Gibson Guitar Corp.

Joe Beard doesn't remember a time when he didn't have a guitar.  He grew up near Ashland, Mississippi becoming friends with locals Syl and Jimmy Johnson and Floyd and Matt Murphy. In Memphis he met B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf.  Later in the 1960s in Chicago, he played with Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and Luther Allison, among other blues greats.  One of his longest and closest friendships came when he moved to Rochester, New York in 1956, where blues legend Son House lived just around the corner.  Beard never recorded in the early part of his career but taped several sessions with Hou

Arnold Berlin was a one-time president of Chicago Musical Instruments (CMI) and co-founder of Norlin Music Corp. He is also Mr. M.H. Berlin’s son, one of the true icons of the industry. Arnie spoke of how his father got started in the industry as well as how he was able to grow the company into one of the major players within the music products industry. Arnie also spoke of his own career, which began in the late 1950s.

Bruce Bolen has had a long and colorful career in the music industry spanning nearly 50 years and with two of the best-known guitar makers in the world. Mr. M.H. Berlin, the president of Chicago Musical Instruments (CMI), first hired Bruce into the industry. At the time, CMI owned Gibson Guitars and Bruce worked in marketing their products. In the 1980s, after Fender was bought from CBS, Bruce was hired to run the artist relations department, which he had also done for a while at Gibson. Over the years he has worked with nearly all of the major guitars in rock, pop, blues and coun

Michael Bradford grew up in Detroit and found he had a deep passion for the electric bass.  After playing for local bands before and after school, Michael met guitarist Earl Klugh and the two began playing jazz together.  Michael later developed into a well-rounded musician having had the opportunity to work in recording studios, playing alongside a wide variety of artists.  Among those Michael recorded with were Anita Baker, Madonna; Kid Rock, Dave Stewart and Ringo Starr.  The Gibson 5-string models and Washburn basses are among several of the basses he plays, as both companies 

Will Brahm’s father gave him a guitar when he was in eighth grade. It is then, as Will puts it, that his career began. He played all throughout school developing his skills and his drive to make his living with his guitar. He has always been captivated by the theory and technical elements of jazz as well as the rich history of those who helped develop the art form. After attending California State University in Long Beach, Will joined the trio New West Guitars in 2015. During his NAMM interview, Will spoke of his love for arch-top guitars, in particular the one he brought with him

Jim Broadus was a true fan of the Gibson guitar he purchased as a kid growing up and chasing his dream to be a rock star. He was overjoyed in the early 1970s when he had the opportunities to work for the company. He traveled as a sales rep for Gibson before working in music retail in downtown Nashville for Hewgley's Music Shop. Jim later managed the Madison, TN store before purchasing it with his wife, who had worked along side Jim at the downtown Nashville branch for years. His passion for music and the guitar never seemed to wane, even in retirement Jim spoke of his career with

Tony Butler credits his father, Bill Butler’s passion for music—he was an Irish tenor—as the foundation for the family’s deep love of music. All of the Butler children became musicians: Tony’s brother Jack is a well-known guitarist in San Diego playing for many years with Jerry Raney in Glory and then with Bratz and Private Domain. His sister, Margie performs with a long-established Celtic band “The Golden Bough.” Tony first picked up the guitar in the fourth grade after Jack showed him a few chords, beginning a lifelong love affair with the instrument.

Walter Carter along with his wife, Christie, formed Nashville's "friendliest guitar store" when they opened Carter Vintage Guitars.  With a last name so well known in country music, you can understand why a beautiful painting of Mother Maybelle Carter adorns the outside wall of the building.  The couple proudly established a store in which men and women can feel welcomed and comfortable, along with a knowledgeable and friendly staff, and inventory that makes most musicians feel like a kid in a candy store.  Walter has also written several books and articles on the history of frett

JD Crowe recalled seeing Earl Scruggs perform in Lexington with Lester Flatt when he was a kid.  The sound was so unique and different that all young JD could think about was getting a banjo!  He did and, well, the rest is history.  Jimmy Martin hired DJ when he was just 16 and they recorded and performed together for over four years before JD formed his own band, New South, which he led from 1971 until his passing. JD became a well-regarded and popular banjo player in the bluegrass style.  During his 60 year career, he recorded and performed among his heroes as well as a string o

Susan M. Davis has fond memories of Les Paul and Mary Ford coming over to her house for dinner when she was a little girl. Her father was Gibson Guitar president Ted McCarty who signed Les Paul to a company contract and who introduced a line of electric guitars with Les Paul’s name on it. Susan also recounts how hard her father worked for the company in building up the product line and promoting their new innovations and yet she recalls that he always made it home for the family dinner each night.  

