Joan Gand

Joan Gand followed her drummer brother to a gig while still in high school.  There, he introduced her to a guitarist from another school who eventually became her future husband, Gary Gand.  Together they formed a very successful music store in Highland Park, Illinois, that focused on the innovative electric instruments introduced during the time, including Moog and ARP products. Being a fan of the Hammond B-3, Joan fell in love with the Ventilator, a rotary cabinet simulator pedal, which gives her electric keyboards that special Leslie Speaker sound. She liked the product so much that she and Gary became the US distributors for the pedal. The couple also formed a sound rental business that became a leader in the pro audio industry as well as Live Sound. Today the couple continues to play together as The Gand Band, performing mostly in their hometown of Palm Springs.