New Orleans LA

Dave Bartholomew was a noted bandleader, trumpeter, and songwriter who captured a pioneering sound known as the “big beat” of rock and roll. His uncanny ability to provide the perfect musical expression to the words of his bandmate Fats Domino resulted in a long list of classic recordings. Together the team wrote “I’m Walkin’,” ”Ain’t that a Shame,” “I’m in Love Again,” “Blue Monday,” and “Valley of Tears.” Equally impressive were his talents as arranger and bandleader. Over the years he cultivated the talents of legendary musicians including his drummer and life long friend Earl

Jamal Batiste grew up in a very musical family and when he saw his brother’s drum kit at 3 years old, he fell in love. Raised in New Orleans he was surrounded by what he calls the gumbo of music, playing all styles and in many different settings. Throughout his career he has played alongside groups and artists ranging from jazz and soul to hip hop and rap, and gained first-hand knowledge in the importance of sharing his culture and knowledge musically. Jamal also works with several organizations to help raise awareness and funding that provide hope and support through his music. T

Terence Blanchard remembers with pride the special way Lionel Hampton coached and encouraged him.  It was his first professional gig and Hamp took the time to share with young Terence, an act of kindness that continues to give to this day.  While having a successful jazz career, Terence never forgot his roots and has worked extremely hard in providing musical opportunities and education for young players, especially in his home town of New Orleans.  And the tradition continues!

Dwight Clements was working at Sears while playing music at night and on the weekends.  While visiting a local store in New Orleans, Mitchell’s Music, Dwight asked the owner if there were any openings.  Bill Mitchell told Dwight he could start the next week.  It was a dream for Dwight who remained with the store for twenty years until Bill retired in 1996 and the store closed.  Dwight was later hired by Dan Hall, the founder of Hall Piano Company, where he shared his passion for music with customers and employees alike until his own retirement in 2012.  Even after that time, Dwigh

Charles Connor was a pioneer in the early beat of rock and roll. As a drummer in New Orleans in the early 1950s, he played with Professor Longhair and became the original drummer for Little Richard. In fact, it was Little Richard who asked Connor if he could produce a rhythm that sounded like a train – and he did. The train rhythm can be heard on many of Little Richard’s earliest recordings including “Good Golly Miss Molly.” His innovative playing has since been the inspiration for a long list of players and products such as special double bass drum pedals.

Ray Fransen was born in New Orleans and began playing drums at an early age. He played professionally full-time for years and taught drum lessons until the birth of his first child. At that time, he decided to try to find a full-time job that would allow him to continue to play and teach. Eventually he opened Ray Fransen's Drum Center and continues his passion of teaching and working in music retail. Ray Fransen and his team have taught thousands of drum set and percussion lessons in the New Orleans area. Ray credits his staff for providing excellent customer service and their loy

Dan Hall was the founder of Hall Piano Company, located on David Drive in Metairie, Louisiana.  The store was opened in 1958 just after Dan had moved from Beaumont, Texas, where he began his career as a piano retailer.  His interesting story in the music industry began by a chance meeting with his brother following World War II.  Dan began working in his brother’s piano store which is where Dan discovered he loved the craft of tuning and repair.  The Hall Piano Company continues to serve the Metairie and New Orleans areas of Louisiana to this day with Dan’s nephew, John Wright Jr.

Donald Harrison Jr. was born in New Orleans to a deeply musical family steeped in all styles of music: brass bands, jazz, R&B, funk, and world music. His father was a Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief, an offshoot of the cultural tradition that goes all the way back to the time of Congo Square. Donald created the term "Afro-New Orleans" to describe himself and his musical heritage and he became a Big Chief of the Congo Square Nation Afro-New Orleans cultural group. As a saxophonist, he is credited with helping with the rise of "nouveau-swing" and was a member of both Roy Haynes' ban

Dr. John became the unofficial ambassador of New Orleans music by showcasing the mystic and voodoo rich traditions of southern Louisiana, which has become the backdrop to many Mardi Gras celebrations over the years. As a soloist and bandleader, he recorded million selling albums that have produced hit songs. As a sideman he can be heard on thousands of recordings including those with BB King for which he toured with for over 18 years.  Dr. John was also awarded for his passion for music education and music advocacy, especially for programs involving providing young children with t

Steven Kinchen dreamed of playing music ever since he was a small child.  When he had a chance to work in the music industry following his music degree in college, Steven jumped at the chance. Thanks to a professor’s recommendation, Steven visited with Dan Hall, the founder of Hall Piano Company in Metairie, Louisiana.  Mr. Hall offered him a job and the rest is history!  Among his first duties with the store when he arrived in early 1990 was to develop the synthesizer department.  From that experience, the store began a long and successful relationship with the Kurzweil Company. 

