David L. Abell formed his piano retail store in Beverly Hills back in the late 1950s. Since that time he has established one of the finest reputations in our industry. Noted musicians, industry leaders and movie stars alike have boasted of his quality of service and they fact that most of his deals have been based on a handshake. David, however, is equally proud of the regular customers who may not be famous but are treated as if they were. Back in the early 1960s, David L. Abell became one of this country's first Yamaha dealers and one who, because of his ties in the TV and movie industries, was able to promote the product name to millions. He was recently honored at UCLA by many famous jazz and classic pianists, who helped raise over $300,000 for music student scholarships. The remarkable Mr. Abell's NAMM Oral History interview was completed on September 18, 2005 (click on the image to view the video). Mr. David Abell passed away on February 11, 2006.

Tony Acosta had a dream to make the world’s finest classical guitar strings.  He began working nights to perfect his product and build relationships within the industry. Several years later, when he quit his day job working for an airline, his friends thought he was crazy to leave before his retirement just five years away.  Tony wanted nothing more than to see his dream come true, so he took the risk and established the renowned Luthier Strings Company.  “You must follow your dreams” he said with a smile.  His NAMM Oral History interview was completed on January 18, 2007 (click on the image to view a video clip).

Hawley Ades was hired by Irving Berlin in 1932 to assist the legendary American songwriter with musical arrangements.  Hawley stayed with Berlin for five years before being hired by choir master and bandleader Fred Waring.  He joined Mr. Waring at the time the bandleader hoped to launch his own music publishing company, which became Shawnee Press.  Hawley wrote a noted method book on choral conducting and thousands of published arrangements for Shawnee.  In Fact, he worked for Shawnee Press until Mr. Waring’s death in 1984.  Hawley was born on June 25, 1908 in Bloomington, IL.  He graduated from Rutgers University and soon began his long career as a choral and orchestral arranger and pianist.  Hawley’s NAMM Oral History interview was completed on June 10, 2007 when he was 98 years old (please click on the image to view a video clip).  Mr. Hawley Ades passed away on March 26, 2008.

Van Alexander co-wrote "A Tisket, A Tasket" with Ella Fitzgerald while both worked in the Chick Webb Orchestra. The success of that song led to a job as arranger for Webb as well as Benny Goodman and Paul Whiteman. Van formed his own band during the wonderful Swing Era but gave it up to work in the movies. He has since become one of the most prolific conductors in Hollywood (click on the image to view the video). Van's NAMM Oral History interview was completed on October 18, 2001.

R. C. Allen is a guitar luthier that uses the style of his many friends of the era in the early 1950s in Southern California when guitar innovators were reshaping the instrument and grooming it for a new birth.  RC was building his own unique instruments when Leo Fender and Lowell Kiesel of Carvin were also just starting out.  RC was influenced greatly by his dear friend Paul Bigsby who worked for Merle Travis on one of the most historic electric guitars of the era (click on the image to view the video).  RC’s NAMM Oral History interview was completed on May 17, 2003.

Shiro Arai is the founder of Aria Guitars, a Japanese electric guitar company that gained great international success in the wake of the Beatles invasion—both in America and (as some of us may forget) Japan.  Mr. Arai was an early pioneer of Japanese/American commerce, developing one dealer base that represented both countries.  When Mr. Arai established the company in 1956, his focus was on classical instruments, as he himself was a trained classical guitarist and educator.  His NAMM Oral History interview was completed on January 16, 2006 (click on the image to view a video clip).

Art Van Damme became one of the biggest stars of the 1950s with a 15 minute radio and TV program, a noted role in the NBC orchestra, and many miscellaneous recordings, all centering on his talents as an accordionist.  The accordion seemed an unlikely instrument for producing a star, however during the 1950s, there were more accordion students than piano students.  Art was the first to play jazz on the accordion in many clubs and recordings, and created a style that was sought after by many musicians who requested his renowned arrangements for the accordion.  (click on the image to view the video) Art’s NAMM Oral History interview was completed in Roseville, California on July 10, 2006.

Vivian Artley’s brother formed the Artley Flute Company in Elkhart, IN, during the 1930s.  With an innovation that allowed the instrument to be made cheaper, Artley became a successful product for school band programs as well as a well-established and noted professional line of products.  Vivian’s brother, Hube, and their uncle Don went into business together developing a brand of flutes still being made today.  The family history has not been well documented until our interview with Vivian, which was full of family stories and her memories of the flute making days.  Her NAMM Oral History interview was completed on September 21, 2007 in Wenatchee, Washington (click on the image to view the video clip).

Bernice Ash began working at the Sam Ash Music Store in New York City in 1947, one year before marrying the founder’s eldest son, Jerry.  Bernice and Jerry continued the tradition of keeping the retail store in the Ash family.  Bernice is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of the development of the sheet music department, which included purchasing.  As head of sheet music for all of the Sam Ash locations, Bernice has designed methods and procedures that have resulted in great working relationships with the publishers as well as many satisfied customers.  Her NAMM Oral History was completed on June 6, 2007.  (Click on image to view video clip.)

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