Ibanez Guitars

Gary Bennett entered the music products industry in 1964 working for Chesbro Music in Idaho. At the time of his NAMM Oral History interview, taped during the NAMM Show in January 2012, Gary was still proudly working for Chesbro. During the 1970s Gary played a vital role in their becoming the distributors for Ibanez and Hoshino brands within the United States. Gary has been a fixture at the NAMM shows for decades resulting in one retailer’s remark, “It does not feel like a NAMM Show until I shake Gary’s hand.”

George Benson recalls befriending Bob Cavanagh at the EU Wurlitzer Music store in Boston long before his noted career as an entertainer took off. George often visited the store and spent hours playing the instruments while Bob often showed him chords, provided picks and let him try out various guitars and amps. As George stated in his NAMM interview, Bob’s support was a key to his success. The audio only interview was conducted by David Schwartz and donated to the NAMM Oral History program

Bobby Cochran got his start in music playing the licks of his uncle Eddie, who passed away when Bobby was just ten years old. As he developed his own style he performed with Steppenwolf, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Leon Russel, as well as his own bands as singer and guitarist. He formed several important relationships within the music products industry with companies such as Fender, Charvel, Cakewalk, Sonic Foundry, Yamaha, Peavey and with the Ibanez Guitar Company.

Orval Engling has become an expert on the Ibanez guitar brand, so much so that he helped write a book on the company’s history. Orval began collecting Ibanez guitars in the 1990s and has come to discover the many innovations the company created over the years. He has enjoyed learning stories from some of the past designers of the instruments as well as employees and the brand's wholesalers. During his NAMM Oral History interview, he expressed that he felt the golden era of the company’s production was the 1970s with unique models such as the Ibanez Artist Models and the George Ben

Yoshitada Hoshino is the president of Hoshino Gakki Company, a music company that has remained in his family since first opening in 1908 to sell sheet music in Japan. The distribution segment of the business began to grow throughout the next hundred years. Along the way the company developed the Ibanez Guitar line as well as the Tama Drum products. Yoshi was involved first hand in the creation of the company’s export business especially with regards to establishing the product names within the United States beginning in the 1960s with the Ibanez Guitar.

Chris Kelly has always thought outside the box, which has proven to be a perfect element for marketing guitars to rock bands. While working for Robin Guitars in Houston, Texas, Chris brought a number of instruments to a local performance center and placed them on the grass outside of the tour buses. Managers were not too thrilled with this shameless act, but the musicians loved it and often picked out guitars on the spot to purchase. Chris has worked for a number of industry companies over his career, and in each case, provided his own unique ideas for products and marketing.

Owen Ray recalls his father buying him a ukulele when he was a kid and his passion for string instruments began! Owen played a vital role in the Australian guitar market when he started repairing guitars as his day job while gigging with his band, the Countdowns, at night. While repairing Fender instruments he contacted the factory with ideas of improving designs that would reduce the number of needed repairs.

Harry Rosenbloom was the founder of Medley Music and one of the true pioneers of import relations with the Japanese beginning in the late 1950s. He developed and maintained key partnerships with the Japanese suppliers and was one of the first advocates for better trade relations between the United States and Japan. The Ibanez guitar line was just one of the successful results of his partnerships. Harry was the father of Gerson Rosenbloom, the second president of Medley Music and a NAMM Past President. Gerson closed Medley Music in December 2008.  

John Scofield remembers the music retail stores around his town growing up and proudly gives gratitude to the many retail stores involved with his career over the years.  As a guitarist he bought his gear at stores all across the country and as a noted performer and endorsee, John provided clinics and concerts for countless retailers including Manny’s in New York and the first Guitar Center in California.  John’s noted musical career also lead to future involvement with the music products industry as an exhibitors demo artist for many years at various booths at the NAMM Trade Show

Toshitsugu “Tom” Tanaka, the president of Hoshino Gakki. Ltd, recalled with a smile his early training in the industry under Harry Rosenbloom of Medley Music. That experience not only educated him on the American instrument market, it was also the foundation of his partnership with Mr. Rosenbloom. Together the two men established the Ibanez Guitar brand and brought it to the world market. Mr. Tanaka played a key role in the establishment and operation of Hoshino USA and served as president during the years the company launched the Tama drum line.  

Steve Vai is a man that could be described as a planet that revolves around a star named Music. His life is ever entwined in an orbit that includes composing, transcription, performance, acting, and philanthropy. He first gravitated into exposure as Frank Zappa’s guitarist. Affectionately coined “my little Italian virtuoso” by Frank himself, Steve’s fantastic fretboard acrobatics propelled him into stints with David Lee Roth and Whitesnake. Steve’s “do it yourself” attitude is the benchmark for his successful solo career and the creation of his own recording label that spotlights

Brendan Zareno, the visionary behind Safe Haven Music in Island Park, New York, has dedicated his life to the art of guitar repair and sales. From a young age, he honed his skills, transforming a childhood hobby into a thriving career. Brendan's expertise in guitar repair became evident early on, as he effortlessly breathed new life into used instruments, earning admiration and profit. With unwavering determination, he created a haven for guitar enthusiasts, stocking it with a treasure trove of rare and sought-after instruments from renowned brands like Ibanez, Jackson, Gretsch, a