Sousaphones

Paul Bierley was a leading expert and author on the life and music of John Philip Sousa. A passionate fan of band music, Paul noticed several elements of Sousa’s career that were not documented. With his own publishing company, he penned several books on the March King’s life, including unearthed volumes of Sousa’s own photographs and manuscripts that otherwise may have been forever lost. Beginning in the 1960s, Paul began interviewing all of those he could locate who were associated with Sousa, from performers in his bands to the bandleader’s personal cook. What Paul discovered a

Danny Henkin was one of the true characters of the music products industry. He began his career with G. Leblanc Corporation and later worked as sales and marketing manager for Gemeinhardt Flutes – that is, before he bought the company. His background was in advertising and over the years he grew to understand the inner workings of the industry and the business end of those companies he worked with. By the early 1980s, Danny had owned 26 music companies including C.G. Conn, Armstrong Flutes, and King Musical Products. While owner, he also expanded the product line to include a Conn

Ziggy Kanstul knew more about brass instruments than most people. As an important part of the manufacturing end of the FE Olds Company, Ziggy became an expert on model designs, the specifications for each and every product, and the measurements of the horns made by their competitors. He later formed the Kanstul Musical Instrument Company in Anaheim, CA, and soon established a respected product line that includes trombones, trumpets, and tubas. Ziggy also brought together some of the biggest names in instrument design to work on the task of improving his products.

A. A. (Sid) La Grandeur was trained in band instrument repair in Elkhart, Indiana before returning to Santa Barbara, California where he opened his own shop. The repair shop soon became a retail store and La Grandeur Music was born. Sid hired a young man to train on repair, who later became a key element of the business. In fact, that young trainee was Nick Rail who has since opened his own retail company that now has six stores throughout Southern California.  

Les McCann began his musical career playing the Sousaphone in school. He later played drums before discovering the piano, which became the vehicle that launched him into the jazz world. He recorded with the Fender-Rhodes electrical piano and even tried his hand at a variety of electronic keyboards and synthesizers over the years, but his biggest hit and bestselling jazz albums were made using the piano. This includes the renowned 1969 live recordings of “Compared to What” with saxophonist Eddie Harris.

James Saied, the founder of the Saied Music Store chain in Oklahoma loved the marches of John Phillip Sousa! In fact, he liked them so much that he teamed with then NAMM President Ziggy Coyle to create the bill Ronald Reagan signed into law in 1983 making the “Stars and Strips Forever” the national march. As successful as his business began and as poignant his contributions to the industry were, Jimmy seemed most proud of educating children in music. He said, “Music can give so much to a person’s life. We ought to give music to every child!”