John O’Reilly is the composer and editor whose musical career spanned educational and textbook materials to movie scores and classical works. He was published by Shawnee Press and G. Sch...
Spooner Oldham was a studio musician down in Muscle Shoals, Alabama before becoming a noted songwriter. Spooner's keyboard skills can be heard on such classic records as "You'd Better Mov...
Pauline Oliveros pioneered composing music using electronic instruments. She recorded both with the Moog and Buchla synthesizers as well as the Expanded Instrument System, an electronic s...
Carla Olson grew up playing in 60’s cover bands all the while cutting her teeth as a songwriter. After performing in the band Silver Clouds, Carla teamed with Markus Cuff, David Provost a...
George Pajon Jr. is a founding member of the Black Eyed Peas and the musical producer and director for Fergie, Carlos Santana and Los Lonely, among others. His music career began as a gu...
Amanda Palmer first came to our attention as one-half of the punk cabaret act Dresden Dolls, a band she formed with drummer Brian Viglione in 2000. The band recorded three albums and tour...
Marty Panzer was just 16 years old, working in the mail room at CBS Television in New York when he met and became lifelong friends with Barry Manilow. Barry was also working in the mailro...
Ray Parker Jr may best be known for writing the soundtrack to Gostbusters, but his legacy goes back much further. Starting in Detroit as a teenager, Ray got the opportunity to work and to...
Starr Parodi, has actively made beautiful music for the masses in all sorts of venues. As a pianist, synthesist, composer, producer, arranger, and conductor Starr has worked on a bevy of ...
Fred Parris grew up close to the Apollo Theater in New York where he was able to see many of the top acts in music. These experiences sparked a passion which led to his singing in several...
Pat Boone was 88 years old at the time of his NAMM interview and celebrating 70 years in show business, achieving stardom in movies, on TV, and especially in music! Having sold over 45 mi...
Tom Paxton spoke eloquently about the role folk music played during critical events in American history, such as the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s for which he was involved with. Tom...
Rick Peale is the Sales Manager for Saied Music in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He began working for the company in 1991 and managed a store outside of Tulsa before moving to the main branch and runn...
Rocky Peoples was the saxophonist heard on hit recordings such as “Will We Go Round In Circles” and “Nothing From Nothing” by Billy Preston, as well as his own composition “Driver’s Licen...
Rudy Perez was born in Cuba and arrived in Florida when he was eight years old. Soon after, he purchased his first guitar from Ace Music in Miami and formed a touring band. Along the way,...
Jim Peterik was just a teenager when he joined a rock band and knew what he wanted to do when he grew up! He began writing songs and formed several bands including The Ides of March, whic...
Lindsay Petsch happily grew up in the guitar store his parents established in Atlanta, Georgia. He has many memories of sweeping up the store and helping unload boxes as a kid. He played ...
Steve Porcaro vividly recalls watching the Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan television program in February 1964 and having the sense that his life would never be the same. After forming...
Porter Howell recalls with a smile that his piano playing mom strongly encouraged young Porter to play the guitar. He participated in choir and a school pop band called PT Express. Future...
Mike Post wrote many hit television theme songs including "Law & Order," "Hill Street Blues," and the "Rockford Files." His theme for the show "Greatest American Hero" was also a num...
Lloyd Price had no idea that his 1952 recording of "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" would become a cornerstone in the foundation of rock 'n' roll! Masterful piano playing by Fats Domino, perfectly tim...
John Primer was born in Camden, Mississippi, where he learned to play the guitar before moving to Chicago to play an important role in the city's blues culture. While recording Magic Slim...
Loretta Pritchard is a songwriter and composer who has had several of her works published, including those written for young students. She wrote her first piece when she was four years ol...
This audio only interview was conducted for a radio program by Dan Del Fiorentino and donated to the NAMM Oral History program: Tito Puente helped revolutionize Latin music, in particular...
Michael Puryear is the president of Final Four Music in Nashville, a music publisher that has worked with Amy Grant, The Oak Ridge Boys and Vince Gill, among many others. Michael’s caree...
Suzi Quatro was six years old when she saw Elvis Presley perform on the Ed Sullivan Show and had what she calls her “lightbulb moment,” knowing that was what she was going to do with her ...
Omar Quezada is a singer and songwriter from the Dominican Republic whose music is defined by its Latin essence and rhythms. His solo career began in 2016 with the release of his first si...
Brittany Quiroz grew up surrounded by music, and by four years old, she was already on stage with her mother’s band. They performed locally in New England and at special events, such as a...
Trevor Rabin was raised in a musical household, with a father who was a musician and he encouraged Trevor to play the piano at an early age. Later, his father gave him a guitar as a gift ...
AR Rahman can be thought of as the Quincy Jones of Indian Music! His love and passion for music began when he was exposed to electronic keyboards thanks to his father. He was proud to b...
Letty Jo Randell formed her own music publishing company, Letting Go Music, after having worked for Screen Gems and a company she formed with her then husband, Denny Randell. She began us...
Eddie Ray was the A&R man for Capitol-Tower Records and Imperial Records for many years. As a result he was instrumental in the careers of such artists as Fats Domino, Sandy Nelson, ...
