The Gretsch Company Celebrates 125 Years of That Great Gretsch Sound
SAVANNAH, Ga., U.S.A., January 1, 2008 – The Gretsch Company, one of the world’s most well-known drum and guitar manufacturers, will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2008. Throughout the year, Gretsch will celebrate by introducing new lines of limited edition anniversary drums, guitars, and other Gretsch products; conducting an online search for the world’s best unsigned bands; and hosting a major concert event in New York City featuring an illustrious lineup of “Gretsch Greats.”
“It’s quite exciting to reach this remarkable milestone,” said President Fred W. Gretsch. “We owe our many years of success to four generations of Gretsch owners and the dedicated men and women on their team who were – and are – passionate about great music and high-quality instruments.”
According to research conducted by American Management Services, Inc., only three percent of American family-owned businesses survive to the fourth generation. The Gretsch Company is among that relative handful of fourth-generation companies.
Based in Savannah, Ga., the company has earned its reputation as an industry leader through 125 years of enduring commitment to manufacturing professional-quality, handcrafted instruments. The Gretsch Company began in 1883 when Friedrich Gretsch, a German immigrant, started making banjos, tambourines and other instruments in a Brooklyn, N.Y. factory. At the time, Chester A. Arthur was president of the United States and the Brooklyn Bridge was celebrating its grand opening, making it much easier for young Friedrich to get to and from Manhattan from his Brooklyn, N.Y. shop.
The company’s popularity grew steadily, then exploded with the arrival of rock-n-roll in the 1950s and 1960s as Gretsch attracted famous endorsers like George Harrison, Bo Diddley and Charlie Watts. Gretsch has been a family business for all but 18 years of its history, starting when third-generation owner Fred Gretsch, Jr. sold The Gretsch Company to Baldwin Music Company in 1967 – a period much maligned by Gretsch aficionados. Without the family commitment that had driven the business for so many years, the company faltered. As a testament to his passion for the family business, the company’s current president, Fred W. Gretsch, vowed to one day regain control. In 1985, he made good on his promise and bought The Gretsch Company back from Baldwin. He moved operations to Savannah, Ga., where the revitalized company began to offer new, vintage-styled Gretsch guitars and classic Gretsch drums. The new products were immediately successful and The Gretsch Company once again became a leading force in the musical instrument industry. Today, Gretsch drums and guitars are the preferred instruments of many studio musicians and recording artists looking for unique tonal quality and hand-made craftsmanship.
“For as long as I can remember Gretsch drums have always epitomized ‘class,’” said longtime Gretsch endorser Phil Collins. “I remember prowling around the drum shops of London in the 60s gazing at the beautiful drums in the windows. More often than not it was the Gretsch kits that made my mouth water. Then I started to notice which drummers played which drums – Charlie Watts played Gretsch, so did Tony Williams. Many more of course, but those two were enough for me.”
As the 2007 recipient of Cox Family Enterprise Center’s Century Award for Family Business, the company is also known for its strong commitment to community service. Last year, Gretsch awarded four college scholarships and donated numerous guitars for school fundraisers across the country. The Gretsch family was also an early major sponsor of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon, Ga.
“The Gretsch Company is gearing up for another 125 years of excellence” said CFO Dinah Gretsch. “We look forward to an exciting future creating that great Gretsch sound.”
More information about The Gretsch Company’s 125th Anniversary celebrations can be found at www.gretsch125th.com and www.myspace.com/gretsch125th.
About The Gretsch Company Founded in 1883 as a small musical instrument shop in Brooklyn, N.Y., The Gretsch Company, now based in Savannah, Ga., has produced some of the world’s greatest drums and guitars over the span of four generations. With its emphasis on hand-craftsmanship and commitment to quality, Gretsch has pioneered new designs and manufacturing techniques, winning endorsements from some of the music industry’s most respected artists, including Chet Atkins, Charlie Watts, Neil Young and Phil Collins. Gretsch also owns and manufactures some of the other most popular and historic music industry products and brands including Bigsby® Vibratos and Sho-Bud® Pedal Steel Guitars. The company has strong worldwide ties with musical giants Kaman and Fender, placing the Gretsch name in concert halls and recording studios around the globe.
