Oral History Interviews

Keith Chen joined the Tom Lee Music Company in Hong Kong as a guitar salesman.  The large store had a small guitar department when Keith first joined the company and he took great pride in watching the department grow and develop.  During that time he also served in several areas within the guitar department, including repairs.  Keith became a luthier for the store and enjoyed his work in repairs as well as on the sales floor with the customers. He retired in March 2021.

Neville Marten has enjoyed a long career as editor of Guitar Techniques, one of the magazines represented by his firm Future Publishing.  Prior to that, he was editor of Guitarist magazine for 14 years.  As a blues based guitarist, he writes about what interests him the most as a player; pioneering players, great method books and recording as well as the gear.  His many notable articles include those that review and describe the latest gear found at the NAMM Show and a list of top innovative products.  In addition to writing, Neville has been a product demonstration artist at many

Clive Roberts has wonderful memories of his parent’s passion for music.  His mother played piano and his father performed his own songs on the ukulele-banjo for the troops during World War II.  Clive picked up on their love of making music and set off to do the same.  While interested in playing the electric guitar but having little money, Clive made his own.  That resourcefulness led to a distribution job within the industry, a job that suited him just fine.  In fact, he has been in the industry ever since.  He worked for a few companies including Trace Elliot, Kaman Music Corpor

David Marshall grew up in a musical home and played piano and cello at an early age.  As part of the Wessex Youth Orchestra he played in many prestigious concerts including the Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall and later studied music at City University in London as his interest in electronic musical instruments grew.  During the 1980s at the University, David was exposed to the latest in electronic instruments and the university’s recording studio, which only deepened his interest and passion.   He joined Roland UK in 1988 as a trainee product specialist,  where Brian Nunney

Anthony Macari is the Managing Director of the music shop in London, England named by his father.  Macari’s Musical Instruments first opened in 1958 and was established by Joe and Larry Macari.  Anthony’s father, Joe, played a key role in the growth of the shop, which today has two locations (one on Charing Cross Road and the other on Denmark Street, also known as Tin Pan Alley).  The store is best known as the home of the Tone Bender.  The first Tone Bender was designed by Gary Hurst in the back room of the store around 1965.  By the end of the year, production was such that the

Alun Hughes grew up in Wales, which has a very much musical community, which he became very active and interested.  Playing saxophone, flute and clarinet, Alun realized at an early age that he wanted to have a career in the music industry.  His first job within the industry was in the factory of the band instrument manufacture, Boosey and Hawkes in Edgware, North London.  While in the factory he discovered, just as he suspected, that working in the industry brought out his great passion and he was eager to learn and explore more.  Over his career, Alun has served in many roles in

Genett Gamber was passionate about music making from a very young age.  She recalls her mother arranged to have a piano teacher come to the house and being so excited about learning as much as she could.  That desire and passion only grew over time and by the time she graduated from college; she had already begun her career as a music teacher.  She found that private teaching was the most rewarding for her and soon discovered that her college friend Pete was opening a music store and needed teachers.  The two opened the store together, got married and have been teaching music ever

Hartmut Willms is the President of Piano Willms, a firm established by his grandfather and his two brothers back in 1912.  Hartmut’s grandfather enjoyed building pianos and created the Willms brand of instruments as well as manufactured other brands over the years.  After World War II, Hartmut’s father came into the business to learn piano building along with a young builder named Franz Mohr!  Hartmut joined the company in 1983 to learn from his father, who turned the business over to him in 1991.  Today, the retail store of Piano Willms sits on a lovely countryside on the edge of

Lutz Wentscher spoke of the long history of Tonger Music House, one of the most traditional publishers in Germany.  As CEO, Lutz has helped guide the company in recent years, yet looks back fondly on the many achievements of the Tonger Company since it was first established in Cologne in 1822.  Tonger has been committed for over 100 years to the education system and the music programs both in and outside of Germany.  The company has supplied over 1,000 schools with music and set up programs to provide materials even when they cannot be afforded.  “Music is for everyone” Lutz refle

Linda Vincent worked for a short time at the NAMM headquarters, which is where she met her husband, the late John Vincent, who at the time was Director of Trade Shows. We missed our chance to interview John for the Oral History program as he passed away in 2013.  However, Linda was thankfully able to cover much of his history and her own views of the industry and the inner workings of NAMM for a decade beginning in 1984.  

