Full Interview

Kyshona grew up in South Carolina, immersed in the rich musical tapestry of gospel, rhythm & blues, and roots music. Her early passion for sound led her to the guitar and a formal study of oboe at the University of Georgia, where she earned a degree in music therapy. As a dedicated therapist for over 17 years, she worked compassionately with veterans, at-risk youth, and incarcerated individuals, witnessing the transformative power of music. Seeing how personalized songs could spark healing and connection, she began writing her own music—not just for her clients but for the wid

Tosin Abasi is the founder and lead guitarist of the group Animals as Leaders and has a style of playing that is often unmatched. Tosin grew up in Washington, D.C and has memories of trying guitars out at Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center. He took the leap to create music professionally and joined the group Reflux, and had good success touring nationally. After studying music at the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media, Tosin created his “solo” project, Animals as Leaders. In 2017, Tosin started Abasi Concepts – his own guitar company that takes a focus on guitars with a uniqu

 David Abell formed his piano retail store in Beverly Hills back in the late 1950s.  Since that time he has established one of the finest reputations in our industry.  Noted musicians, industry leaders and movie stars alike have boasted of his quality of service and the fact that most of his deals have been based on a handshake.  David, however, is equally proud of the regular customers who may not be famous but are treated as if they were.  Back in the early 1960s, David L.

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

Segun Adegbite is the managing director of one of Nigeria’s top distributors and installers of music and pro audio gear, New Media Technologies LTD. The company began in 2002 with the mission to “create and add value to clients” by providing insight, high-quality products and experience. During his NAMM interview, Segun also explained his vision of meeting the needs and goals of his clients in a way that empowers their own passion for music-making. His own musical passion developed in his home and at school where he played the piano, organ, guitar and bass as well as at his church

Sufesh Adhikari, a dedicated music advocate from Nepal, has spent his career fostering a love for music and providing opportunities for aspiring musicians. A talented bassist and pianist, he served as musical director for his church for over 20 years, always seeking ways to include and inspire others through music. As he developed his synthesizer skills, he recognized a need for better access to instruments in his community.

Henry Adler helped define the percussion industry with his music publishing company, drum shop and method books.  His amazing life in music began as a drummer during the big band era.  His many gigs and one nighters gained the attention of a friend who encouraged Henry to open a drum studio and music studio in the heart of New York City.  The Henry Adler Music Store near Time Square was an important resource for drummers, both those playing in town and those traveling.  He established the Henry Adler Publishing Company and released a method book he co-wrote with Buddy Rich on the

Bruce Adolph is the energetic advocate of worship music and musicians who in 1998 established Christian Musician Magazine. As president of the Adolph Agency, Bruce oversees several publications as well as special events and educational programs which are all designed to assist worship and praise musicians and directors. Having a strong background with musical instruments, he ran The Carpenter Music store in California for over a decade, Bruce understands the needs of music makers. He attended the NAMM Show in 2003 when he was about to launch his magazine Worship Musician, where Ya

Jamey Aebersold’s name is synonymous with the play-a-long style music books, which have aided and inspired thousands upon thousands of musicians! Jamey does not refer to his publications as method books, but rather as a tool to have musicians tap into their creativity and use their imagination within their playing. His first play-a-long book was published in 1967. His goal was to create books that would encourage improvisation and debunk the notion that only high level musicians can improvise.

Michael Aguilar played instruments both in and out of his school music programs growing up, which proved to be a wonderful background later in his career. After nearly five years in the retail end of consumer electronics, Michael became National Sales Manager for the tape recorder division at Panasonic in 1972. The company, wanting to branch into the musical instrument business, formed Technics in 1979. Three years later Michael was hired to lead the company, which took off during the early days of digital instruments.

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.

