Oral History Interviews

Ann Patrick Green is the founder of Patrick Music School in Fullerton, California and the music teacher who provided training lessons during the NAMM Shows.  Her passion has always been centered around teaching, so when she had the opportunity to open a music school she jumped at the chance.  For some time, the school became a store as she offered musical instruments and accessories but has trimmed that part of the business to focus on teaching.  During the 1980s she provided several sessions at the NAMM Show in Anaheim for members to better understand how to create and run music

Dick Nash was a first call trombone player in the Los Angeles studios for several decades.  He played for over two thousand movies and TV programs and with a list of artists ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Art Pepper.  Henry Mancini often used Dick on his movie projects including Peter Gunn and Mr. Lucky.  Dick's son, Bill, is the founder of Nash Guitars.

Bob Bain played with a number of the big bands during the golden era of swing before he became the iconic studio session player in Los Angeles.  His session playing is well known for a wide range of famous gigs, such as playing for Audrey Hepburn as she sang "Moon River" in the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's" or the bass guitar for the Munster's TV theme!  Bob credited his early big band days for providing the training ground to be flexible for his later success in the studios.  By the way, Bob also played for the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson for 22 years!

Colin Bailey famously played brushes on the song “Linus and Lucy” by Vince Guaraldi, which was made popular thanks to the Peanuts cartoon television specials. His long career included gigs with Miles Davis, Clare Fischer, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra and George Shearing. He also often filled in for Ed Shaughnessy on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson! Colin wrote three drum method books, which were published by Hal Leonard. The books are based on his own teaching style that he developed over the years with his students while also working as a session musician in Los Angeles.

Rudy Van Gelder was the recording engineer for countless jazz records beginning in the 1940s. To say he was a pioneer seems like an understatement when you take into consideration not only the classic recordings he was involved with, but also the techniques and the studios he built that redefine the sound of recorded jazz, especially in the 1960s.  His passion for music started when he played trumpet in school.  "I wasn't very good so I sold tickets instead!"  While playing in the band, Rudy developed a love for ham radio, which developed into one of the most revered careers in au

Joe Veillette took a luthier class, a class by Michael Gurian back in 1971 and never looked back!  He became so interested in guitar building that he teamed up with Harvey Citron and formed Veillette-Citron in 1976.  The two luthiers collaborated with John Sebastian to develop and market the first production baritone guitar. Veillette-Citron pioneered neck-thru-body construction, made innovations in instrument electronics, and set new trends in modern electric bass design. And that was only the beginning of a career that has redefined handcrafted guitar building!

Malcolm Cecil was the engineer and product designer behind the famous synthesizer known as TONTO! TONTO is the acronym for "The Original New Timbral Orchestra," the first, and still the largest, multitimbral polyphonic analog synthesizer in the world, designed and constructed over several years. TONTO started as a Moog modular synthesizer Series III owned by record producer Robert Margouleff. Later a second Moog III was added, then four Oberheim SEMs, two ARP 2600s, modules from Serge with Moog-like panels, EMS, Roland and Yamaha. Malcolm credited his long and successful career in

Sara Faust may be the only music retailer who has won both the Chopin Piano Competition's first prize as well as the Concert Artists Guild's first place award!  In 1996, after her career as a professional classical pianist, Sara and her husband formed Faust Harrison Pianos in New York.  In addition to offering top of the line pianos, the company also rebuilt vintage instruments with a strong focus on Steinway Grands. Sara is proud to point out that her staff is made up of musicians.  They follow her example in providing good homes for each special piano they sell, a philosophy nea

Pauline Oliveros pioneered composing music using electronic instruments. She recorded both with the Moog and Buchla synthesizers as well as the Expanded Instrument System, an electronic signal processing unit she designed. She was a founding member of the San Francisco Tape Music Center in the 1960s, and served as its director, which is where she first began working with Don Buchla.

Harry Hirsch was the studio designer and audio engineer behind several important achievements in audio engineering. He built such studios as SoundMixers in the Brill Building in New York and MediaSound, which was designed in 1977. After a long and successful career, Harry created college curriculum for recording engineering students.   In his retirement Harry became the chief video editor for the Audio Engineering Society's oral history program.