Ellis Marsalis had a firm idea how to bring out the best music in people, even before his famous sons were born.  His understanding of music theory and notation became the cornerstone of his own career as a musician and that of an unofficial music teacher. Just a few years after Hurricane Katrina flooded the 9th Ward neighborhood that Ellis once called his home, he opened a music center to encourage music making!  With the support of his family as well as Harry Connick Jr. and the local government, the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music began providing lesson programs, computer class

Branford Marsalis has a deep passion for music that reflects not only in his playing but his music education as well. Branford attributes his skills as a musician through dedicated practice in real life band situations, continually reassessing where he is in his practice and development. This approach has taken Branford from his early development through his time spent in Art Blakey’s band, his tenure with Sting, the Tonight Show, and onto his Grammy award winning solo career. Additionally, Branford is actively involved in music education through teaching at numerous universities

Jonathan "Sugarfoot" Moffett grew up in New Orleans and used the style he developed in clubs, starting at the age of 10, to create a unique place in music history. His first significant recording in 1979 of “Don’t Stop the Music” by Yardbrough & Peoples led him to an introduction of the Jackson family and a world tour. He continued his career as a touring drummer for Michael Jackson, Elton John and Madonna, which included such high points as backing up Madonna during the first Live Aid concert in 1985.

Deacon John Moore has been a noted studio musician in New Orleans for decades.  His performance and recordings have not only represented the New Orleans Sound over the years, he has helped define it! Deacon John was very active in the studios of New Orleans in the heyday of R&B and can be heard on hits such as “Land of a 1,000 Dances” by Chris Kenner, “Working In a Coal Mine” by Lee Dorsey as well as Ernie K-Doe’s smash hit record, “Mother-In-Law.”  Along the way, Deacon John has collected a few stories as you can imagine as well as the stories behind the songs, which made his

Leo Nocentelli is an original member of the award-winning band The Meters. The group recorded a string of instrumental hits beginning in the 1960s, many written by Leo. Playing lead guitar and penning some of the most influential tunes the band recorded, Leo never stopped creating. As a long time attendee of the NAMM show, Leo has created strong relationships with manufacturers (several of which have created signature models for him) as well as performing for the annual NAMM Tribute program. In 2020, Leo was presented with the NAMM Believe in Music Award for his many contributions

Gordon Pfund spent his life in the music industry that he loved. At an early age he began working for Werlein For Music in Louisiana and became enamored with the piano and organ market. He was an honorable salesman who put family and music education as key priorities in the way he addressed his customers. Gordon later established Pfund Music Centers and for a time served on the NAMM Board of Directors. His long friendship with Bob Hazard included both men serving as each other’s vice presidents at one time and both working together at Amro Music in Memphis.  

George Porter Jr. has proven himself to be one of the bedrocks that make up the foundation of the New Orleans music scene. While starting out briefly on guitar, George quickly transitioned to bass where he really hit his stride. After some prompting from Art Neville, George became an integral part of the Meters, playing with them from the start until their breakup in 1977. Following the Meters, George remained active on the scene eventually returning to the reformed Meters in 1989. George, with the Meters, were one of the first bands to play New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina

Kevin Ray Clark grew up with music in his home and played in a family band at church. He was inspired by the musicians playing at Disney World and pursued the trumpet in his school band program. As he got older, Kevin started playing with the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus Band. As his skills improved, he worked his way up to become one of the musicians he used to look up to and started playing at Disney World.

Bret Rhoades began his career in the music industry by working for Ken Stanton Music in Georgia.  Bret learned band instrument repairs while attending college, and after a short time as a teacher he landed a job with Ted Frank in New Orleans.  Ted Frank operated the sheet music department within the Werlein’s For Music store in New Orleans, which was a wonderful experience for Bret.  Mr.

Herlin Riley is a native of New Orleans and a continuing link in the chain of great jazz drummers. Herlin was raised in a musical household by his grandparents and originally played the trumpet in the family group, The Lastie Brothers Combo, as well as unknowingly playing in the same youth marching band with Wynton Marsalis. Herlin watched his uncle play drums in church and would eventually switch over to drums while on tour with a group in Texas. Herlin went on to play two stints with Ahmad Jamal from 1982 to 1987 and from 2009 to Jamal's retirement in 2014. Wynton and Herlin reu

John W. Smith was playing orchestral guitar music when he thought it might be fun to begin playing the cello. He walked into his local string shop, Keller Strings in Kansas and …. met his future wife, Paula. Paula’s father, Frank, started the store as a repair shop where John was able to learn repairs firsthand from Frank. The store has since moved to New Orleans, where John can be found in the back repair shop doing what he loves.

