Trade Regrets: Ziggy Kanstul
Founder of Kanstul Music Instrument Co., Ziggy Kanstul, passed away on October 31. Cutting his teeth at the FE Olds Company beginning back in the early ’50s, Kanstul became an expert…
76 Trombones Led The Big… Wait, Make That 39 Trombones
Music’s age of glorious excess, the one epitomized in the hard-rock parody “This Is Spinal Tap”, or in the less-celebrated and already-cancelled HBO series “Vinyl,” has been over for some…
The Benefits of Conversation & Cooperation Versus Old School Competition
What if you stopped and talked to a stranger sporting a music logo? The other day my path crossed a person who was entering a dance studio, carrying a Fender…
The Last Dinosaur
I began my career delivering Lowrey organs in the summer of 1984. From the day I started I was told, “You missed it.” Industry data shows I missed the heyday…
Go East, Young Man! (Well, Not Necessarily Physically)
I’m writing this issue’s editorial from the Music China show in Shanghai and, just as in previous years, what I’m struck by – not just at the Expo Centre, where…
Drumming Up Profits
‘Start-up’ Drum Kits in 2016 First things first: for the purposes of this roundtable, “entry-level” doesn’t refer to full drum kits (minus hardware, cymbals, throne – yes, yes…) that can…
Trade Regrets: Stanley Schireson
On October 29th, we received the following message from NAMM’s Dan Del Fiorentino: Gary [Schireson] provided the sad news that his father passed away today. Stanley was a month shy of…
Perry to receive Les Paul gong at NAMM
The NAMM Foundation has announced that Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry will receive the prestigious Les Paul Award at its annual NAMM TEC awards. The award is given on behalf of the…
Joe Perry to Receive Les Paul Award at NAMM TEC Awards
As part of its 32nd Annual NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards (NAMM TEC Awards), The NAMM Foundation has announced that rocker Joe Perry will receive the prestigious Les Paul…
Bechstein opens US division
German piano giant Bechstein has opened a new US division and will be out in force at the forthcoming NAMM show. Bechstein USA, the newly formed US distribution company, will…
Bechstein USA Established
Bechstein USA, a newly formed U.S. distribution company, will be presenting a full selection of the C. Bechstein piano line at the 2017 NAMM convention. C. Bechstein Pianofabrik AG is Europe’s…
Trade Regrets: Tony Capalbo
We received the following from NAMM’s Dan Del Fiorentino, about Tony Capalbo passing on October 4th: I’m very sorry to report the passing of our friend Toby Capalbo. He passed…