Vern Crews

Video

Oral History Information

Interview Date
Job Title
Director of Music Education Technology
Company Name
Sweetwater Sound

Vern Crews grew up surrounded by music. His uncle, Pee Wee Marquette, who was the master of ceremonies for the famed Birdland jazz club, gave young Vern a Hammond Organ when he was a kid. That organ inspired him to learn all he could about electronic musical instruments. During the MIDI boom of the 1980s, Vern became the manager of the keyboard department at Lentine's Music in Akron, Ohio. During his time at the music store, he learned first-hand about new products and the technology behind them by the reps of the most popular and successful manufacturers. Having this knowledge provided Vern with the tools he needed to help the needs of each of his customers. In 2007, Vern was hired to oversee the educational sales of school and colleges for Sweetwater Sound in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The department has expanded over the years and Vern takes great pride in the team he works with and the customers they are able to help. By placing a musical instrument in a school setting, Vern feels he and his team are able to ignite the same inspiration that the Hammond Organ gave to him.