Gregg De Lorto has had a passion for music and playing the guitar from a young age. Growing up playing in multiple bands and feeling the influence of popular music, Gregg eventually entered into a career in sales, working for companies like Music Man, Rickenbacker, and Gibson. Now with Heritage Guitars, Gregg’s love for the brand and their products shines through.  

Sharon De Lorto truly discovered her passion for music upon marrying her husband, Greg, and was introduced to the culture behind Heritage Guitars, Gibson, and the iconic factory at 225 Parsons St. With a desire to understand the history and preserve the legacy of Orville Gibson, Sharon has conducted significant research to understand nearly every facet of the Orville Gibson legacy.

James Deurloo walked through the old Gibson workshop, which is now the home of his company, the Heritage Guitar Company.  Pointing proudly to a workstation in the middle of the old building, “that was my first workbench.  I learned every skill on the line and had wonderful teachers.  The old men on the line when I was a kid were happy to share what they knew, and I still use all those skills.  That is why the name ‘heritage’ was the perfect name of our company.”  

Gerhard Dotzauer has made a living selling musical instrument parts to companies worldwide. He provides bridges, exotic woods, machine heads, and specializes in necks for banjos with mother of pearl and abalone inlays for such companies as Baldwin and Gibson, among many others. He sources these high-quality parts from companies in the Bubenreuth region of Germany known for its production of stringed instruments after 1945. Originally from Schönbach, in the Czech Republic, Gerhard Dotzauer is a descendent from a family of luthiers.

Benjamin Dudley is the executive director of the non-profit organization Free Guitars 4 Kids. Growing up with a passion for music and the guitar, Benjamin sang and played in his church and performed in three bands while attending Baylor University. These experiences gave Ben the opportunity to develop deep and meaningful connections with his bandmates as well as a connection with the audience. He has always looked for the chance to provide these same positive opportunities for others.

Elliot Easton often visited Grayson's Music in Long Island, New York as a kid. He ordered his first custom left handed electric guitar from Mr. Grayson, who always treated Elliot with kindness. Years later, after Elliot's rock band, The Cars, had notoriety, he reunited with Mr. Grayson at a NAMM Show in Chicago. It was a special moment for both of them. In addition to his highly successful musical career, Elliot has been a regular at the NAMM Shows since 1979 and has formed lifelong friendships with manufacturers and retailers alike.

Duane Eddy has profoundly influenced generations of guitarists and helped establish instrumental songs as viable hits in popular music. Beginning in the late 1950s, Duane recorded numerous hit records that defined the era, including iconic tracks like “Rebel Rouser” and “Boss Guitar.” His distinctive driving bass lines inspired countless musicians, including legends like John Lennon and Jimmy Page, to pick up the guitar during rock and roll's heyday. Beyond his solo success, Duane became a highly sought-after studio musician and continued to record and perform until his passing in

Ren Ferguson is among the most noted master luthiers in the United States and has been since the 1970s. Many luthiers who wish to follow his style of building have studied his approach to guitar design and building. After having his own shop for some time Ren was hired by the Gibson Guitar Company to run their factory in Nashville. That plant was later moved to Montana, where Ren also designed the facilities and hired the staff. Ren has also been a supporter of the NAMM Oral History program and it was an honor for us to finally complete his interview at the Nashville NAMM Show in

Hubert Friar was hired by the Gibson Guitar Company in Kalamazoo in 1959.  Hubert worked for the company over 25 years.  He worked at the end of the line, doing fret work.  Hubert grew up playing guitar and knew Ren Wall and his father as a kid.  When he was older he was recommended by Ren's father and loved having the chance to work for the Gibson company.  Hubert decided to stay in the Kalamazoo area when Gibson moved to Nashville in 1985 and retired from the company at that time.


Wilbur Fuller took to woodwork at a young age.  When he was 16, from the instructions in a magazine, he made a desk, which still stands in the corner of his small farmhouse in western Michigan.  In 1954, his cousin Walter, who engineered the Gibson amplifier in nearby Kalamazoo, told Wilbur of an opening in the company’s wood shop.

Roy Gaines, like his brother, Grady, who played saxophone for Little Richard, made his mark in the early days of rock and roll. As a blues guitarist, Roy recorded a number of songs for RCA, which have become popular rockabilly tunes such as "Skippy is a Sissy" in 1958. He worked with a number of artists over his long career including Della Reese, Brook Benton, and Harry Belafonte. Roy later worked on movie soundtracks with Quincy Jones and appeared in the movie The Color Purple in 1985 for which he wrote a song for the soundtrack.  

