NAMM Staff & Volunteers

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2010 and early 2011.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2011.

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2003 and early 2004.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2004.

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2004 and early 2005.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2005.

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2009 and early 2010.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2010.

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2005 and early 2006.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2006.

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2006 and early 2007.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2007.

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2011.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2012.  All moving images within this video indicate those who have been interviewed as part of the NAMM Oral History program.  Larger segments of their interviews are posted here on the NAMM website (use the "search this site" white box on the upper left and type their name). Music used for this video: "Drift Away" performed by Dobie Gray (1940-2011) "Softy I Leave

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2016 and early 2017. This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2017.  All moving images within this video, indicate those who have been interviewed as part of the NAMM Oral History program. Larger segments of their interviews are posted here on the NAMM website (use the "search this site" white box on the upper left and type their name).   Music Used for this video: I'll Write a Song for You ~ Earth, Wind & F

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2007 and early 2008.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2008.

We pause to remember those we have lost in our industry since our last gathering each year. Join us for performances by The LA Scots Pipe Band and Guitarist Doyle Dykes as we play a video honoring those who contributed to our industry and the world of music. 

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2008 and early 2009.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2009.

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2012 and early 2013.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2013.  All moving images within this video indicate those who have been interviewed as part of the NAMM Oral History program.  Larger segments of their interviews are posted here on the NAMM website (use the "search this site" white box on the upper left and type their name). Music used for this video: Performed by Dave Brubeck (1920-2012)

WMAX-TV Host Jim Hutton with NAMM Vice-President, Bill Gard.

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2013 and early 2014.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2014.  All moving images within this video indicate those who have been interviewed as part of the NAMM Oral History program and the TEC Awards, with the exception of Phil Everly, courtesy of Vintage Rock.  Larger segments of their interviews are posted here on the NAMM website (use the "search this site" white box on the upper left and type their na

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2014 and early 2015.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2015.  All moving images within this video, except for Jerry Buffa and Jeff Taylor,  indicate those who have been interviewed as part of the NAMM Oral History program.  Larger segments of their interviews are posted here on the NAMM website (use the "search this site" white box on the upper left and type their name). Music used for this video: Perfor

Dominique Agnew has been dedicated to the music industry, serving NAMM for over 25 years -- most notably as the Associate Director for Trade Show Sales. She bore witness to the growth of the Anaheim Show in the late 1980s and played a vital role in the expansion of international exhibitors over the years. Dominique began her career at NAMM covering nearly every aspect of the trade show, from meetings and events to registration and sales. Her perspective on the development of the industry has been important to the Oral History Collection for documenting our industry’s history. 

Charles Ahlers began working for the Anaheim Visitor and Convention Bureau as President in the 1990s after a strong career in several other markets.  He took pride in looking back at the growth of the NAMM Trade Show and the fact that his team worked hard to accommodate the needs of the show over the years.  Like many attendees, Charles recalls the days the show was in the Disneyland Hotel, first using space in their ballrooms and in later years using space in the parking garage.  Before the opening of the 2013 show, Charles made a speech to the NAMM staff that he would retire the

 Joy Akerman was one of the first volunteers in the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music docent programs back in 1999.  Over the years, she became active in many elements of the museum, including the store and the monthly volunteer training classes.  Her love of people and music made her role at the museum a perfect fit.  More recently, Joy was hired as the receptionist who greets all NAMM visitors and holds court behind the much talked-about lobby desk, which is in the shape of a grand piano. 

Luann Alesio has been a familiar and beloved presence at the NAMM Show since 1998, serving primarily as a dedicated and detail-oriented floor manager. Her very first job out of school was in trade show management, a field where she seamlessly blended her artistic background with her strong organizational skills. Over the years, Luann has taken on a variety of roles, from designing intricate show maps to leading efficient teams and participating in critical safety education sessions. Her genuine dedication to exhibitors has endeared her to NAMM members, often resulting in lifelong

Gayle Alldredge joined the NAMM Show team in 2014 and has since become a highly valued floor manager. Her diverse professional background began in catering, where she successfully built and managed her own business, serving major trade show events and corporate clients. Transitioning into event management, she spent several years at the San Jose Convention Center, overseeing a variety of high-profile events, special programs, and large-scale trade shows. Gayle describes her move to NAMM as a joyful and fulfilling experience, expressing her deep appreciation for working alongside t

Muriel Anderson sure puts her heart and soul into her music as both a performer and songwriter. Over the years the music products industry has been lucky to be closely associated with Murial thanks to her endorsement of instruments and accessories as well as her widely successful All Star Guitar Nights, a feature at NAMM Shows since 2000. Her many projects include raising funds for school music programs and music education.  

