NAMM's Oral History Program Records 100 Interviews; Completes 10-Year Project in Two Years

NAMM’s Oral History program added the 100th interview to its archives at the recent 2002 NAMM Summer Session, a milestone that took place on July 19 with the interview of Seymour Duncan, a master of guitar and bass pickup design.

“It is an honor for me to be included in such an important project,” Duncan said.

Archiving the rich history of the music products industry is the main focus of the NAMM Resource Center, which facilitates the Oral History Program. The program was first introduced to the NAMM Board of Directors in 1996 with a goal of completing 100 interviews within 10 years. With the assistance of countless Members, the goal of 100 interviews was completed in only two years.

“One reason this project is so exciting is the historical relevance of each person we have interviewed,” said Dan Del Fiorentino, resource center librarian, NAMM. “They tell us their own story and talk about people who influenced them. And sometimes they share the story of the retailer or instrument maker who inspired their own career, demonstrating the music products industry’s role in the creation of music throughout the years.”

Duncan, of Seymour Duncan Pickups, a manufacturer of guitar and bass pickups located in Santa Barbara, Calif., developed many innovative pickups after years of research and experimentation, creating some of the world's most identifiable guitar tones. He continues to develop new pickup designs and focuses on helping musicians achieve unique tones.

The information from the Oral History interviews aids in everything from academic research to presentations on the Internet and in the Museum of Making Music, all geared toward promoting the great accomplishments in music making and providing recommendations for the future of the industry. The Resource Center staff videotapes, indexes and catalogs each interview for preservation as a historical document of the names and milestones that shaped the music products industry.

Interested parties can suggest future interviews by visiting www.namm.com and clicking the Resource Center link on the home page.

About the Museum of Making Music
The mission of the Museum of Making Music is to celebrate the rich history and encourage the future of music making. The one-of-a-kind museum invites all NAMM Members to tour the museum FREE of charge. Located in the NAMM Industry Headquarters in beautiful Carlsbad, Calif., the museum is a great way to experience firsthand the impact of the music products industry over the last 100 years. For more information about the museum or its activities, interested parties should call 877.551.9976 or visit www.museumofmakingmusic.org.