NAMM oral history
Encyclopedia
The NAMM Oral History program was created and is funded by NAMM, the International Association of Music Products. The program was approved by the NAMM board of directors in the years before the association, which is known for it's yearly trade shows, was ready to celebrate the 100 anniversary of the organization. The first NAMM Oral History was conducted in April 2000 with former Gibson Guitar president Ted McCarty
. Mr. McCarty signed Les Paul
on to Gibson in the 1950s to lend his name to the now famous Gibson Les Paul
Guitar. Mr. Paul was interviewed as part of the NAMM Oral History program back in 2008.
Over the years the collection sought to capture, archive and share the stories of those who have inspired people to make music! As a result instrument creators such as Hartley Peavey
and Remo
Belli have been included as well as music retailers, music publishers and those who can fill in the history of the companies, products and people who shaped the industry such as musicians, composers, method book authors, factory workers and salesman of musical products.
Music industry pioneers that have been interviewed for the NAMM Oral History program include Bob Moog, Don Buchla
, Henry Z. Steinway
, Bob Taylor (luthier)
and Ray Kurzweil.
The collection also includes music retailers and the history of such chairs as Sam Ash
and Guitar Center
as well as independent music stores around the world such as West Music and Newton Piano.
Among the musicians linked to the music industry and thus interviewed for this collection are those who designed an instrument, endorsed a product or wrote a method book that has inspired others to make music. These would include B. B. King
, Roy Clark
, Joe Morello
and Herbie Hancock
. The first interview to be donated to the collection was conducted in 1996 with jazzman Jonah Jones
. Jonah spoke of his relationship with King Musical Instruments
as a product tester and endorser. He later played an F. E. Olds
trumpet, which was featured on my recordings during his long career.
In the Spring of 2001 NAMM announced the completion of it's 1,500th interview.Www.NAMM.org/library/blog/1500-and-counting
Reference
Www.NAMM.org/library/blog/1500-and-counting 1
External Links
www.NAMM.org/library
Ted McCarty
Ted McCarty was a pioneer of electric guitar design and production. This began when he was chosen as vice president of the of Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1949, then later as president in 1950. He remained president until 1966. This period became known as Gibson's golden age of electric guitars...
. Mr. McCarty signed Les Paul
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
on to Gibson in the 1950s to lend his name to the now famous Gibson Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
Guitar. Mr. Paul was interviewed as part of the NAMM Oral History program back in 2008.
Over the years the collection sought to capture, archive and share the stories of those who have inspired people to make music! As a result instrument creators such as Hartley Peavey
Hartley Peavey
Hartley Peavey is a founder and CEO of Peavey Electronics Corporation and a well-known innovator in the musical equipment industry. A 1965 graduate of Mississippi State University, Peavey has been recognized by his alma mater as an Alumni Fellow and as the 2004 commencement speaker...
and Remo
Remo
Remo is a male given name of Latin origin - see Romulus and Remus.Remo may also refer to:* Remo, an American drum skin company* Remo , another name for the German wine grape Riesling* Remo language, a Panoan language of Brazil and Peru...
Belli have been included as well as music retailers, music publishers and those who can fill in the history of the companies, products and people who shaped the industry such as musicians, composers, method book authors, factory workers and salesman of musical products.
Music industry pioneers that have been interviewed for the NAMM Oral History program include Bob Moog, Don Buchla
Don Buchla
Don Buchla is a pioneer in the field of sound synthesizers, releasing his first units months after Robert Moog's first synthesizers...
, Henry Z. Steinway
Steinway
Steinway may refer to:* Steinway & Sons, an American and German piano manufacturer* Steinway Hall, a building housing concert halls, showrooms and sales departments for Steinway & Sons pianos* Steinway D-274, the concert grand piano by Steinway & Sons...
, Bob Taylor (luthier)
Bob Taylor (luthier)
Bob Taylor is an American luthier who has pioneered or helped develop many of the newer technological innovations used in acoustic guitar production today...
and Ray Kurzweil.
The collection also includes music retailers and the history of such chairs as Sam Ash
Sam Ash
Sam Ash was founded in 1924, and is the largest family owned chain of musical instrument stores in the United States. Sam Ash sells musical instruments, recording equipment, DJ and lighting equipment, and professional sound equipment.The Company record shows annual revenue is $1b to $5b &...
and Guitar Center
Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the largest chain of musical instrument retailers in the world with 223 locations throughout the United States. Its headquarters is in Westlake Village, California....
as well as independent music stores around the world such as West Music and Newton Piano.
Among the musicians linked to the music industry and thus interviewed for this collection are those who designed an instrument, endorsed a product or wrote a method book that has inspired others to make music. These would include B. B. King
B. B. King
Riley B. King , known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. According to Edward M...
, Roy Clark
Roy Clark
Roy Linwood Clark is an American country music musician and performer. He is best known for hosting Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969–1992. Clark has been an important and influential figure in country music, both as a performer and helping to popularize the genre...
, Joe Morello
Joe Morello
Joseph Albert Morello was a jazz drummer best known for his 12½-year stint with The Dave Brubeck Quartet. He was frequently noted for playing in the unusual time signatures employed by that group in such pieces as "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo à la Turk"...
and Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
. The first interview to be donated to the collection was conducted in 1996 with jazzman Jonah Jones
Jonah Jones
Jonah Jones was a jazz trumpeter who is perhaps best known for creating concise versions of jazz and swing standards that appealed to a mass audience. In jazz, he might be best appreciated for his work with Stuff Smith. He was sometimes referred to as "King Louis II," a reference to Louis Armstrong...
. Jonah spoke of his relationship with King Musical Instruments
King Musical Instruments
King Musical Instruments was a musical instrument manufacturing company located in Cleveland, Ohio.The company was founded as the H.N. White Company in 1893 by Henderson White, an engraver and instrument repairman. White designed a trombone for Thomas King, a local player...
as a product tester and endorser. He later played an F. E. Olds
F. E. Olds
F. E. Olds was a manufacturer of musical instruments founded by Frank Ellsworth Olds in Los Angeles, California in the early 1900s. The company made its name making top-quality brass instruments, especially trombones, cornets, and trumpets....
trumpet, which was featured on my recordings during his long career.
In the Spring of 2001 NAMM announced the completion of it's 1,500th interview.Www.NAMM.org/library/blog/1500-and-counting
Reference
Www.NAMM.org/library/blog/1500-and-counting 1
1
Year 1 was a common year starting on Saturday or Sunday of the Julian calendar and a common year starting on Saturday of the Proleptic Julian calendar...
External Links
www.NAMM.org/library