Ed Intagliata

Ed Intagliata sat down for his NAMM Oral History interview just days before closing Cassell’s Music in San Fernando, California, a beloved community treasure founded by Al Cassell in the 1940s. When Ed’s father purchased the store, he asked Ed to take the reins—a role Ed embraced wholeheartedly for an incredible 48 years. Throughout those decades, Ed discovered a true passion for helping others, especially young musicians, find the perfect instrument and encouraging them to pursue their love of music. Among his most heartfelt contributions was creating the “Play It Forward” program, which gave new life to old or donated instruments and placed them in the hands of families who otherwise couldn’t afford them. The program flourished thanks to a generous anonymous donor who quietly supported it every month for decades, stopping only when the store closed. Ed’s remarkable dedication shone through in every detail—even never calling in sick once in nearly half a century. While closing Cassell’s marks the end of an era, Ed now has the joy of focusing on his own lifelong passion: playing the accordion and savoring well-earned moments of rest.