Oral History Interviews

George Hines began his music retail store, George’s Music, outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1977. Since that time, he has been devoted to the industry that he entered out of a passion for music and music makers. As his store grew, so did George’s commitment to his customers. He founded a local blues festival that has grown each year. George is also one of the founders of the Alliance of Independent Music Merchants (AIMM), a decade-old group of retailers dedicated to education and communication within the music retail industry.

Dr. Robert Freeland was among this country’s first to earn a PhD in music librarianship. He worked for the Henry Ford Library and was noted for his national column on classic recording reviews. Dr. Freeland was a charter member of the Music Library Association (MLA) in Southern California in 1947 and received the organization’s special service award in 2002. He also served as mentor to the NAMM Resource Center staff and provided invaluable assistance before his passing in 2005.  

Roger Cox began his career at Ampeg in Linden, NJ.  At Ampeg he served as Vice President of Operations responsible for Quality, Manufacturing, Service, and Research and Development.

Jeannie Cheatham played roots music before anyone was calling it that. She grew up on church music, and progressed to the blues in a time and place where black women were encouraged to express their emotions through music.  Jeannie was there when rhythm and blues became popular and played her own style in clubs and dances all around America. When she met Jimmy Cheatham their personal and musical lives forever became a part of each other. Jeannie’s autobiography “Meet Me with Your Black Drawers On: 
My Life in Music” was published in 2006 and tells of her incredible strength and va

Michael Balter discovered, as a percussionist for many stage and symphonic orchestras, that he could create his own sounds by adjusting or wrapping his mallets. He slowly began designing his own mallets for himself and friends, until it was clear that he had his own business. Over the years the Michael Balter Mallet Company produced a steady number of innovative products while gaining a tremendous reputation as a supporter of school music programs and industry organizations.

Heribert Glassl had two musical loves, the tuba and the cello. While it may seem like a strange pairing, Mr. Glassl made it work. In fact, after a long career in musical instrument making, the tuba and cello are the only products he produced in his small German factory. As founder of the Musik Glassl Company, Heribert has been a regular fixture at the Frankfurt Messe from the very beginning. It was during a Frankfurt Fair that he was interviewed for the NAMM Oral History Program on April 2, 2004. 

Richard Janda specialized in repairing stringed instruments. It was also something he enjoyed very much. During World War II he was trained to repair the band instruments for the U.S. Military marching band, in which he was the trombonist. After the war he sought to add to that education while working in the repair department of Reed Music in Austin, TX. He opened up Richard’s Music in Austin a few years later and remained happily repairing and selling band instruments until his retirement in 2008. Richard was a dear friend of this program and lived to be 99 years old.  

 Jack Javens loved the piano business and became one of the industry’s quintessential salesmen.  He worked for the Aeolian Piano Company out of East Rochester New York beginning in the 1950s and stayed for 26 years.  He witnessed the famous merger between Aeolian and the Winter Piano Company in the mid 1960s and the strong competition of the home organ boom in the 1970s.  Jack was proud of the products he sold and spoke of the rich company history of Aeolian, which went back to 1903. 

George Lewis was the founder of George L’s in Madison, Tennessee, one of the industry’s leading innovators of cable and electronic components.  George played a large role in the development of ShoBud as a retail store and manufacturer of steel pedal guitars.  George’s entire family works in the business, which is now being operated by his two daughters.  His interview was as much a recount of his career as it was an American history lesson as George was on board a ship in Pearl Harbor on D

Zhi Cheng Tong served as the Chairman for Pearl River Pianos in China and was one of its longest-term employees.  The company was established in 1956, and he joined the company just two years later. Mr. Tong made his products among the best known pianos in the world, while maintaining the great responsibility he felt all piano makers should display towards nature for providing the wood to make their instruments. He was a strong supporter of music education and during his 2006 NAMM interview said "Our future is the child we encourage to play today."

