Jim Funada

Jim Funada has dedicated the past four decades to serving the music products industry with passion and commitment. His journey began at the Yamaha Corporation, where he delved into keyboard retailing and laid the foundation for a remarkable career. In the late 1960s, Jim took on the responsibility of overseeing Yamaha school programs across the San Francisco Bay Area, spearheading their success and subsequent expansion to multiple cities and states in the western region. His expertise led him to Yamaha's headquarters in Southern California, where he continued to contribute significantly. Upon retiring from Yamaha, Jim redirected his energy towards advocating for NAMM, with a primary focus on fostering stronger ties with the Japanese music industry. Furthermore, he played a pivotal role in orchestrating and coordinating numerous interviews with Japanese industry leaders for the NAMM Oral History program, leaving an indelible mark on the business he loves.