John Thomas was the lead piano repair man for Werlein’s For Music in New Orleans. The historic music retailer, which opened for business before the Civil War and closed in 2003, had several locations in the south. However, it was the company’s Canal Street location that was known around the world and was the store where John worked for most of the years he worked in New Orleans. John’s interview for the NAMM Oral History program took place on the last day the store was open.  

Kris Tokarski is a skilled jazz pianist who has helped prolong the legacies of several early musical pioneers by not only playing their compositions, but by embracing their techniques and their approach to music. Among his heroes and for whom he also spoke about during his NAMM Oral History interview are Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton and Teddy Wilson. Kris has recorded in early jazz traditions from ragtime to bebop as well as his own style and has been a driving force during several well-known musical festivals including The Montreal Jazz Fest, The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage

Allen Toussaint represented one of the quintessential New Orleans sounds. Toussaint’s compositions and songs seamlessly blend blues, jazz, ragtime, R&B, and funk to create an amalgam that is unique and readily identifiable to New Orleans. Starting on piano in the 1940s and initially influenced by Professor Longhair, Toussaint went on to develop a unique style all his own. The 1950s had Toussaint fronting and recording under his own name including the album The Wild Side of New Orleans featuring the tune “Java”. This continued into the 1960s and 70s, while in the 1980s Toussain

Benny Turner grew up in a music family and after his brother, Freddie King, took him to a session with Howlin’ Wolf and Willie Dixon, he was hooked. While Benny played guitar with the Kindly Shepherds in the 1950s, he also spent time playing bass with Freddie and touring with R&B singer Dee Clark. Following the devastating loss of his brother, Benny took a break from music until he was pulled back into playing by Mighty Joe Young. After his return, Benny went on to serve as bandleader and bass player for Marva Wright for 20 years.

Johnny Vidacovich was born in New Orleans and raised by his mother and grandparents. He started playing drums when he was ten years old and would go to night clubs around New Orleans and stand outside the open windows of the clubs to listen and learn from some of the city's best drummers and musicians. Johnny wrote the method book "New Orleans and Second Line Drumming" with Herlin Riley which became a staple for drum set education in the 1990's. As a mainstay in the New Orleans music scene, Johnny has performed with James Booker, Professor Longhair, Mose Allison, John Scofield, an

Ernie Vincent played a key role in expanding the role New Orleans played in music on a national and international level. As a songwriter he wrote the funk based songs "Dap Walk" as well as many others based on the blues and zydeco.  "Dap Walk" proved that New Orleans was not just about jazz and the blues.  As a musician he formed his own bands along with backing the likes of Irma Thomas, Johnny Adams and Ernie K-Doe, who all creatively shared their unique New Orleans sound to the world.

Walter “Wolfman” Washington was a staple on the New Orleans music scene since first picking up a guitar in the 1950s. After some minor corrections on technique and tuning, Wolfman hit the ground running by joining Lee Dorsey’s band after which Wolfman went on to form and front a number of his own bands. A consummate songwriter, Wolfman crafted his tunes with breadth and soul, building and releasing until he had wrung everything out that he can.  While often labeled as a bluesman, Wolfman was equally at home in jazz and funk settings, not content to strictly howl away on blues numb

Parham Werlein followed in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather as president of Werlein’s For Music in New Orleans, Louisiana. Like his predecessors, Parham also served on the NAMM Board and was a great supporter of the American Music Conference (AMC). Parham’s interview was completed on the day after Werlein’s closed its doors for the final time, which was only the 5th day of closing in its history. The first time the store closed its doors was during a battle close to the warehouse during the Civil War.  

Bitsie Werlein was the last president of the famed Werlein’s For Music in New Orleans. When its doors closed in 2003 it was the nation’s oldest operating music retailer. The company was established in 1862 during the Civil War when the Union Navy blockaded New Orleans harbor. During her years as president the company experienced the great home organ boom of the 1970s and the synthesizer popularity of the 1980s. Bitsie was interviewed on the very day the store closed for the last time. 

John Wright Jr. grew up in the piano business.  His father and his uncle, Dan Hall, formed the Hall Piano Company in 1958.  The store is currently located right on David Drive in Metairie, Louisiana, not too far from the first location, which John recalled running around in as a small child.  Like his father and uncle, John developed a true passion for the music business and was proud to be able to continue the legacy of the family piano store.  John played a key role in the expansion of the product lines and continues in the store’s rich history of customer service.  When his unc