Oral History Interviews

Al Bell was in the Stax recording studio in Memphis at the very moment Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed just a few blocks away. Ironically, the recording Al was producing at that time was a song he wrote encouraging Dr. King, whom he had known for years, to be cautious carrying out his goals during the Civil Rights movement. This was just one of many amazing and historically important events that took place during Mr. Bell’s impressive and inspirational career in music. We are proud to have captured some of those stories within the NAMM Oral History collection.

Zach Phillips lives and breathes the music products industry, and this has led him into a role that appears to have been tailored specifically for him as the Director of Professional Development for NAMM. With a passion for music products and an innate ability to educate others, Zach has been pivotal in the growth of the educational offerings provided by NAMM. Zach sat down in 2017 to discuss his career at NAMM as well as the development of the Professional Development department and the education experience at NAMM Shows.

Stuart Robertson is the Creative Director at NAMM with over 20 years of experience with the organization. With a passion for music and a talent in creating marketing and communications material, Stu has been an integral part of the NAMM team and has witnessed the exponential growth of the association over the past 20 years. During his 2017 NAMM Oral History interview, Stu discussed many of the changes in technology he has witnessed over the course of his career and some of his favorite NAMM Show moments.

Eric Ebel is a Senior Project Manager for the Public Affairs and Government Relations department at NAMM. Working throughout the industry before taking a job at NAMM prepared Eric for a multitude of roles within the organization including in the Trade Show Sales department before finding his passion with Public Affairs and Government Relations. During his 2017 NAMM Oral History interview, Eric discussed the growth of NAMM during his tenure and some of the many highlights from his career with the organization.

Michael Mullens grew up in his father’s New England music store. He caught the music bug early and to the surprise of even his father, Michael also became a knowledgeable salesman while he was still a kid. Understanding the products and the needs of the store’s customers seemed to come natural to Michael. While studying music business in college, Michael interned with NAMM in the fall of 2016. He later was hired in the Resource Center to assist with the growth and development of the Oral History program.

Pete Johnston was a Video Director for NAMM when he raised his hand to volunteer to help with the production of the TEC Awards.  The TEC Awards were new to the NAMM Show and the need to create and execute a top notch awards program was paramount.  Pete leads the team that produces the show, which is held at the Anaheim NAMM Show each January.  Pete’s career with NAMM began in 1995, after a successful career as a bass player in Southern California.

Rick Marotta taught himself to play drums at the age of 19. Since then, he has made a name for himself in the music world. Rick has played with artists such as John Lennon, Paul Simon and James Taylor, and has composed music for the popular show Everybody Loves Raymond. In his 2008 interview, Rick discusses the Groove All-Star show and his hopes for the future.

Akira Jimbo, a drummer out of Japan, has been playing drums since he was 17. Akira has released over 10 solo albums throughout his career and has demonstrated a passion for education through his instructional videos. In his 2008 interview, Akira talks about his unique playing style and how others can create their own.

Deke Dickerson began his musical career when he started playing the saxophone, but quickly realized he was much more adept at playing the guitar. As a part of the affectionately named “68 Club” Deke reflects on how his formative year coincided with the revival of Rockabilly, which provided him with the foundation to pursue a passion deeply entrenched in the culture of Rockabilly. Deke has traveled throughout the world playing guitar with Rockabilly legends such as Sonny Burgess, Scotty Moore and Duane Eddy.

Russ Miller, drummer on more than 400 albums including Tina Turner, Hilary Duff, and Andrea Bocelli, has always had a passion for music. During his 2008 interview for the Oral History Project, Russ discusses how important it is to connect to the music and his 3 important rules for keeping his groove. Russ also prides himself on drummer education. His education books and videos were voted #1 in the world between 2001 and 2004. 

Dafnis Prieto grew up in a musical neighborhood in Cuba where he quickly fell in love with the drums. During his 2008 NAMM Oral History Interview, Dafnis discussed some of his musical influences and what the term “groove” means to him. Facilitating masters classes, clinics, workshops and serving as part of the music faculty at New York University, Dafnis continues impart his wisdom and love for music on future generations.

