George Lucas (film director)

Thomas Dolby was a champion of early synthesizers and used them often during his performances as a pop star beginning in the 1980s. For example, his 1982 hit “She Blinded Me with Science” incorporates several synths including the MiniMoog and the Simmons Drum Machine. Always looking for ways to make sounds with new technology, Thomas created the company Headspace in 1993 which produced Internet downloadable files. He later changed the company name to Beatnik, Inc and released software synthesizers, which were licensed to Nokia for their mobile phones.

Judy Kaufman and her husband, John Pedersen, own Amazing Grace Music, a charming and funky (in a good way) music store located in San Anselmo, California. The couple purchased the store in 1983 and some years later when the owners of the land were going to sell it, the couple sadly could not afford to purchase the property, nor make the necessary upgrades to the building. This is when a series of friends and supporters of the store got the word out about their troubling position.

John Pedersen is a master repair technician with a focus on stringed instruments. John found himself in the position of purchasing a music store with his wife back in 1983. The wonderful mom and pop operation, Amazing Grace Music, is located in San Anselmo, California, some 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. John began playing the banjo and fiddle as a young teenager with family members. He began playing on his grandfather’s tenor banjo and later on his Aunt Doris’ five-string banjo. Having that five-string banjo inspired John, who went on to perform in the Fennigs All Star

Harold Wheeler remembers standing in front of the large orchestra about to raise his hands to conduct when it hit him - "I am at the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Olympics!" That epic moment was one of many highlights in a diverse career that included being a studio musician (he was a member of the band Meco which had a big disco hit with their version of "Star Wars"), orchestrator on Broadway (he won the 2003 Drama Desk Award for his work on Hairspray) and served as musical director on many works (including Nina Simone’s 1971 album Here Comes the Sun).