 John Hornby Skewes was the founder and president of John Hornby Skewes Company Ltd, a noted music wholesaler located in England, which was established in the early 1960s. John was also one of the pioneers of the Music Industry Association in the UK and the British Music Fair.

Ruth Sibley Bensinger wrote a song called “So Long Sweetheart” when she was a teenager.  The song was about lovers split by war.  Members of her musically inclined family thought the song was quite promising.  Ruth decided to walk the song over to Fred Waring’s home, whom she had met once through her bandleader father.  Mr. Waring, the king of choral music and leader of the Pennsylvania Vocal Group, liked the song and later had his group perform it several times.  The song led to several jobs for Ruth over the years with Mr. Waring, including one with his music publishing company,

 Mr. Menchey founded the Menchey Music Service in 1936 out of his mother’s sewing room in Hanover. By the time he retired in 1982, Menchey’s Music grew into the premier full-service school music and piano dealer serving Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland. He pioneered expansive sheet music departments throughout his multi-store locations and was known to provide music publishers with ideas of trends and needs he saw within his customers, which often resulted in new editions and publications such as band music for beginners in the era before they were common place. Mr. Menc

 William McCormick may always be referred to as an industry outsider by some because he came to the music retail business with a Harvard MBA, from the sugar industry – over 30 years ago!  His skillful understanding of the business was second to none.  His service to the Jordan Kitt's Music Company outside of Washington, DC, made him one of the most respected members of the industry.  Bill served as President of the American Music Conference (AMC) and as President of the NAMM Foundation’s  Museum of Making Music.   

 Dean Markley thought there must be a better way of making a guitar string, so he found it and in the process changed the way accessory products were sold.  Founder of Dean Markley Strings, he often sought to refine the manufacturing process to produce a larger variety of strings for a gamut of styles and sounds.  He soon redefined other strings, including those made for the electric bass. 

 Richard Collins had a colorful career as a jazz trumpeter in the evening while he studied for his masters degree by day.  Two topics always fascinated Dick, music and research, so he sought to study both.  He earned his masters in Library Science and spent most of his career in southern California lib

 Don Johnson received his degree in journalism and later landed the editor’s job at a recording industry trade magazine.  Years later the magazine was sold to the owners of the Music Merchandise Review (MMR).  Under Don’s editorial direction the magazine has focused on music dealers with profiles and product news.  He also worked hard to ensure that each issue would contain tips and suggestions that could be applied to any retail store.  In 2007 Don led the effort for the first

 Barbara Fitzgerald is a member of the NAMM family!  For years Barbara has been the trade show event coordinator who quietly in the background has made possible so many of the current services enjoyed during the annual shows.  She has worked on improving customer service for our members as well as increasing what products and services could be provided for our members, both exhibitors and attendees.  “I always felt part of this family and that is the nicest feeling anyone could ever hope for during their career.”  Barbara was interviewed the day after the January 2006 NAMM Show, h

 Frank Fendorf served as a school band director for many years beginning with the high school band in Warrensburg, MO in 1947.  He enjoyed the role of band director and in fact was doing just that when his friend Merle Jones called.  Mr.

Norman Erickson was hired by the Lowrey Company in 1947. At that time, the company was still producing cement powder mixture. However, Lowrey’s owner had an interest in the electronic organ that was being developed by Laurinz Hammond, so he sought Norm as an engineer. Norm’s designs, in addition to those of his teammates, led to a line of organs just right for the average home. When Chicago Music Instruments (CMI) purchased the Lowrey Company in the late 1950s, Norm was promoted to executive positions in the company.