John Sebastian has a rather impressive and intriguing connection with the music products industry and has for several decades. Did you know he worked in a guitar shop in Manhattan in the 1960s sanding tops? That was before he soared to the top of the charts with the rock band the Lovin' Spoonful. Over the years he has attended many NAMM shows going back to the early 1970s. He has worked with luthiers to create unique instruments and of course he is given credit for electrifying the autoharp.

Lloyd Price had no idea that his 1952 recording of "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" would become a cornerstone in the foundation of rock 'n' roll! Masterful piano playing by Fats Domino, perfectly timed drumming by Earl Palmer, as well as the musical arrangement by bandleader Dave Bartholomew helped launch his song into the stratosphere! It was but one recording in a very historic career at the birth of a new style of music. His other hits include “Stagger Lee,” “Just Because” and “Personality.” In 1998 Lloyd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, very well deserved!

Vivian Majeski had just married John when she visited the NAMM Show for the first time.  The year was 1951 and John, who would later follow in his father's footsteps as editor of The Music Trades magazine. He had returned from war just a few years earlier. Together the young couple attended the show, which Mrs. Majeski recalled with a smile.  "Do you know what the elaborate decorations were back then?  No fancy lights and smoke machines like today, if a piano exhibitor went all out to decorate he might have a vase with some flowers!"

Brian Majeski is the editor of The Music Trades Magazine and has lived and breathed the music business since the day he was born.  His grandfather and father both ran the magazine, which was established in 1890. Brian, along with his brother Paul, have been able to expand the publication to include sale statistics, developing trends and useful tips for retailers and suppliers alike while at the same time bringing the magazine into the digital age. 

Jack Schechinger enjoyed his career in the music products industry.  When he sat down for his NAMM Oral History program in retirement, Jack recalled the many friends and companies he worked with and got to know over the years. Jack’s passion for music developed thanks to his mother being a piano player and his sisters playing the organ in church. Jack picked up the drums and has played them throughout his life.   His parents encouraged him to play, and in fact his high school rock band practiced in the family garage.  Jack even remembers his first kit, a Slingerland, which he purc

Gail Hackinson worked with Charlie Hansen, the iconic music publisher in New York City.  It was at Hansen Music Publishing Company where she met her future husband, Frank Hackinson.  Together the couple established FJH Music Company in 1988, which has also involved their children Kevin, Kyle, and Kerry.  With a focus on music education, the company has offered award winning publications over the years including Succeeding at the Piano® Succeeding with the Masters®, The Festival Collection®, and In Recital® among many others.  Behind the products stand the passionate family and sta

Frank Hackinson received the Music Publisher Association’s Life Time Achievement award in 2012 for a good reason; he is a legend in the industry!  He began his career in music publishing working for Charlie Hansen in New York.  He learned so much from Charlie who himself pioneered many practices still commonly used in the industry today.  Frank kept his eye on quality of products and on producing meaningful publications for music teachers and students.  Music education has always been a main focus for Frank and his own company, FJH Music Company Inc.

Bret Rhoades began his career in the music industry by working for Ken Stanton Music in Georgia.  Bret learned band instrument repairs while attending college, and after a short time as a teacher he landed a job with Ted Frank in New Orleans.  Ted Frank operated the sheet music department within the Werlein’s For Music store in New Orleans, which was a wonderful experience for Bret.  Mr.

Glenn Burtch is the president of JW Pepper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is the same position his brother and father both held.  In fact, during the hundred year history of JW Pepper, only two families owned and ran the business, the Peppers and the Burtchs.  Glenn’s father, Dean Burtch (1928-2010) was interviewed for the NAMM Oral History program in 2004, so our interview with Glenn was a great opportunity to continue documenting the family’s involvement with the company and our industry.  Glenn’s passion for the business not only shows in his own approach to business, but

Charles Slater had a rich background in music publishing, having worked with a number of companies before arriving at JW Pepper.  At Pepper, Charles worked on many projects over the years and expanded his interest in the accounting department to the level of becoming the CFO.  His passion for finding automated ways of completing tasks has helped the company usher in computerized programs in several areas.  He applied his knowledge to several organizations he was also involved with over the years including the Music Publishers Association (MPA).