Chip Averwater took over the music retail business in Memphis, just as his father did and his son would one day, keeping the tradition in the family. Chip’s passion for the music business expanded beyond the store and out into volunteer positions for several organizations including NAMM. Serving on the NAMM Board, Chip played an important role in the development of international outreach programs including providing support for the newly created China show. Chip was the Chairman of the NAMM Board for two years beginning in 2008.

John Avila was greatly influenced by the Ampex recorder his father owned and let John use. He recorded his friends and later his own bands on the two reels he had access to. The experience was the beginning of his fascination with recording, which has been a key component of his career all throughout his professional playing experience, which included 11 years with Oingo Boingo, and tours with El Chicano and Psychotic Aztecs. In 1996, he designed his own studio in his garage in Southern California and named it Brando’s Paradise.

 Howard Bailey was the executive account representative for the Freeman Companies, which serviced the NAMM show. Howard became a beloved part of the NAMM family and helped develop many benefits for the trade show attendee as well as the exhibitor. Beginning in 1964, Howard provided detail dimensions and locations of the exhibit space (first in hotel sleeping rooms and later in the great ballroom and convention settings), which provided great benefit to the exhibitor, allowing them to be more precise about the inventory they brought to the show.

Joe Berger knows sound! Joe has been mixing sound for over 30 years and he stopped counting at 35,000 bands! Also a virtuoso guitar player with his own definitive, unique playing style and “ear”, Joe has jammed with the likes of John Entwistle and Jack Bruce. He has also been a fixture at music trade shows for decades as a guitar demonstrator, having set a record for most hours played at a single trade show.

Ron Bienstock  was playing gigs by night and the editor for the International Musicians & Recording World when he was hired by Hoshino to serve as their General Counsel.  It was at that time when Ron realized he could combine his two loves, music and the law.  In 1987 he opened Bienstock & Michael to represent both music manufacturers and musicians.  The tag line for his practice is “a full-service Entertainment and Intellectual Property law firm.”  Over the years he has represented many music companies and has been a regular attendee at the NAMM Shows, often giving presen

Trond Braaten grew up in Norway, where his love for music developed at an early age.  He is in many ways a product of the 1960’s, being among the many that was taken away by the British groups that changed the music at that time. Taking up guitars, as well as other instruments for his own part, as well as engaging in the arts in general, was instrumental in what brought him into journalism during the 1980’s. His first NAMM show was in January 1986, where not so much the instruments, but rather meeting the names behind it all was the most rewarding, and educating experience for him

Karl Bruhn was the Bob Hope of the music industry, having received so many awards and accolades – an award should have been given for the most awards received. Karl gained his reputation as an advocate for arts education and accompished much on many levels to teach an understanding of music and promote the concept that music does make a difference in people’s lives.

Jim Chapin had the idea of writing a method book for the beginning drummer that would provide clear examples and illustrations. The year was 1947 and no such book was in print. He gathered little hints and simple examples for the book that has become one of the best selling methods in the business. As a player, he toured and recorded countless times, but found the most satisfaction sitting down with one drummer or a room with 101 drummers and providing them with tools to improve their playing.

Allan Clark began taking training classes as a volunteer docent right when the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music was opened to the public in 2000.  Since that time Allan has provided countless tours of the museum as well as volunteered at many museum events such as the annual fund raisers.  Shortly after his training as a docent, Allan volunteered to help catalog the physical collection of the NAMM Resource Center.  He has provided hundreds of hours to research and file for the library, work that has been a great asset to the staff and in moving the organization of the arch

Thomas Claxton has had some meaningful vocal coaches over the years who have inspired him and taught him important tips, such as how to protect his voice. Lauren Ringwald was his vocal teacher in school and later he was trained by Ron Anderson, whose long list of clients included Myles Kennedy and Axl Rose. Thomas cut his teeth in the Savannah George music scene playing in bars and nightclubs before his career took off and he could quit his day job. Thomas has also been an events producer and worked closely with the NAMM Show for the Top 100 Dealer Awards after-party in 2018 and t

Christy Coobatis is a college music professor whose amazing musical journey includes playing professionally before he was a teenager, beta testing guitars for Leo Fender, and helping to create a guitar synthesizer for Allan Holdsworth! Christy’s latest and longest tenure as a teacher has been at MiraCosta College in Oceanside California, where he started in 2000. He grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, taking lessons at one music store in town and teaching at another. In elementary school, he played at the local fair and at 12 he was wearing a tuxedo and playing in a wedding band!