Rick DePiro fell in love with music when he first decided to play the organ at the young age of 10, getting his first official gig just a few years later playing the electric piano in his community church and started to tour at the age of 20 as a keyboard player, pianist, organist and singer-songwriter. Playing in venues like the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl and the White House top some of Rick’s favorite memories as his time as a gigging musician.

Daniel Keller is the founder of Get It In Writing and a strong advocate for promotion and marketing within and for the music industry. He has played bass since he was a teenager and built his first recording studio (4 track) in his early 20s. Daniel worked in several studios, including Cherokee in Los Angles, before working as the artist relations director for Shure. Along the way, he developed his skills and networking, which has aided many people and companies within the industry by bringing people together. He focused on product design at TASCAM while working on the USB DAW con

Allee Willis wrote a number of successful songs that have become part of the fabric of pop music. Allee either wrote or co-wrote songs such as “September” by Earth Wind & Fire, the theme for the sitcom Friends entitled “I’ll Be there for You,” the Broadway musical The Color Purple, and "Neutron Dance" among many others. She has also been heavily involved with technology and in fact was creating interactive social media experiences on the Internet as early as 1991. As an artist and set designer, Allee has worked with many other performers over the years to create art in many fo

Phil Ranelin stood in line at school to pick an instrument for band. He really wanted the saxophone but when he got to the head of the line all the saxophones were gone and he was given a trombone. It was not his first choice, but he grew to love the instrument and in fact made it his own over the years by establishing his own unique sound. He helped redefine jazz in the 1960s and 70s with his band The Tribe and performed with a long list of innovative musicians including Freddie Hubbard and Wes Montgomery.

Les Brazil’s first retail job was in Manchester, United Kingdom in 1966 when he was just 15, at a shop called Reno’s. Reno was a famous violin player that worked with the likes of Stephan Grapelli in the 30’s. After a few years of working at Reno’s, Les was also doing an apprenticeship as a welding engineer and later joined a band that would become “Chalice” which got the opportunity to tour Australia in 1973. The band toured for six years around Australia making many friends along the way.

jj Babbitt Co. Inc. was established in 1919 by Jesse James Babbitt and as of 2019, as the family owned and operated company embarks on their 100th year in business, they are preparing for the fourth generation to take over the business. As one of the world’s oldest manufacturers of mouthpieces for clarinets and saxophones, they create their mouthpieces based on the principle idea that craftsmanship is the key to creating a superior product. Located in Elkhart, Indiana, jj Babbitt Co. Inc. is a staple in both the local community and in the music products industry. NAMM is honored t

Sonny Wittkopp studied business in college and landed a job as a bookkeeper for a local music store in Washington state. This experience generated a great passion for the music industry which resulted in Sonny opening the Hammond Organ Studios of Spokane in 1962. The store grew along with the home organ boom of the 1960s and 70s, offering some of the most popular and innovative products including Hammond Organs and the Leslie Speakers. The company expanded to a local mall in the mid-1960s and in 1967, with a new name, Music City Spokane, Inc, moved into a new building.

Don Wilson was a founding member of the instrumental rock band, The Ventures! He formed the band with his friend Bob Bogle. Shortly after their first hit, “Walk Don’t Run,” Nokie Edwards, who was also interviewed for the NAMM Oral History program, joined the band. The band then went on to record dozens of albums, the theme for the TV show Hawaii Five-0, and perform live in concerts around the world every year for sixty years! All throughout that time, The Ventures inspired countless musicians to learn their songs, form a garage band, and follow their passion for music.