FRED GRETSCH PERSPECTIVE
As direct 4th generation Gretsch family descendant, and with over 40 years of diverse music industry leadership, Fred W. Gretsch has cultivated a singularly unique perspective and vision. Here, Fred shares his rich and varied experiences, including his involvement with current activities as well as personal reflections.
Gretsch Drums and KMC Music Celebrate Ten Years Together
Fred and Dinah with KMC Music senior vice president of sales & marketing Paul Damiano
When two of the most important names in the musical instrument industry get together to celebrate, it’s sure to be a terrific party. Such was the case this past June 11 when the Gretsch Company hosted a celebration of ten years of partnership with KMC Music. Inc.
The Gretsch/KMC Music 10th Anniversary party was celebrated on the grounds of KMC Music’s headquarters in Bloomfield, Connecticut. The event featured a barbecue, games, and other activities for KMC employees, their families, and invited guests. Entertainment was provided by The Psychedelic ‘60s, a trio led by guitarist (and KMC Music inside salesman) Martin Kelly, with KMC Music inside salesman Joe Mazza on drums. As the afternoon progressed, many talented members of the KMC Music staff sat in on drums. These included Director of Percussion Marketing Ken Fredenberg, Gretsch drums product manager John Palmer, Dixon and Sabian products manager Jim Stanek, inside salesperson Jeff Pyle, and customer service rep Jay Cole.
Invited guests included John DiMugno, owner and president of Delmar Products, along with Delmar employees Don Mulligan and Doug O’Leary. Delmar makes the drum covering material used to create many of Gretsch’s most popular finishes. The two companies have done business together since 1962. The event was also attended by members of the music press, including Laurie Guptill and Randy Struckus from Musical Merchandise Review, as well as managing editor Rich Watson of The Music Trades.
Fred Gretsch himself took a “hands-on” role in the festivities by donning a special 10th Anniversary BBQ apron embroidered with the title of “Fred Gretsch, Grill Master” and helping to prepare hot dogs and hamburgers for the dozens of hungry guests.
Among the highlights of the afternoon was a series of special presentations. After an introduction by new Gretsch business development manager Colin Schofield, Fred Gretsch offered comments about the Gretsch/KMC Music partnership. “When I first began to consider someone to help develop the Gretsch drum brand over a decade ago,” said Fred, “I knew that I had to find exactly the right type of organization in order for the idea to succeed. They’d need to have all the necessary expertise in the key areas of manufacturing, marketing, sales, and service in order for my hopes to be realized. KMC was always at the top of my list. And now, here we are, ten years later—celebrating the ‘rightness’ of that decision.”
Fred went on to acknowledge all of the members of the Gretsch and KMC Music teams who help to manufacture and market “the world’s finest drums to the world’s most discriminating drummers,” adding, “Family is important to us at Gretsch…and we consider everyone on the KMC team to be a cherished part of that family.”
Singled out for special mention were US Custom Shop production manager Paul Cooper, Gretsch drums product manager John Palmer, artist relations manager Kim Graham, and all the members of the KMC Music sales, customer service, and shipping departments. In addition, Fred thanked his wife, Gretsch Company CFO Dinah Gretsch, for her “invaluable contributions to the success our company has enjoyed.”
Fred also acknowledged the presence of a personal friend and special guest: brigadier general Jeffrey E. Phillips, deputy commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, just outside of Savannah, Georgia. Said Fred, “General Phillips and I share a vision of the importance of music in our society. In a letter he wrote me recently, he said, ‘Our music helps define us. It reflects our diversity and freedom.’”
