. 

Jerry Blavat was a DJ and radio broadcaster with a lot of energy! Also known as “The Geator with the Heater” and “The Big Boss with the Hot Sauce,” Jerry started his career on the original American Bandstand TV Show in the 1950s. He became the road manager for Danny and the Juniors, allowing him to meet and become friends with musical icons such as Sammy Davis Jr, Sam Cooke, and Frank Sinatra. He began broadcasting on radio in the 1960s with the goal of exposing young teens to the timeless classics of his generation. Jerry was also in several other TV Shows and movies including Th

Jimmy Bowen is the successful record producer whose musical career began as a Rockabilly recording artist and songwriter. He formed a trio right out of high school and created a songwriting partnership with bandmate Buddy Knox. Together Bowen and Knox wrote such hits as “Party Doll” and “I’m Stickin’ With You.” With the help of Frank Sinatra, who hired Jimmy to help run Reprise Records, Jimmy began his second career as a record producer.

Eric Burdon participated in the British Invasion of the 1960s as an original member of The Animals. It was an exciting time in music that brought popularity to rock bands from England to America such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Eric was greatly influenced by jazz and the blues, which played a big part in his music including the second band he formed, War. During his NAMM Oral History interview, Eric spoke of his musical influences including Buddy Holly, who he happened to meet on a street in England as a teenager.

Sonny Curtis is thought to be the first person to have recorded a rock and roll song using the Fender Stratocaster.  The recording date took place in Nashville with his friend Buddy Holly a year before Buddy recorded his first big hit called “That’ll Be the Day.”  In fact, it was Buddy’s guitar Sonny was using because the engineer wanted Buddy to focus on the vocals.  This all took place before Sonny wrote “I Fought the Law” and the TV theme to the Mary Tyler Moore Show!

Deke Dickerson began his musical career when he started playing the saxophone, but quickly realized he was much more adept at playing the guitar. As a part of the affectionately named “68 Club” Deke reflects on how his formative year coincided with the revival of Rockabilly, which provided him with the foundation to pursue a passion deeply entrenched in the culture of Rockabilly. Deke has traveled throughout the world playing guitar with Rockabilly legends such as Sonny Burgess, Scotty Moore and Duane Eddy.

Mickey Jent opened a small music store in Lubbock, Texas after World War II with her husband, Ray, after his return from military service. The store became a hub for local musicians including Buddy Holly. Strong supporters of the industry, the Jent's participated in Scull Groups, the early days of NASMD and became early supporters of the Discover Music campaign of the early 1970s. Their store, now run by their daughter, has successfully expanded its product line over the years to include band, piano, and combo instruments. Ray served on the NAMM Board and was on hand in 1997 with

Don McLean walked into the House of Music in New Rochelle, New York as a kid dreaming of owning a Martin Guitar.  When he finally owned one, that instrument assisted him in writing several hit songs.  The rock and roll anthem "American Pie" and "Vincent" were both written on his Martin, as were many others. Don attended a NAMM Show when Martin unveiled the Don McLean signature model guitar, an epic moment in his life. 

Tommy Roe wrote most of the hit songs for which he is best known, such as "Dizzy," "Sheila," "Everybody" and "Sweet Pea." Each were hit songs in the 1960s and were part of the early days of his career, which included a tour with the Beatles in 1963. Tommy later formed a music publishing company and continued to write songs including "We Can Make Music" and "There's A Great Day Coming" for his 2017 album Confectioner's. Tommy provided a fascinating look into his background and career within the pages of his 2016 self-published book entitled From Cabbagetown to Tinseltown and Places

Brian Setzer nearly single handedly brought back the popularity of the rockabilly electric guitar sound that was first established by Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley's first guitarist.  Brian was interviewed for the NAMM Oral History program within a month of Scotty Moore's passing in the summer of 2016 and spent time recalling the influence Scotty had on him, as well as so many other musicians.  Brian also talked about the music stores he visited as a kid in New York and his long relationship with the Gretsch Company.

George Tomsco formed the influential rock band The Fireballs with several of his high school friends.  The band became known for its instrumental recordings, which were very popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  Many of the band’s best known songs were written by George, including “Torquay” in 1959 and “Bulldog” the following year.  The instrumentals, with a strong focus on the electric guitar, became the inspiration for the Surf Guitar movement.  When the Beatles became popular, according to George, it was the end for instrumental bands, so the Fireballs added a vocalist. 

Danny White is the owner of the famed Sound Techniques Recording Studio, located in the United Kingdom, which began in 1964.  The studio had its own sound (based largely on the custom made mixing consoles) that enriched the recordings of Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, John Martyn and The Who!  In the early part of his career, Danny owned 16 Tons Recording Studio in Nashville, which boasted of a TREE console and recorded the likes of Buddy Guy, Poco, Little Jimmy Dickens and Sheryl Crow, just to name four.  The studio, located on Music Row, was first opened in 2004 and enjoyed a working