Ken Hyams was a key franchise owner of Altec Lansing in the early days of consumer electronics. He worked for a Los Angeles retailer for audio, consumer-electronic, products in the late 1940s and 1950s. While witnessing the growth and development of the audio industry, particularly with products such as those offered by Harman Kardon and Altec Lansing, Ken decided to open his own company. Allied Communications Inc. was established in 1964 and ran as a successful business until Ken retired in 2001, when he closed the company. He was proud of the service he provided his company and

Normalu Cooper was inspired by her piano teachers as a young girl so she eventually began providing lessons in her father’s piano store when she was a teenager. Like her father, Normalu went on to have a long career in piano retail in Washington and, also like her father, she played the organ for local sports teams. In the 1990’s, her and her husband, Jack, purchased Davis & Hosch Music Company, which was sold upon their retirement and renamed Spokane’s Steinway Piano Gallery. Her long career and passion for the industry was a key factory in thousands of her students and custo

Morris Diamond sat down with us for his NAMM Oral History interview at the age of 97 and recalled his career in music which started when he was 15 years old. He was hired to be the “band boy” for the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra one month after the famous bandleader hired a then unknown singer by the name of Frank Sinatra. Taking care of the instruments and helping with arrangements for the band gained the attention of Mr.

Betty Bennett was inspired to pursue a career in music when she was brought along to gigs by her mother and was allowed to sing with her. After Betty’s first paying gig, making 50 cents for singing a song, she would continue singing throughout her high school and college years, hitting it big when she auditioned for and was accepted in to the Midwest Territory Band led by Royce Stonner. She eventually worked with big names like Claude Thornhill, Alvino Rey, Charlie Barnett, and Benny Goodman.

Howard Reitzes was brought up on classical piano but found a true passion for playing when he discovered the Blues.

Bonnie Guitar produced a series of hit recordings for her label, Dolton, in the 1950s and 60s. Among the labels most popular acts were the Fleetwoods and the Ventures. Bonnie even recorded a few of her own songs for her label, including “Candy Apple Red.” As a recording artist, Bonnie topped the charts with several hit songs including “Dark Moon” and “I’m Living in Two Words.” She was married to musical instrument designer Paul Tutmarc (1896-1972). Paul designed a very early electric bass and a line of steel guitars under the company name Audiovox.

Moze Mossay was given a guitar as a gift from his father when he was a kid and he fell in love with the instrument. Moze sought to understand all elements of the guitar and soon found himself taking the instrument apart and putting it back together. Over the years, he studied the many instruments he repaired to learn what made each make and model unique in feel and sound. American Dream, a guitar shop in San Diego, hired Moze in the early 1970s. In 1973, he opened his own repair shop, which has grown into a retail store, Moze Guitars in Spring Valley, California. To this day, Moze

Trevor Rabin was raised in a musical household, with a father who was a musician and he encouraged Trevor to play the piano at an early age. Later, his father gave him a guitar as a gift which started Trevor off on a side musical experience as a session player in his hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa. Trevor also studied classical music and composition, which he later used to great success while scoring for films. His pop music career began with the band Rabbitt, which had a string of hits in the 1970s and he later joined Yes and wrote several songs for the band.

Mike Ortigara runs the piano repair and restoration branch of the store his father Ben opened in 1947. Ben opened an accordion store in Chicago which expanded overtime to include pianos, organs, and a well-respected lesson program. When Mike came into the business he focused on the repairs and became a piano technician along with his brother Dan. Mike owned his own piano shop for 12 years before returning to the family owned store, which is now located in Chicago Ridge. 

Mary Ortigara has always had a deep passion for education and was an English major at Xavier College. After graduating in the late 1950s, she began working in her brother’s music store giving accordion lessons. She soon expanded the lesson program to include other instruments and hired a number of well-respected teachers. She was active in the store for over 50 years and played a role in every aspect of the business, as you often do in a family business. For years she kept the books for the business in addition to managing the lesson program and always felt the store was successfu

Mario Ortigara joined his brother’s music store just two years after it opened. Since 1949, Mario worked alongside his brother Ben who started the store to teach and sell accordions. By 1959, their sister, Mary, joined the team and years later both of Ben’s sons, Mike and Dan, came on board. The family business grew over the years to include piano and organ. Mario’s first job was to sell accordions door to door, which rode the wave of popularity of that instrument just as the front pumping of organs in the mall did a decade later. Mario witnessed many changes in the industry and h