Jim Foldvary
Jim Foldvary was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and was exposed to music at young age since his father was a violinist. Jim took up the guitar with some of his friends and remembers playing shows and school dances when he was younger. His first job was on the floor of the Stock Exchange at 17...
Guitars, Gretsch Company, Ukuleles, Banjo, Baldwin Piano Company, Pandemic of 2020, Virtual Interview, Full Interview
Ed Rider
Ed Rider grew up playing guitar and writing songs, and later played trombone in the school band. After serving in the United States Army and also playing in the Army Band, Ed found a music wholesale job working for Southland Music. This job later evolved into Ed working as a rep having his own...
Trombones, Music Wholesale-Distribution, Independent Rep, Pandemic of 2020, Virtual Interview
Harry Gillum
Harry Gillum was interviewed for the NAMM Oral History program during the Stay-At-Home Orders for Covid-19 in June 2020. His interview was recorded on Zoom and captured his remarkable career in music retail and his contributions to our industry. Harry was just 16 years old in 1971 when he began...
Music Retail, Full Line Music Store, West Virginia, Pandemic of 2020, Virtual Interview, Deceased
Steve Rorie
Steve Rorie landed a part time job the very same day he graduated high school at the Vincent Bach plant in Elkhart, Indiana. He later would accompany his grandfather and father at EK Blessings to observe them while they worked honing and de-burring trumpet valves . His passion for how musical...
Ludwig Drum Company, Elkhart IN, Band and Orchestra, Selmer Band Instruments, Vincent Bach Company, Trumpets, Music Manufacturing, Buffet Crampon, E.K. Blessing Company, KHS Musical Instrument Company, JJ Babbitt, Multiple Interviews, Mouthpieces, Pandemic of 2020
Jeremy Payne
Jeremy Payne first played clarinet in the school music program as a kid before switching to trumpet. That experience brought to light a true passion for music, which was further embedded when Jeremy began working at a local music store. Generations Music was a great training ground for Jeremy and...
Multiple Interviews, Music Retail, NAMM Young Professionals, Music Wholesale-Distribution, The Music People, TMP Pro, Pro Audio, On Stage, JAM Industries, Pandemic of 2020
Kevin Hague
Kevin Hague is the Managing Director and founder of Australasian Music Supplies. He started his wholesale business in 1978 and grew it to become one of the biggest in the country. Australasian Music Supplies, known as AMS, all started when Kevin began importing the Zachary Organ from New Zealand...
Music Wholesale-Distribution, Australian Music Industry, Home Organ Boom, Organs, Jim Dunlop, Music Accessories, Guitars, Full Interview, Virtual Interview, Pandemic of 2020, Multiple Interviews
Sandra Miller
Sandra Miller realized as a professional musician working in Memphis that she learned enough about her Steinway piano that she could sell them. So, she got a job at Amro Music and has become a Steinway specialist doing just that. Her passion comes out the moment you mention Steinway, a fact very...
Steinway & Sons, Pianos, Amro Music, Music Retail, Pandemic of 2020, Multiple Interviews
Michael Thomas grew up in Los Angles where he took to music at an early age. He formed a swing band and became a professional musician. Along the way he began making his own valve oil and gave it away to friends for years before he decided he should form a company to sell the product and to...
Trumpets, Brass Instruments, Music Accessories, Music Manufacturing, Studio Musicians, Multiple Interviews, Pandemic of 2020, Virtual Interview, Roché-Thomas, Valve Oil, Irving Bush
Whitney Brown Grisaffi
Whitney Brown Grisaffi is the proud president of Ted Brown Music a Tacoma, Washington based retail store established by her grandfather. Her dedication and passion for the business are evident in her relationship with her customers, staff and others in the industry. Like her late father, Warren...
Music Education, NAMM Board of Directors-Interviewed, Music Retail, NASMD, Band and Orchestra, Music Publishing, Washington State, Women in the Music Industry, Ted Brown Music, Live Sound, Pandemic of 2020, Multiple Interviews, T. Warren Brown
Mitch Gallagher
Mitch Gallagher grew up in a musical family. His mother and her sisters sang three-part harmony for dance bands, encouraging all of the children in the family to get involved with music. Mitch followed his love of music throughout college and into a salesman job for the Sweetwater Sound retail...
Music Retail, Music Research, Guitars, Pro Audio, Authors-Writers, Keyboard Magazine, Sweetwater Sound, Pandemic of 2020, Virtual Interview, Recording/Audio Engineer, GearFest, Multiple Interviews