NAMM Celebrates 1,000th Oral History Program Interview

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, today announced that it has conducted the 1,000th interview of an industry laureate as part of the organization’s Oral History Program. Dennis Houlihan, president of Roland U.S. and past chairman of NAMM, was the 1,000th interviewee. A long-time supporter of the Oral History Program, Houlihan spoke on camera about the many elements of his lengthy career in the retail segment, including his positions as a demonstration artist for organ companies, a sales manager and as a leading music product manufacturer.

“It’s a privilege and an honor for you to ask me to do this and congratulations to you and to the whole NAMM team for doing 999 of these interviews until now,” Houlihan said.

He also commented on how important he felt it was to document the personal experiences of industry professionals in order to capture the special energy behind what drives people in this business.

“There are so many interesting personalities in our industry that make the music products business unique and special,” Houlihan said. “And what a wonderful way to capture so many of these folks because to read about them is one thing, but to hear their voices and sense their personal passion for their particular segment of the industry is something privileged, unique and special. I think in years to come when people can look back at this rich tapestry that you have pulled together it will help people to understand the foundations of this business in the United States and indeed worldwide.”

Under the guidance of former NAMM President and CEO Larry Linkin, the Oral History Program started in 2000 when the first video interview was conducted with former Gibson Guitar President Ted McCarty. The program was and still is the only one of its kind in the industry that has documented testimonials from many of the great music products industry leaders including Henry Steinway, Robert Moog, Hartley Peavey, Les Paul, and music retailers such as Henry Goldrich (Manny’s Music), Larry Thomas (Guitar Center) and Paul Murphy (M. Steinert and Sons).

“This industry is driven by passion more often than by money,” said NAMM’s Historian and Librarian Dan Del Fiorentino, who helped to initiate the overall project. “The personal interest people have for their industry and past is much more apparent in this industry than just about any you can name. Therefore, efforts to talk to mentors, leaders and heroes, for which there are many, is as much a historic project as it is an emotional one for those who care about music and music making.”

Of the 1,000 interviews, 250 clips have been posted so far for the public to view at www.namm.org/library/oral-history. Interview subjects were selected from the entire breadth of the industry and include retailers, suppliers, sales representatives, publishers, instrument designers and innovators, corporate founders and leading performers whose taste and purchasing decisions shaped the public’s buying habits.

Quotes from the interview collection have been published in numerous books, referenced by dozens of mainstream media reporters, and used in presentations to industry organizations such as RPMDA, MPA, NASMD and at NAMM trade shows over the years. Altogether, the collection comprises more than 1,500 hours of video footage.