Oral History Interviews

Rudi Metzler watched the Beatles on TV in his home in Germany and wanted to be the next Ringo Starr. He earned money washing cars, taking over a year to earn enough for his first drum kit. After playing in several bands he thought the future for him would be in selling instruments so he began selling backline gear for traveling bands. Along the way he developed key relationships that he would use to help form his music store, which was established in 1982 with the name Rock Shop. Today Rudi continues to focus on quality products for his customers, many of whom have become long tim

William Metcalfe’s father began working for A. P. (Pops) Schuttler in a little music store in Evansville, Indiana, back in 1930. When his father bought the store in a ten-year deal beginning in 1949, the store sold string instruments and accessories until his father brought in records. After graduating from college in 1962, William returned to the store where he worked along side his father until he retired in the 1970s. Along the way he formed a rock and roll store around the corner called ABC Music. With the success of the new store Schuttler Music became the local piano and org

Michael MacDonald has been a key-figure in the world of audio engineering and sound reinforcement as both a field technician and as part of corporate staff including as the president of JBL Professional. In 1996, as the Vice President for Harman Industries, Michael created many of the marketing programs still in use by the company today. After serving as president of JBL for four years he continued in the field doing freelance work before returning to the company at Sidney Harman’s request, where he remains as passionate about the business as the day he started.  

Pat Brown has a most familiar face. His smile can be seen in the ProMark booth at every NAMM show and PASIC convention. More than a friendly smile, Pat has proven to be a strong supporter of the industry and music education. As the director of sales and marketing for ProMark, Pat has introduced the industry to the company’s new products and has worked hard at providing clinics and endorsee-attended events at music stores, schools and special events that work to promote the product as well as to encourage music makers at every level.

A tribute to the members of our industry who passed in 2009.

This video is of our annual NAMM Tribute, created in honor of our members and music industry friends who passed away in 2009 and early 2010.  This Tribute was shown for the first time at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January 2010.

Ed Thigpen, known as Mr. Taste for his remarkable touch and feel as an innovative drummer, had a few (hundred) tricks up his musical sleeves when it came to brush work on the snare drums or speed on the high-hat. As a jazz drummer, Ed played with just about everyone everywhere. And yet, he was a firm believer in encouraging future percussionists and thus wrote method books and providing countless clinics in the hope of inspiring others to make music! His impact on the industry may never be fully realized but it will be felt for years to come.  

Paul Youngblood has become the expert of the BOSS effects pedal products due to his longevity with the Roland company. He has witnessed first hand, and took great part in the development and growth of the innovative BOSS products. Paul has been proud of the teams that were formed at Roland and how they have come together time and again to create new and important advances in guitar effects. 

Roberto Weingrill Jr. spoke during his Oral History interview about the early days of his family’s business and the many changes that have occurred over the years. His great-grandfather moved to Brazil in the 1890s to establish his own instrument company. Weril Instruments was established just a few years later in 1909 and worked hard to provide the entire range of instruments needed for the marching band. One of the great stories Roberto told of those early days in business was that they had one tool, the scissors. Things have come a long way since then.  

Rob Walker has been a leader in the global music products marketing that seemed to shift into high gear in the mid ‘90s when he was CEO of the Australian Music Association (AMA). Rob was instrumental in growing the Association’s influence and valuable relationships and creating programs and special events geared towards increasing the number of active music makers in Australia. Several of his programs were showcased at the Global Economic Summit in 1995.

Pete Sides has a great passion for the music industry; in fact it is in his blood. On his mother’s side a piano tuner can be traced back to the Mayflower and on his father’s side, his grandfather was a piano tuner who formed a small retail store. His father opened Robert M. Sides Piano Service in 1948 out of the family home. The repair shop was in the basement and the show room was the living room. After high school Pete joined the company, expanding it over the years. In 1985 he built a new store and renamed the store Family Music Center, which has become the musical hub for the

Jim Norris grew up in music. He played a trumpet in grade school and continued playing throughout high school. He later formed a rock and roll band named Sea Dog that gained a good following and recorded several hit albums. Jim was also interested in publishing and worked in the magazine business before creating Canadian Musicians Magazine in 1979. Just a few months later he began the Canadian Music Trade Magazine, which has provided an important insight into the people, companies and products from Canada that have helped shape the global music market.

Aidan McCullough grew up in the music business. His grandfather was a piano tuner who established a small store in Ireland that grew over the years. The store expanded in 1967 when Aidan graduated from college and came into the business full time. Over the years he saw a need for a new distribution company, which he formed in 1984 called Keynote Musical Sales.

Alois Mayer formed his own brass instrument company in 1988 with the hope of bringing high quality hand-made musical instruments to the finest orchestras in the world. In a very short time Alois did just that. His brass instruments, including the famous line of trumpets, have been played in symphonies in Japan, the United States, Germany and Austria, to name a few.  