 Luella Derwin was one of the first women owners of a music store in America.  In 1937, when her bandleader husband Hal Derwin went on the road, Luella was left behind, “So one day I was thinking of all the fun we had with musicians who would come to town and look for a local place to have their instrument repaired or went seeking strings or valve oil.  I thought why don’t I open a small shop and do it myself.”  Derwin Music was located in Chicago, IL and was closed fifteen years later in 1952 when Hal was hired as the house band leader for the Biltmore Bowl in Los Angeles.  "I wa

Thomas Burzycki served as President of Selmer Band Instruments while at the same time being on the NAMM Board as one of the first four commercial members to do so.  He followed that term as President of the American Music Conference during the important transition and growth of the organization during the 1990s.  His long career in the industry was followed by a part time teaching position at the University of Indiana, covering both business and advertising.  Tom’s unique approach to music education has played a vital role in many of the industry’s programs and projects during his

Ray Anthony has only endorsed two products during his long and successful career-- only two because he doesn't give use of his name lightly. As a teenager he played trumpet for the famed Glenn Miller Orchestra during the swing era. A decade later he formed his own band and recorded a number of his own tunes including “The Bunny Hop.” He played a Selmer trumpet in his early career, but switched some 40 years ago to a Yamaha trumpet. Ray also formed his own music publishing company along the way and produced and released several well-selling albums.

 John Aldridge has become one of the leading experts on the history of drums, percussion companies, and their products.  As a publisher and editor, John established the magazine “Not So Modern Drummer” and dedicated its pages to the vintage drum, the history of which otherwise might have been lost.  John has been instrumental in preserving important percussive collections and documentation to ensure the material could be accessed by those interested.  John’s NAMM Oral History interview was

 Joy Akerman was one of the first volunteers in the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music docent programs back in 1999.  Over the years, she became active in many elements of the museum, including the store and the monthly volunteer training classes.  Her love of people and music made her role at the museum a perfect fit.  More recently, Joy was hired as the receptionist who greets all NAMM visitors and holds court behind the much talked-about lobby desk, which is in the shape of a grand piano. 

 Kenny Burrell is among the most beloved guitarists of post-war jazz.  Kenny’s influential recordings and strong interest in musical education has helped establish his name among students and educators alike. His expertise on all things Ellington has parlayed into a popular course at UCLA begun in the late 1970s on the life of Duke Ellington. After years of endorsing Gibson Guitars made in the Kalamazoo factory, he switched to the Heritage Guitar, which is made in the very same factory by former Gibson employees who did not move with the company to Nashville.  Heritage has since d

 Eleanor Anderson helped establish Woodbury Music Company with her late husband, Leroy Anderson.  The company is managed by their three children (Kurt, Rolf and Jane) with a third generation very active in music as well.  As composer and arranger, Leroy Anderson published popular classical music that helped create a whole new musical genre during the late 1940s and 1950s.  The Boston Pops featured most of Leroy’s works with several becoming hit recordings, including “Sleigh Ride” and “Blue Tango.”  Since Leroy’s passing in the early 1970s, Eleanor worked to ensure her husband’s mu

 Takehiko Akaboshi, the legendary Japanese music therapist and founder of the world renowned Japan Music Volunteer Association, began his career as a popular singer who recorded traditional and new folk songs as early as the 1950s.  While singing around the country he began seeing the benefits of music on the ill and in 1972 created “ryouiku ongaku” or therapeutic music programs that have since been proven to reduce stress and pain in mind and body for his many patients.  Mr.

Tony Acosta had a dream to make the world’s finest classical guitar strings.  He began working nights to perfect his product and build relationships within the industry and slowly gathered the needed equipment. Several years later, when he quit his day job working for an airline, his friends thought he was crazy to leave before his retirement just five years away.  Tony wanted nothing more than to see his dream come true, so he took the risk and established the renowned Luthier Strings Company.  “You must follow your dreams” he said with a smile.   

 Ken Achard played such an important part of the industry that he was asked to write a book.  The book entitled “The Peavey Revolution” was released in 2005 and covers Ken’s long association with the innovative company and its founder.  Ken met Hartley Peavey in 1972, who entrusted Ken to open up the UK operations of the Peavey Company.  The task did not come without challenges, but as Ken put it, “It was a great opportunity to be a part of something big.