Bryan Galloup somehow convinced his parents to set up a guitar repair shop in their basement back in 1975. Their support encouraged young Bryan to learn all he could about the art of guitar repair. This would later play a big role in his desire to pay it forward by establishing his own school for luthiers in 1984. Bryan became an expert on flat-top steel guitars and enjoyed repairs on Gibson and Martins as each one taught him a little more about the instruments and how they were designed and constructed.

Steve Gibson repeated, “I’ve been blessed,” which acted as a recurring theme throughout his NAMM Oral History interview. The sentiment comes from a review of his extraordinary career as a studio musician, producer, and musical director based in Nashville. At 19 years old, in the early 1970s, he came to town and was recording in a studio on his first day. Within that year, he played on his first of many million-selling songs: David Loggin’s, “Please Come to Boston.” Becoming a member of the session musicians, known as The Nashville Cats, Steve played guitar on thousands of hit reco

Dan Hagedorn grew up watching his father run the family’s music retail business and always knew he would work in the music industry. His father, known as Crazy Al, began his business in the basement of the family home and Dan can recall vividly the Vox Amplifier boom of the 1960s and the impact it had on the industry, let alone his father's small business. In those early days Dan would work for his father after school and then go out and gig with him at night. In 1974 they moved the business out of the basement and into a real brick-and-mortar store they named DJ’s Rock N’ Roll.

Mary Lou Hoogenboom was a factory worker for the Gibson Guitar Company when it was located in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  She was hired in 1951 and began working in the sanding department, but found that she worked in every department before she retired in 1985.  Her retirement occurred the same year the company left Kalamazoo for Nashville, Tennessee.  At the time she was one of only five employees that closed the famous factory down before it was reopened by several other past employees as Heritage Guitars.

Tony Hosking grew up surrounded by music. His father, Ray, was a respected studio session trumpeter and helped young Tony land his first job in the brass department of Allan's Music store in Melbourne. Over the years, he had several fascinating jobs within the industry including reviewing each Gibson Guitar that came into Australia to pick out the instruments that had been damaged in transport and needed repairs before being sent to the stores. In 1993, Tony and his wife formed a new wholesale business that carries Konig & Meyer products and more recently expanded into the Liv

Dee Hoyt played professionally since he was a teenager including in local clubs and played for the National Guard as well as for dances.  His band, the Tornados, recorded and performed rock and roll in the early 1960s.  While playing at night, Dee got a job at Hayes Music as a salesman by day.  He found that he really enjoyed selling.  He sold to school band directors and later took on piano lines.  Dee contributed greatly to the Gibson line when he worked for the Chicago Musical Instrument Company.

Henry Juszkiewicz, Gibson Guitar Corporation’s former CEO, attended the Rainforest Alliance’s annual gala concert in 1994, where he first heard about the SmartWood program. He realized by teaming with environmentally friendly operations, Gibson could sustain its wood supply for a longer period of time. Just four years later the company revealed the Les Paul SmartWood Exotic series, which included among its features environmentally friendly harvested tropical woods.

This audio only interview was conducted for a radio program by Dan Del Fiorentino and donated to the NAMM Oral History program: Barney Kessel was a well-respected and sought-after studio musician who became part of the famed “Wrecking Crew.” He was also an innovative jazz technician who inspired generations of musicians. Barney can be heard on such classic recordings as “Cry Me a River” by Julie London (1955), “How High the Moon” by Sonny Rollins (1958), and “Wouldn't It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys (1966). In 1961, Gibson introduced the Barney Kessel Guitar model, which was in prod

Little Freddie King has become a mainstay within the New Orleans music scene.  His energetic performances, often with high kicks, always feature his main instrument, the Gibson Flying V!  Freddie is so much a part of the blues in New Orleans that he was inducted into the state’s Music Hall of Fame.  He has also played at the New Orleans Blues & Heritage Festival every year but one since it began in 1970.  As a songwriter, Freddie has given voice to his special style of country blues and as a result, thanks to his manager and drummer, Wacko Wade, he formed his own music publish

B.B. King spoke of his great love of music making and provided sound advice for those who want to play an instrument. He smiled as he recalled buying his first guitar amplifier and spoke with a warm voice when reflecting on his greatest musical influences. BB's NAMM Oral History interview was a time for him to reflect on his early instruments and the music stores he visited during his life and career as one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time. We ended the interview with his statement, "Hi, I'm B.B. King and I believe in music."

Mike Korpak enjoyed his work in the factory at Gibson Guitars beginning back in the 1960s in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During his career at Gibson, Mike was able to grow into management and ran the parts department for years before his retirement.  In fact, Mike was the last employee of Gibson in the Kalamazoo factory before the operations were moved down to Nashville.