Hammond Piper

Rosemary Bailey began her remarkable musical career at an early age after demonstrating perfect pitch and studying classical piano at DePaul University under Dr. Florence Galijikian. A national television appearance at age six, performing Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, introduced audiences to her extraordinary talent, but it was the discovery of the Hammond organ that defined her path.

Keith Beckingham recalls watching his father, a church organist, playing the piano at home and then sitting down and copying the music he heard. He grew up fascinated by the piano and organ and played throughout his school years. A job at Boosey and Hawkes, London as a Hammond Organ demonstrator was his introduction to the music industry. Keith worked long and hard to help develop the market for Hammond in the UK including introducing the Hammond Piper. Ultimately he was invited to join the staff of Hammond Organ Company, Chicago, first as head of European Marketing after which he

John Felice likes to say he was in the right place at the right time when he opened a Hammond Organ dealership in the 1960s. As the home organ market began to take off John had the staff and inventory in place to meet customer’s needs. His creative marketing led to many special promotions within the store as well as sales at events such as county fairs. John was proud to have been one of the first dealers in the United States to introduce such new programs as the Hammond Piper in the late 1960s. As a musician, John enjoyed a career that included gigs with Frank Sinatra and Patti P

David Kutner was new to the music products industry when he was offered the job as President of Hammond Organs in the late 1960s. It was a time for change in the organ business as sales slipped from the decade before, resulting in the discontinuation of the famous B3 line by David’s predecessors. However, the greatest boom for the organ market was about to take place. Dave felt the time was right to launch a new product, which his wife named the “Hammond Piper.” It was a great success and one that gave the company new life.