Prof. Dr. Jörg Sennheiser grew up in the music business and proudly followed in his father’s footsteps in leading the engineering of the company his father, Fritz, formed back in 1945.  Sennheiser Electronics has been an industry leader with a string of innovative products and advances in the field of audio engineering.  Jörg was able to assemble teams that conducted cutting edge research techniques that helped create the foundation of the digital products Sennheiser has produced over the decades. Jörg continues to support the industry and has played a vital role in the training a

Paula Simmons wanted to create a shop where good quality instruments could be accessible to all those who came in the store.  As a teacher, Paula was very interested in providing lessons for students of all ages.  She tied both needs together when she and her partner, Kevin Smith,opened The Violin Shop in San Diego.  While continuing to perform as a professional musician, Paula somehow squeezed a little more time from her day to become the conductor of the North Coast Strings, which rehearses at the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. Her passion can

Kev Rones received his first instrument experience when a musician on his block recognized Kev’s passion and allowed him to use the Fender in his garage.   That early influence really directed him towards music, which has been his life’s passion ever since.  In fact, Kev is the Pied Piper of Recreational Music Making.  He opened his own teaching studio, conducts clinics around the world and wrote a method book for Hal Leonard entitled QuickStart for Fingerstyle Ukulele.  Kev also created the website, www.kevmusic.com, which has served as a resource for teachers and students alike

Dan Rodowicz was encouraged at an early age to play music.  His parents arranged piano lessons, which led to trombone, which was the instrument of his beloved uncle. Dan was influenced by the music around him growing up in Philadelphia, which inspired him to play the organ.  In 1976 he won a local organ festival and by the end of the decade, Dan won the national Electone Festival, which was created by Yamaha.  In 1982, he was hired by Yamaha to help run the festivals and travel with the regional winners before becoming a well-regarded product specialist.

Lee Rocker formed a punk rock style group that just happened to play rockabilly.  The Stray Cats had a host of hit records, first in England and beginning in the early 1980s in the United States.

Gordon Grubbs grew up in a very musical home.  His mother was a professional pianist and was very encouraging to Gordon when he was three and wanted to play.  Gordon was later guided by a very influential teacher, which was an experience that forever cemented his own direction in music.  He studied at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan, earned a degree in performances at Wichita State University and soon became a member of a number of musical organizations including the Chamber Orchestra of Wichita, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Grossmont Symphony String Quart

Lori Frazer’s mother taught piano and organ, which was the foundation for her own passion for music.  When Lori was a small child, her mother purchased a piano for the home, which later would serve Lori for her own training.  Like many people in Northern California in the 1950s and 60s, Lori and her mother were influenced by Marion Richie, a well-known music teacher!  Lori was hooked on the passion of teaching and found herself following in the footsteps of her mother and those of Marion.  In the late 1970s, while hanging out at the local Yamaha Music store, Lori began teaching se

Andy Fraser took part in the second wave of the British Invasion in the late 1960s as a member of Free.  He joined the group as a teenager and in fact was instrumental in the writing of their big hit, “All Right Now,” which has since become a rock anthem.  Andy was involved with several other bands including the Sharks, which was formed in 1973 and The Andy Fraser Band.  Having been a prolific songwriter since he was a teen, Andy felt the need to protect his materials by establishing Mctrax International.  He always viewed his musical skills as a gift and shared those gifts whenev

John Fitzgerald focused on making creative music ever since his education at Cal Arts in the late 1970s.  As his career developed, all of his experiences brought John directly to Remo Belli’s programs for Recreational Music Making (RMM).  Remo helped pioneer music wellness programs and the many benefits of music making.  John’s involvement with Remo helped promote the drum circles that have been supported by the company and later the industry.  John became a strong and enthusiastic facilitator for RMM activities.  