Chris Bristol was a music retailer in Southern California when a salesman came in one day to show him some gear from a new company called Roland. Chris took to the products right away. With his background as a musician and engineer he could understand the dedication that was put into the products. In 1978 Chris was offered a job at Roland US as a salesman in the Pacific North West and as a service trainer for customer service. He helped launch the BOSS products for Roland, beginning at the June 1978 NAMM Show and has made major contributions to the success and expansion of the pro

Helga Kasimoff and her husband established the Blüthner piano dealership in Pasadena, California in 1963. Since that time many Blüthner grand pianos have been restored in their workshop such as those owned by Jerome Kern (1922), Prince Esterharzy (1903), and King Johann of Saxony (1860). Helga and her son run the store, which is well known for placing Blüthner pianos in homes, colleges and universities, with music lovers, professional musicians, recording artists as well as those just getting started with music. Spend any time with Helga, and you will experience the passion for mu

Danny Rocks was associated with music publishers for many years. He served at Alfred Publishing as vice president and was a large part of the RPMDA. By all who knew him, he was the RPMDA historian. Having made music his entire life, Danny was dedicated to helping others do the same. In 2005, he became the president of AMC – the same week he was NAMM’s 500th oral history interview. Danny formed his own company and consulted many in the industry as well as played a vital role in the growth and development of the NAMMU classes held at the Idea Center at each NAMM Show beginning in 20

Bob Popyk knows enough about the music industry to write about it! Bob had several music retail stores before selling them in 1979 to form a sales and marketing strategies business. Since that time he has been active writing columns for Music Trades magazine and providing sessions at several NAMM shows on a wide range of topics. While a retailer, Bob carried Wurlitzer, among many lines, and grew to know the people and products that made that company a major force in the industry for several decades.

Vincent McBryde picked up the saxophone at the age of 5 and played in bands throughout high school and into college, where he studied music with the hopes of becoming a band director. After a year of teaching he fell into the music products industry where he has since become a leader and visionary. 

Jack Long co-founded the Long & McQuade music stores in Canada beginning in 1956. At the time, there were few supplier/dealer relations between Canada and the United States. Establishing these relations was something Jack helped to pioneer. He also helped establish his country as a legitimate industry contender, especially as his own store increased in success and in number of store locations. In 2006, on the 50th anniversary of the company’s opening day, Long & McQuade opened their 26th location.  

  Robert Dove joined Steinway & Sons at a time of global change and development. He helped establish the Far East division of the piano company and for many years assisted with the company’s growth in the US and in Asia. He helped to develop the company’s two OEM brands, Boston and Essex and worked on creating sales and marketing programs for the Steinway dealers, worldwide.

Skip Daynes took great pride in his family’s remarkable heritage as the operator of one of the oldest family-owned music stores in the United States. Daynes Music, located in Salt Lake City, traced its roots back generations and stood as a cornerstone of the local musical community. The store was also among the first Steinway piano dealers west of the Mississippi River, reflecting the company’s longstanding commitment to quality instruments and musical excellence. Under Skip’s leadership, Daynes Music remained a vital part of the music products industry, embracing innovation while

Willy Vassilopoulos joined the Ovation Guitar Company in New Hartford Connecticut to follow his love of woodworking. He soon took part in the production of the instrument, which was originally introduced by Charles Kaman in the 1960s. The Ovation Guitar was unique for its round back made out of a material close to fiberglass. The company grew over the decades and established a number of other innovative designs and products.

Michael Tobias is well known as a gifted and knowledgeable guitar luthier. The Tobias bass, now made by Gibson, has often been praised for its playability and unique sound. Mike is also among the country’s leading authorities on American guitars, having been a guitar repairman since he was 23 years old. His NAMM Oral History interview was completed on July 23, 2005.  

Jeff Rona played a critical role in the coming together of the minds and companies that would agree on the MIDI specs back in the 1980s. The meetings took place at NAMM shows over several years and included Dave Smith, members of Yamaha and Roland to name a few. Jeff was the founder and past president of MMA, the MIDI Manufacturers Association. He is also a film composer and musician known for his studio work in LA and New York. Among his many projects of note was the concert he composed for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which toured throughout China. 

Richard Hoover is the founder of Santa Cruz Guitars and a noted luthier known for his methods that demonstrate traditional guitar building is possible even in the modern era of technology. Richard’s vision of his brand of guitars focused on the instrument’s sound and look as well as its playability. With an eye for the details and being a player himself, he made slight adjustments and enhancements that have placed him among the top-ranking luthiers.

Lorin Hollander is a world-renowned concert pianist with a continuously acclaimed 50-year international career that began with a Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 11. Lorin was an infant child prodigy who composed music at age three and performed Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier at five. Since then, he has appeared as guest soloist with virtually every major symphony orchestra in the world and is a veteran of over 2,500 performances: orchestral, recital, lecture/recital, chamber music - as well as symphony and choral conductor. Mr.

Jack Costanzo, also known as Mr. Bongo, nearly single-handedly (sorry for the pun) brought the bongo to enormous popularity in the 1950s. Jack recorded top selling albums, appeared on TV and in the movies, and gained a fan following at the height of the “lounge sound,” as it has come to be known. In a few famous TV guest spots during the 1950s, Jack gave bongo lessons to actor Marlon Brando, who became quite good on the instrument. His passion for playing never dwindled.  Jack played until his passing at the age of 98 in August 2018.   

Karl Bruhn was the Bob Hope of the music industry, having received so many awards and accolades – an award should have been given for the most awards received. Karl gained his reputation as an advocate for arts education and accompished much on many levels to teach an understanding of music and promote the concept that music does make a difference in people’s lives.

Craig Anderton was among a very small group of engineers at the dawn of the synthesizer revolution during the 1970s that was in the position to report, educate and compose music based on this new technology as it was being created. His monthly articles for Keyboard magazine have become a historic chronicle of the evolution of the new electronic music age. Craig’s compositions continue to establish new forms of musical expression and have long since been the source of inspiration for up and coming composers around the world.