Harry Voshell started playing the saxophone in the fourth grade and fell in love!  His interest in music grew over the years as he served in the United States Navy, where he played in several bands during his three years in the service.  During college he studied music with an idea of becoming a high school band director but an opportunity to work in a music store sidelined that idea, and his career path headed right into music retail where he spent his entire career.  Harry starting working for B&B Music, which at the time mostly sold records and tapes.  Harry convinced the o

Bruce Swedien was working with Quincy Jones when Michael Jackson asked the two if they would work on his upcoming album, entitled “Thriller.” It became the biggest selling album on the planet and in some ways has overshadowed Bruce’s amazing career before and after “Thriller.” As a recording engineer, he set the standard for many methods in audio engineering that continue to this day. He is known in audio engineering circles for pioneering the Acusonic Recording Process, which involves pairing up microphones together on vocals and instruments, and many engineers list Bruce as thei

Roger Kraft was a pioneer in the retailing of electronic musical instruments such as keyboards and synthesizers in the 1980s.  Many may recall the days of keyboard stores throughout the United States in the early days of MIDI, when innovative keyboards were the craze.  With a background in electronics and music, Roger not only sold these creative products, but often would modify instruments to fit his own needs as a musician.  The keyboard store was the launching pad for a fuller musical retail store called Kraft Music, which he is always proud to point out is currently run by his

Jerry Wenger was just a kid when he recalls his father asking him and his sister to help him out with building some products he has invented, in the basement, for his school use as a music educator.  Jerry was right there at the beginning of one of the music industry’s most innovative manufacturer of furniture and equipment for music practice, rehearsal and performance facilities. The role the Wenger Company has played has been enormous and somewhat overlooked by those outside the industry.

This is the full length NAMM Oral History interview with John Boylan, which was captured on November 1, 2003. For his biography and web clip, please follow the link: https://ww1.namm.org/library/oral-history/john-boylan

Donna Henson holds the unique distinction of being a docent for the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music as well as a former employee of NAMM.  The headquarters for NAMM in Carlsbad, California is also the location for the Museum of Making Music, which was opened to the public in 2000.  Donna began working in the NAMM office in 1989, just a few years after its relocation from Chicago.  Her main role in the NAMM offices involved planning meetings and events around the country for retailers as well as working on the two annual trade shows.  She stayed with NAMM until 1992.  You

Dave Buckeyne can’t remember a time in his life without music.  His father was a band director in Detroit area schools and bought instruments for students who could not afford one.  As a result Dave had access to every type of musical instrument imaginable, often times just sitting in the basement or tucked away in a closet.  Dave and his sister played them all.  He played trombone in school and studied music education to follow in his father’s footsteps.  While in college, he was given the opportunity to work as a summer intern for the JW Pepper Company, a chance Dave jumped at h

Joe Keith felt that the local music teachers needed specialized service when it came to finding the tools they needed.  Along with his wife, Claudia, he opened The Music Mart in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with the goal of doing all that was possible to support music education and lesson programs.  As the store grew so did his personal interest in growing the industry he so deeply cared about, which is why he joined a small group of retailers looking to formalize a new organization.  Together Joe and Claudia became pioneers in the Retail Print Music Dealers Association (RPMDA). For t

Kathy Fernandes was lucky enough to have an inspiring flute teacher while in high school that helped encourage and foster Kathy’s interest in music.  In fact, Kathy pursued a career as a school music teacher thanks to those teachers she learned from.  While in graduate school, she was hired as a summer intern to work for JW Pepper.  The company was seeking research on their own history for an upcoming anniversary and Kathy fell in love with the passion she witnessed from her co-workers and the rich history of products and services geared towards inspiring music making at every lev

This is the full length NAMM Oral History interview with Les Paul, which was captured on November 13, 2001.  For his biography and web clip, please follow the link: https://ww1.namm.org/library/oral-history/les-paul