Jazzbassman23
Well-known member
Boy, isn't that the truth. I've been doing it a lot recently. Almost surreal.
- Thread starter Big Poppa
- Start date
Boy, isn't that the truth. I've been doing it a lot recently. Almost surreal.
oddjob
Well-known member
I am a huge fan of "personal" history... I think that heritage is something to revel in and enjoy and there is nothing better than realizing where you/you family comes from. BP... this is truly great stuff!
fly
Well-known member
so that's where it all began...........
nice.
nice.
Big Poppa
Well-known member
How many young men put it all on the line with a passion and an itch knowing that somehow they could get the public to scratch........My Dad had no idea back then that he would make guitars or change the way strings are packaged and marketed industry wide. He didnt have a clue that he would create a product that is thebiggest constant in the creation of popular music......Slinky's. From the Stones to the Beatles Beach Boys Hendrix,Zeppelin and through today. He went on a jouney that always began with the passion and love of the guitar and a different way of leaping over the hurdles of young entrepenourship.
He loved it so much that he had to each it. He had to teach it because at that time he had two mouths to feed and was fresh out of the Air Force with no college education and about 5 bucks in his pocket. When he started teaching it he realized that he needed better books. Books that had graphic representations to reinorce the written word.
Duering the day he would teach and do sessions and at night he would play on live tv on KTLA in Los Angeles..from western swing shows to big bands to a crazy guy named Esquivel...(google that guy..wow)
He then reaslized that there was very little guitar music and what existed was buried in music distributors catalog...He got the idea for Ball Music Publishing. "Hey how about a onestop for all your guitar music needs?" He went broke. Flat ass broke. I remember it being in the back of s garage addition and being about 6 (1961) and throwing it into trash cans.....Yeah that is my first memory of my dad and business. Hard to believe but I really do remember.
He went broke in 1958 too....Moved the store and teaching studio to a nice storefront on Ventura BLvd in Tarzana Califrnia. Realize that there was no freeway connecting the Valley then. It was the country for all intents and purposes. May 18, 1958.
My little sister Nova was born and my dad had a store full of Fender stuff that Tommy Walker fronted my dad as a show of faith. My Mom went into labor and my dad rushed to the hospital and didnt call the insurance guy yet. Everytime and I mean everytime we were out and about when the store was closed we had to do the circle and check it out. I was at home and three at the time but my dad did the circle and the store was wiped out...Robbed....done.
Leo and Tommy filled the store again and told him to pay it when he could. He paid every penny back. I learned from my Dad that it is a good thing to help when you can. Tommy Walker did.
Ill fill in some blanks later but to show what goes around comes around fast forward to Tommy Walker (use search funtion to learn about the Great Tommy.) CBS bought Fender. Forced the pioneers out like Tommy...even Leo. Tommy had designed some amps in his garage and secretly designed the preamp for LEos new basses and guitars.
That became Music Man.
It was our turn to help. My dad gave them Dan Norton to build their trade show displays. I gave them R&D, artist relations and every possible resource I had. I set up the original accessories and sources including strings even though Frank Green claims to have started it.....Frank managed and developed the program (the accessories went nowhere) but I stated it
The fecal matter hit the fan with the partners and Tommy was forced to either sue Leo and win or move on. Ive said this beofre ...I asked Tommy why he didnt't sue Leo and he said..."That's not the way my Dad taught me"
We bought Music Man at a bank ordered auction in 1984. Tommy came to work for us and had a job until he didn't want one. Rode his bike to work everyday and finally passed away less than a mile from our company...
Tommy was always proud of my Dad and especially proud of his godkids as he and Pat never had kids.
This is a tribute to my dad and an appreciation for Tommy and hoepfully a lesson to all that you never know where passsion and drive will lead.
He loved it so much that he had to each it. He had to teach it because at that time he had two mouths to feed and was fresh out of the Air Force with no college education and about 5 bucks in his pocket. When he started teaching it he realized that he needed better books. Books that had graphic representations to reinorce the written word.
Duering the day he would teach and do sessions and at night he would play on live tv on KTLA in Los Angeles..from western swing shows to big bands to a crazy guy named Esquivel...(google that guy..wow)
He then reaslized that there was very little guitar music and what existed was buried in music distributors catalog...He got the idea for Ball Music Publishing. "Hey how about a onestop for all your guitar music needs?" He went broke. Flat ass broke. I remember it being in the back of s garage addition and being about 6 (1961) and throwing it into trash cans.....Yeah that is my first memory of my dad and business. Hard to believe but I really do remember.
He went broke in 1958 too....Moved the store and teaching studio to a nice storefront on Ventura BLvd in Tarzana Califrnia. Realize that there was no freeway connecting the Valley then. It was the country for all intents and purposes. May 18, 1958.