Emily Achieng Akuno became the first music professor from Kenya to be elected president of the International Music Council (IMC). This took place in 2018. The position allowed her the opportunity to bring attention to the challenges African nations face regarding music programs. Emily earned her Bachelor of Education from Kenyatta University in Kenya, a Master of Music from Northwestern State University in Louisiana, and a Doctorate of Philosophy from Kingston University in England. She is also an active member of the International Society for Music Education (ISME). Her NAMM Oral

 John Aldridge has become one of the leading experts on the history of drums, percussion companies, and their products.  As a publisher and editor, John established the magazine “Not So Modern Drummer” and dedicated its pages to the vintage drum, the history of which otherwise might have been lost.  John has been instrumental in preserving important percussive collections and documentation to ensure the material could be accessed by those interested.  John’s NAMM Oral History interview was

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

Will Alexander was a pioneering synthesizer engineer and musician whose work helped shape modern electronic music. Beginning in the 1970s, he worked for Oberheim during the height of the synthesizer boom, contributing to the engineering of the Oberheim Four Voice System and the popular OB-X units. Recognizing early on the potential of computers in music, he experimented with Apple technology to design and refine instruments of his own. Will became one of the world’s foremost Moog modular technicians, supporting legendary artists including Keith Emerson and Hans Zimmer.

James Alexander reformed his band, the Bar-Kays following the plane crash that took the lives of  three members, and singer Otis Redding.  The new band was created in tribute to those killed with the help of Ben Cauley, the only survivor of the crash (James was on a second plane) and singer Larry Dodson.  The Mar-Kays have backed hundreds of artists at Stax Studios in Memphis and produced 30 albums on their own. 

Frank Alkyer has asked a lot of questions. As a writer and editor of Music Inc., he has interviewed music retailers and suppliers alike. In addition as a writer and editor for DownBeat Magazine, Frank has interviewed countless jazz and big band performers. With this background, you can imagine how meaningful it was for the NAMM team to have the opportunity to interview Frank for the Oral History program. Frank has been an active member of the industry supporting music educational programs, as well as professional development efforts such as the series of sessions he has hosted at

John Allegrezza began working in the piano business in 1957 and soon discovered he had a real passion for the business and the people. In 1981 he opened his store, Allegrezza Pianos, in Ridgeland, Mississippi, just north of Jackson. Over the years he worked with some of the biggest names in the business including Kawai, which was his first line! John was named the Kawai Dealer of the Year several times, a fact of which he was very proud of. John was also very proud that his grandson joined the business and they were able to work side by side. A lifelong member of the music busines

R.C. Allen was a guitar luthier that used the style of his many friends of the era in the early 1950s in Southern California when guitar innovators were reshaping the instrument and grooming it for a new birth. RC was building his own unique instruments when Leo Fender and Lowell Kiesel of Carvin were also just starting out.

This is the full length NAMM Oral History interview with Richard Allen, which was captured on May 17, 2003.  For his biography and web clip, please follow the link: https://ww1.namm.org/library/oral-history/r-c-allen

Marco Alpert has had a fascinating career in the music industry and lucky for the NAMM Oral History collection he shared many of his stories with us. Marco was an electronic music composer in Los Angeles when he happened to meet the two founders of E-mu. Marco was hired to promote the innovative synthesizers that Dave Rossum and Scott Wedge were creating for E-mu. Marco was later involved with other amazing products and companies working on several of the most influential musical products during the last 30 years.  

Mark Altekruse, like so many passionate members of the music industry, specifically remembers the lessons he learned from one of his earliest and most influential music instructors. Trombonist Bugs Beddow was a local musician in Detroit who served as a musical mentor to young Mark, who went on to form his own band (Rhythm Kitchen) which ultimately led to a long career with Roland, BOSS and Apple. Along the way, he had some incredible musical experiences including playing in the Hex Orchestra on their recording of Human Experiments. Within the music products industry, Mark worked o

Billy Amendola is the Editor At Large for Modern Drummer magazine whose background as a musician makes him perfect for the job! His passion for music began at an early age and by the time he began working for the magazine in 1997, Billy was already a seasoned studio musician and founding member of the band Mantus. Ron Spangnardi, the founder of Modern Drummer, first hired Billy to help with his drum festival in 1990.

