Russ Gazda recalls listening to his mother playing the Hawaiian Guitar as a child. He played the accordion and later was introduced to the Hammond B-3, thanks to recordings by his hero Bo...

Tom Tuson was just 12 years old when he was hired by the Wurlitzer company to demonstrate their organs. As a “Wurlitzer Kid” he played at state fairs and supermarkets to gain the attentio...

Vic Russelavage was hired by Chuck Levin as a repairman while Vic was playing his trumpet professionally. Chuck became a mentor and encouraged Vic to focus on the details and to take as m...

Kevin Crossley studied as a classical pianist and technician before he started working for SIR (Studio Instrument Rentals) in 1974. While he was based in Los Angeles, he traveled often to...

Steve Held was involved in music retail beginning when he was a teenager working at the Music Corner in Waterloo, Iowa. He later worked for West Music in Iowa City for well over a decade ...

Frank Reda worked in the insurance business as a youth, where he credits the training on customer service and sales that he later applied to his work in the music industry. In the 1970s, ...

Tom Dorn studied jazz trumpet at Lawrence College in Appleton, Wisconsin.  The experience cemented his passion for music and soon Tom found himself working for the Wurlitzer retail stores...

Sean O'Shea began front pumping the organ during the big boom of home organs in the 1970s. His first gig was for a music store when he was just 14. He grew up in the business and worked f...

Ron Losby was classically trained on the piano and began his love of the music industry by providing free lessons at Sherman Clay’s retail chain. He later worked within the Wurlitzer musi...

Charles Hodges and his brothers were regular session players in Memphis.  Charles was among the early keyboardist for Willie Mitchell's band, which was the cornerstone for the Hi Records ...

Jerry Harrison recalled several memories of visiting local music stores as a young teenager, just as his musical career began.  Growing up in Milwaukee, Jerry had access to several music ...

Jerry Harrison recalled several memories of visiting local music stores as a young teenager, just as his musical career began.  Growing up in Milwaukee, Jerry had access to several music ...

Steve Nathan is among the top studio musicians in Nashville.  Although his recording career began in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Nashville studios have been requesting his musicianship non-st...

Jim Hearn brings a great deal of experience to his position as Vice President at Piano Craft in Springfield, Missouri. Jim owned and operated his own music store in a local mall for over ...

Tim Laskey founded the Wyman Piano Company.  After a long and successful career with some of the top names in the music industry, such as Wurlitzer and Baldwin, Tim wanted to introduce a ...

Lynda Garcia is first and foremost a music teacher, which was not only her background but her life’s passion.  As she taught, Lynda developed methods and materials that assisted individua...

John Riley grew up playing music and earned a business degree in Boston.  He applied for a job at the Wurlitzer retail store and was hired by a man named Bob Fletcher.  When Bob moved to ...

Dave Olsen’s passion for music began when he was eight years old and his mother, who also played, gave Dave lessons.  He later played French horn for the school band and piano for the hig...

Fred Davis began playing saxophone as a boy and started his own band, the Freddy Davis Orchestra, which played around Ohio during World War II. He was well equipped with reeds for his gig...

Dewey Kuhn grew up listening to his grandmother playing the organ, which she did in her younger days accompanying silent movies.  His passion grew as he learned to play.

Ron Sfarzo may be the only interviewee within the NAMM Oral History collection who served as a police officer in California!  Ron has been involved with music his entire life, with both h...

Chuck Dadisman grew up on a farm and went to school to become a school music teacher, which he did for five years before moving to Omaha, NE, where he worked in piano and organ retail.  I...

Craig Smith began piano lessons at the age seven and by the time he was twelve, was fascinated with the sounds of the home organ. He started demonstrating organs for Karnes Music at thirt...

Bruce Johnson began his career in the music industry working in the accounting department for Wurlitzer in DeKalb, Illinois.  While on the job he began outlining a computer program that c...

Dick Christian has spent his entire career in the piano and organ business and has made many friends along the way. His support for the industry led him to the role as president of the Na...

Leona Yousling was married to one of the most beloved members of the Wurlitzer Company team of the 1960s and 70s, John Yousling. John created many of the sales training classes, which he ...

Martha Hilley was a young piano teacher in the 1960s when she had the idea of expanding her ideas of group lessons. She contacted the Wurlitzer Company, well known for their dedication to...

Gene Gray was a sales rep for the mighty Wurlitzer Company from 1965 until 1988. During his NAMM interview, Gene spoke first hand of the great family feelings many had while working for t...

Glenn Derringer is one of the icons of the music products industry. As a small child, Glenn gained national fame as a whiz on the piano and organ. In fact, Elvis Presley opened for Glenn ...

Larry Rast has served as President of the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation since 1994. With a strong background in teaching, Larry understood the need for music programs for all levels of a ...

Al Rich, the former president of Pearl River Pianos in the United States seems to have pianos in his blood. He grew up in DeKalb, IL, the home of the mighty Wurlitzer Corporation. Al’s fa...

Dave Fletcher was born into a music family. His father developed the Fletcher Music Centers and his brother Robert (a NAMM Past President) expanded the business along with Dave to become ...