My little sister Nova was born and my dad had a store full of Fender stuff that Tommy Walker fronted my dad as a show of faith. My Mom went into labor and my dad rushed to the hospital and didnt call the insurance guy yet. Everytime and I mean everytime we were out and about when the store was closed we had to do the circle and check it out. I was at home and three at the time but my dad did the circle and the store was wiped out...Robbed....done.
Leo and Tommy filled the store again and told him to pay it when he could. He paid every penny back. I learned from my Dad that it is a good thing to help when you can. Tommy Walker did.
Ill fill in some blanks later but to show what goes around comes around fast forward to Tommy Walker (use search funtion to learn about the Great Tommy.) CBS bought Fender. Forced the pioneers out like Tommy...even Leo. Tommy had designed some amps in his garage and secretly designed the preamp for LEos new basses and guitars.
That became Music Man.
It was our turn to help. My dad gave them Dan Norton to build their trade show displays. I gave them R&D, artist relations and every possible resource I had. I set up the original accessories and sources including strings even though Frank Green claims to have started it.....Frank managed and developed the program (the accessories went nowhere) but I stated it
The fecal matter hit the fan with the partners and Tommy was forced to either sue Leo and win or move on. Ive said this beofre ...I asked Tommy why he didnt't sue Leo and he said..."That's not the way my Dad taught me"
We bought Music Man at a bank ordered auction in 1984. Tommy came to work for us and had a job until he didn't want one. Rode his bike to work everyday and finally passed away less than a mile from our company...
Tommy was always proud of my Dad and especially proud of his godkids as he and Pat never had kids.
This is a tribute to my dad and an appreciation for Tommy and hoepfully a lesson to all that you never know where passsion and drive will lead.
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..............dont really now what to say to all that........but thanks Pops
and now i can see where you get your good will from,you truley are a "good guy"
I am going to play my SR5 tonight with even more pride than normal.
and now i can see where you get your good will from,you truley are a "good guy"
I am going to play my SR5 tonight with even more pride than normal.
Eggman
Well-known member
Nice to hear the stories and to share and absorb the wonderful life lessons of others.
Smakbass
Well-known member
Sounds like Tommy was an old time gent.....its a shame there are not many of his ilk left.....I have had the pleasure of knowing a few.
high mileage
Well-known member
I forgot to post this earlier, but I love this quote. The man certainly had a vision and look where it led! Some day there ought to be a book on the history of the EB organization...
oli@bass
Well-known member
Thank you very much for sharing some aspects and details of history. It's always much more gripping to read it from written by someone who actually experienced it.
jaylegroove
Well-known member
So great to read these pieces of history, since most of us were too young.
(Well, BP is actually hardly older than me, but he has been an EB insider from the very first day
)
So true. This should be engraved in marble, IMO.
(Well, BP is actually hardly older than me, but he has been an EB insider from the very first day
)Big Poppa said:
So true. This should be engraved in marble, IMO.
Psycho Ward
Well-known member
BP I'll read every word you ever type about your Dad, this is a great story!
Bill
Well-known member
Awesome photos & stories, BP! Thanks for posting.
Great shot, BP! It's interesting to see how far the company has come.
Thanks for sharing!
Ritchie
P.S. Who's the redhead?
That redhead is now 80 years old.
AnthonyD
Well-known member
Thanks BP!
There is nothing better in this world than family.
What you become is set down way before you are aware of it and how you choose to use those skills in life is where a lot of people fall down.
Your Dad would be proud of what has happened to his dream - and that dream is you.
Thanks for sharing
What you become is set down way before you are aware of it and how you choose to use those skills in life is where a lot of people fall down.
Your Dad would be proud of what has happened to his dream - and that dream is you.
Thanks for sharing
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sloshep
Well-known member
Thanks for the picture and the story. Another case of a man and a passion who went through the down times before success hit ...Amazing.
I was lucky enough to meet your father when I serviced your copiers in SLO (90's). My impression of him was that of a kind and gentle person. He used to stop by ask me how it was going. I had to ask someone else their if that was THE Ernie Ball. That kind of humility in the wake of what he had achieved is impressive. I can think of allot of less impressive people I have met that couldn't wait to tell their life achievements. Your father was a true class act.
I was lucky enough to meet your father when I serviced your copiers in SLO (90's). My impression of him was that of a kind and gentle person. He used to stop by ask me how it was going. I had to ask someone else their if that was THE Ernie Ball. That kind of humility in the wake of what he had achieved is impressive. I can think of allot of less impressive people I have met that couldn't wait to tell their life achievements. Your father was a true class act.
Ghostphase310
New member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2007
- Messages
- 4
Thats a cool Tight Pictures
pudgychef
Well-known member
that is a great pic and a great bit of info!
Thanks.
Thanks.