Whispering Bill Anderson began his music career as a songwriter penning the 1958 hit “City Lights” for Ray Price. Within a few years Bill was encouraged to sing some of his songs in his low and mellow way. The results were a string of hit songs including the cross-over smash record “Still” in 1963 and a nickname, Whispering Bill. Over the years he has been an actor, game show star and television host but found himself back to songwriting from the 1990s onwards. Music is a great part of Whispering Bill and, luckily for us, he is still sharing it with the world. 

Jon Anderson is best known as a founding member of the band Yes. His musicianship, arranging and songwriting helped catapult the band to international fame with hit records and sold out performances around the world. The band has had a remarkable ability to re-create itself over the years for a newer and wider audience, an element that was established as the foundation by Jon and the other original members.  He is also a gear head, which has endeared him to the music products industry over the years as both a clinician and endorsee.

Tom Anderson, founder of Tom Anderson Guitarworks, fell in love with the guitar at age eight, inspired by the electrifying sounds of 1950s rock and surf legends like Dick Dale. A natural-born tinkerer, Tom was drawn to taking things apart and perfecting them — a passion that led him to Schecter Guitar Research in 1977. After seven transformative years, he boldly launched his own company in 1984 from his home workshop, eventually evolving into the renowned Tom Anderson Guitarworks.

Lee Anderton’s grandfather started a small music store that Lee now runs, Anderton Music in Guildford, England. During Lee’s early years in the business, he worked to make the Internet and other challenges work for him as he focused on customer service and quality products.  With his attention to details and a strong interest in employee training, Lee continues to grow the business and support the industry through such channels as MIA programs.  

Craig Anderton was among a very small group of engineers at the dawn of the synthesizer revolution during the 1970s that was in the position to report, educate and compose music based on this new technology as it was being created. His monthly articles for Keyboard magazine have become a historic chronicle of the evolution of the new electronic music age. Craig’s compositions continue to establish new forms of musical expression and have long since been the source of inspiration for up and coming composers around the world.  

Ralph Angelillo grew up inspired by Joe Morello. His dad was a bassist for big dance bands in the 1940s and '50s and his four brothers all played music. In 1961, at the age of 17, Ralph purchased his first Ludwig drum set, with money earned working as a busboy in local hotels. While working in the music industry, Ralph established several music magazines across Canada. At that point, he had the idea of putting on a drum festival.

Jim Armstrong worked in the music publishing industry for many years, both for Charlie Hansen and Columbia Music. His music career began at the famous music retailer in southern California, Wallich’s Music City in 1968. He soon switched to working for innovative publisher Mr. Hansen in Florida, where he worked on and off for 25 years. While with Hansen Publications, Jim worked on several music books which he found very rewarding. Jim also worked for Columbia Publications for whom he created several publications including Columbia’s Best of Rock & Roll series.

Brooks Arthur began singing at an early age and began taking voice lessons to sing in his temple before he was a teenager.  While working in the mail room of a record company, Brooks heard his first live recording and fell in love!  He soon was hired to engineer some products, which lead to a storied career recording several of the girl singing groups popular during the 1960s and their hit songs including “My Boyfriend’s Back” by the Angels and “The Chapel of Love” by the Dixie Cups. As a producer, he gave us such albums as “Astral Weeks” by Van Morrison, “Brooklyn Roads” by Neil

Julia Arza is the Director of Operations and a passionate advocate for AIMM, the Alliance of Independent Music Merchants. She joined the organization in 2017 and has helped expand its summits, held at the NAMM Show as well as its website and online educational programs. For those who know Julia, it’s easy to see why she has accomplished so much with AIMM. Music is in her blood. Her great grandparents were both band directors and she began playing guitar in the third grade (thanks to a very influential teacher) and singing in church groups and for weddings.