Stephen Wick's father Denis is a well-regarded classical musician. The passion for music growing up remains with Stephen to this very day.  Together father and son work in the company Denis, established to provide high-quality instrument accessories such as mouthpieces and mutes.  As an accomplished classical player himself, Stephen appreciates the need for high-quality products and the mission his father had to provide such products all around the world.  Stephen has played a key role in the expansion of their products into newer markets while staying focused on the core products

Louise Harrison was the older sister of George and played an important role in the Beatle's success in America.  In 1963, the year before the Beatles arrived, Louise was living in the United States when she was asked by her mother to bring some of the records George made with his new band.  Louise struggled to gain the attention of radio stations but ultimately made progress.  In later years Louise followed her brother in becoming a music advocate.  Did you know that the only public service announcement George made in his later career was to promote music in the schools?  Louise t

Bob Henrit has been a regular artist at music trade shows all around the world for decades.  As a top rated drummer who has performed with many bands and stars over the years, Bob has endorsed several drum and accessory companies over his career.  As a result, he is not only well known to the NAMM family, but he has known many of our industry’s innovators and pioneers.  His list of recordings is also very impressive as well.  Did you know it is Bob playing the opening cowbell on the multi-million selling 60’s rock classic “Concert & Clay?”  Other notable bands he has given the

Bobby Wellins was surprised to learn that Charlie Watts, the drummer for the Rolling Stones, listed Bobby as an influence on his playing.  After all, the jazzman played tenor saxophone.  However, it was Bobby’s delivery that gained the ear of the young Mr.

Glen D. Hardin had the opportunity to play alongside his favorite performer, the artist he most admired as a young music fan, Ray Charles.  Glen grew up in Lubbock, Texas, and began playing the piano when he heard a family member play.  He went on to become a well-known arranger and pianist in the LA recording studios who performed with Gary Lewis, for whom Glen wrote a hit song, and Elvis Presley, with whom Glen recorded and performed for six years.  While in Los Angeles, he was asked to play and arrange for the band on the iconic music program Shindig, which is where Glen got to

Glenn Snoddy was working in the recording studio in Nashville, when a short on the control board caused Grady Martin's guitar to take on a new sound.  The engineers and producer looked at one another and asked if they heard that fuzzy sound.  That sound was later requested by other artists who sought the studio out.  So, Glenn went home and designed an effects box that was later sold to Gibson with the same name Glenn gave the device, the Fuzz Tone!  

Bill Walzak grew up in Chicago and found his way to the drums whenever he could.  Trash cans and pots were often turned upside down and were Bill’s set!  While playing in a band later he invented a cup holder to attach to music stands.  In 1982, Bill made his first trip to the NAMM Show with his first product.  Over time he continued to research ideas and how he could continue to provide services or products for the music industry, including flight cases.  While running his own successful distribution company, around 1994, Bill designed software for the Internet that would create

Joe Lovano worked with the Borgani Musical Instrument Company in Italy on a series of saxophones that fit his style of playing.  The Borgani-Lovano instruments use pearl-silver alloy with the famous gold keys.  Joe has been endorsing the company since 1991 and his proud to play a role in encouraging others to pick up an instrument and play.  Joe’s long career in music has covered jazz to funk to rock and included performances with Woody Herman, John Scofield and Lady Gaga.  And Joe continues to try new things and play with artists who help him stretch bounders, such as the free ja

Larry Graham fondly recalls stepping out onto stage to perform at Woodstock!  He remembers the sea of people and the energy in the air as he performed as a member of Sly & the Family Stone.  Larry recorded many of the band’s big hits in the 1960s and early 70s before he formed his own funk band known as Graham Central Station. The influence of Larry’s slap style of playing the bass, which he calls “thumbin’ & plunkin’,” has been felt in rock, jazz and world music. One of his biggest hits as a solo artist came in 1980 when he and his wife wrote “One In A Million You.”

Rikki Farr has been an active member of the audio engineering community most of his life and has been involved in countless innovations along the way.  Rikki’s incredible career spans concert promotions, music recording, and audio design, including product engineering. While working concert promotions, Rikki booked Jimi Hendrix, The Who…wait, it might be easier to list the only act we can think of that Rikki didn’t book, Elvis.

Adrian Emsley is the Technical Director at Orange Amps in London.  The company’s founder, Cliff Cooper, hired Adrian to lead the teams that created several key products for Orange including the RockerVerb, the OR-50 and the AD series, which was introduced in 1998. Over the years, Adrian has become a regular attendee at the NAMM Show and is often sought out by gear-heads who want to talk to the man behind the products.  His perspective and knowledge is especially valuable to those who want to better understand what the future of amps might be.  Adrian might not know, but I bet he h