Saga Musical Instruments

David Gartland serves as Marketing and Artist Relations Director for Saga Musical Instruments, where he has helped guide brand development, artist partnerships, and global marketing initiatives for more than two decades. Beginning his career with Saga in 1997 as International Sales Manager, David quickly became an integral part of the company’s growth, combining strong marketing insight with a deep appreciation for musicians and the instruments they play. Raised in Pennsylvania, David developed an early connection to music before relocating with his family to Southern California a

Donald Johnson was known throughout the industry as DJ. He began working in music retail in 1958 in the San Jose, California, area before joining Coast Wholesale in 1961. It was an interesting and historic time to begin calling on retail stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. The folk music boom was in full swing and DJ was on hand to witness first-hand the British Invasion and the full power the Beatles had on the music industry. He ran his own music retail store in northern California before returning to wholesale in the late 1970s for Kaman, which had purchased Coast.

Richard Keldsen is the president of Saga Music in San Francisco, California.  His first musical inspiration was hearing Earl Scruggs playing Bluegrass banjo for the first time.  After two years in the Peace Corps, Richard had the opportunity to open a music store called the Fifth String in San Francisco in 1973.  He opened two more stores in Northern California before concentrating on a wholesale business he started on the side.  He called the wholesale company Saga Music and he soon began supplying retail stores around the country.  His love of music and his passion for the music