Steve Helmbold

Steve Helmbold began playing trumpet at age eight, inspired by one of his early musical heroes, New Orleans jazz great Al Hirt. He remained active in school music programs through high school, including playing in the marching band. At 20, he left his native Ohio for Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. Soon after he began his eight-year journey at the legendary Troubadour, working his way from bartender to manager, all while soaking in the venue’s eclectic and inspiring live performances. While studying at West LA College, a classmate introduced Steve to the Waddell Quartet, which was playing jazz. The band expanded it to eight players and changed to a reggae/rock format. And they changed their name to Ras Interpretations, which is now best known for their song “Echoes of Home.” That opportunity led to a five-month Canadian tour and many other musical adventures. Later, a temp assignment brought him to NAMM, where he was hired full-time and worked in show registration for eight years. After NAMM, Steve focused on teaching music through Take Lessons. Since 2024, he has proudly served as a volunteer docent at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music, sharing his lifelong love of music with visitors of all ages.