Jeff Snell is a dedicated volunteer at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California, where his passion for music and curiosity for learning enrich both visitors and the museum te...
Johan Sahlin grew up surrounded by music, inspired by his father’s love of the guitar and the Rolling Stones. One of his fondest memories is attending a Rolling Stones concert with his da...
Markus Engelbrekts brings a unique perspective to the music industry, drawing on his background in fashion and consumer packaging to develop sharp skills in branding, strategy, and custom...
Keith Bishop is an accomplished woodwind musician and educator whose early passion for performance set the stage for a remarkable career. After earning dual degrees in music and music edu...
Gunnar Biggs grew up in a deeply musical family, guided by his father, Dr. Millard Biggs, a professional French horn player and longtime professor at San Diego State University. Following...
Matt Litwaitis is a dedicated and innovative trombonist whose passion for music extended beyond performance into the world of transcription and preservation. Using an early version of Sib...
Geraldine Herrera Hone was working at J.C. Penney in Anaheim, California right out of high school and preparing to attend Fullerton Junior College to pursue her dream of becoming a school...
Suzanne Del Fiorentino brings creativity, empathy, and keen attention to detail to her role as a volunteer videographer for the NAMM Oral History Program. Since 2016, she has recorded wel...
Marc Mann grew up with an insatiable love for music, always requesting tunes in the car and teaching himself guitar after buying one from a vendor on a Mexican beach. Early piano lessons ...
Rupert Greenall has been the masterful synthesist for the new wave band The Fixx since its formation in 1979. His boundless creativity and relentless passion for the latest electronic ins...
Brent Currie vividly recalls his teenage quest to find an early synthesizer, driven by a desire to create his own imaginative musical landscapes. In the formative days of contemporary wor...
Shantaia is a country singer-songwriter originally from Saskatchewan and now making waves in Nashville, Tennessee. She began performing at a young age and wrote her first song at just nin...
Curt Chambers is a Grammy-nominated artist, songwriter, and producer known for blending rock, country, soul, blues, and hip hop into a sound that defies genres. Raised in the church, Curt...
John Griffith, known as J-Cat, began his musical journey in his hometown of Carlsbad, California, when he received his first guitar in sixth grade. Inspired by the surf music craze of the...
Rich Renken attended Dick Grove’s School of Music in California, where he first encountered the innovative craftsmanship of James Tyler Guitars. Instantly captivated by the meticulous des...
Wadada fondly recalls growing up in Maryland surrounded by music, with his grandmother and brothers playing mandolins and guitars. At just four years old, he was already swaying his feet ...
Crazy Tomes grew up in Israel, where his love for music blossomed, particularly his fascination with vintage American rock and roll. When his family moved to the United States at age 14, ...
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 ...
Donnielé Graves describes performing gospel music before a church congregation as an “embodiment of magical experiences.” She believes the spiritual power of music leaves a deep, lasting ...
Tom Anderson, founder of Tom Anderson Guitarworks, fell in love with the guitar at age eight, inspired by the electrifying sounds of 1950s rock and surf legends like Dick Dale. A natural-...
Michael Lemmo is the charismatic host of the popular “Guitar of the Day” video series on Norman’s Rare Guitars’ website and social media. These engaging videos not only spotlight remarkab...
Nick Dias teamed up with a friend to open Vintage & Rare, a vibrant music store on London’s legendary Denmark Street — a bustling hub of guitar shops that flourished in the 1980s. Alw...
Rob Bolger was just 14 when he first stepped into the legendary Norman’s Rare Guitars in Reseda, California — an experience that would shape his life forever. From those early days, Rob f...
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 sc...
Mike Beigel is a pioneering inventor whose pedals and synthesizers have been embraced by musicians around the world, including icons like Stevie Wonder, the Grateful Dead, Bootsy Collins,...
Wally Marx is a passionate rock and rockabilly guitarist, accomplished author, and an invaluable contributor to the NAMM Oral History program. A dedicated and longtime NAMM volunteer, Wal...
Duncan Wickel is a dynamic and versatile string instrumentalist, known for his mastery of the fiddle, cello, and viola—each of which he has artfully adapted across a wide range of musical...
Lily Henley delivered a captivating, sold-out performance at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music in May 2025, showcasing many of her original songs alongside violinist Duncan Wickel. The duo en...
Cato Zane is an accomplished audio engineer and the founder of Lost & Sound Foundry in San Diego, California. Her love for music and physics found a perfect intersection when she disc...
Father Doran Stambaugh serves as the ordained priest at St. Michael’s By-the-Sea in Carlsbad, California, where he blends his love of faith and music through a unique program called Jazz ...