Following Fred’s comments, KMC Music senior vice president of sales & marketing Paul Damiano was called to the stage to receive gifts for KMC from the Gretsch family. These included a plaque commemorating the 10th Anniversary, as well as a framed portrait of past presidents of the Gretsch company dating back to Friederich Gretsch, who founded the company in 1883. Current president Fred W. Gretsch represents the fourth generation of Gretsch drum builders.
Commenting that “Gretsch isn’t the only one who knows how to give gifts,” Paul Damiano returned the favor by presenting Fred and Dinah with two unique items for the Gretsch museum in Pooler, Georgia. The first was a one-of-a-kind Gretsch USA Custom 10th Anniversary drum kit created in the company’s Ridgeland, South Carolina factory. The second was a custom snare drum personalized with the signatures of all KMC Music employees involved in the creation, marketing, and sale of Gretsch drums.
Following the presentations, Dinah Gretsch cut a cake emblazoned with the event logo, offering everyone a piece and commenting that “It’s a sugar-free cake, so it’s also guilt-free.”
Not only was cake provided for all in attendance, but so were personalized souvenir bags for each KMC employee and his or her family. The bags contained logoed aprons, T-shirts, and candy. KMC Music director of percussion Ken Fredenberg commented, “The barbecue was a great time. Fred and Dinah really know how to throw a party. We all enjoyed a great spread of food, fun and games for the kids, and terrific music. I think everyone at KMC feels a part of the great Gretsch team, and we’re proud to have been involved with the Gretsch project for the last ten years.”
Additional Information And Commentary On The Gretsch/KMC Music Partnership
Gretsch is America’s oldest and most prestigious drum manufacturer, with a rich musical history that spans more than 125 years. Long the choice of such jazz masters as Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, and Max Roach, Gretsch drums are currently favored by artists in a variety of musical styles, including Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting), Cindy Blackman (Lenny Kravitz), Stephen Ferrone (Tom Petty), and Bill Stewart (contemporary jazz great). The Gretsch Company is based in the Savannah suburb of Pooler, Georgia.
KMC Music, Inc. is the nation’s largest distributor of musical instruments, including exclusive marketing and distribution of Gretsch drums. The company is headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut.
KMC Music and Gretsch formed their partnership in 1990. Commenting on that partnership, Fred Gretsch says, "When I first began to consider a business partner for the Gretsch drum brand over a decade ago, I knew that they would need to have all the necessary expertise in the key areas of manufacturing, marketing, sales, and service for my expectations to be achieved. I decided that I would proceed only if a partnership with such an organization could be realized.
“KMC Music’s extensive overseas manufacturing capabilities and resources have enabled high-quality Gretsch instruments to be offered in the entry-level and mid-priced price categories. It has also enabled greater product selection and more setup and finish options than ever before. Their contemporary drumset designs have set new quality standards in the industry at all price points. In addition, continued operation of the fabled Gretsch drum factory in Ridgeland, South Carolina has ensured that high-end professional Gretsch drums are still hand-crafted in the USA to our exacting standards. Working together, our active product development initiatives, continued innovation and on-going product improvements will make sure that Gretsch stays at the forefront of contemporary drum design.”
Fred goes on to say, “KMC Music’s team of over twenty-five highly professional sales reps ensures that retailers in every region of the country are visited and receive individual attention. In addition, each rep is backed by an in-house support team, thus ensuring that each retailer receives the highest possible level of service. In the international marketplace, KMC’s established international distribution network has enabled a new level of penetration in to overseas markets. Gretsch drums are now readily available in more countries around the world than ever before."
“KMC has a long term, demonstrated commitment to being an industry service leader,” Fred concludes. “Their distribution, warehouse and logistics capabilities are broadly acknowledged as the very best in the industry. Their professional customer service team ensures fast, friendly support for both retailers and consumers, and their state-of-the-art inventory management systems ensure ready product availability and minimal lead times for add-on drums and special orders. Importantly, KMC operates a dedicated spare parts and service department to ensure that all end-users are offered efficient spare parts service and support. The effective supply and service of spare parts is so very essential in the drum industry; this has certainly been one of the key factors in our success.”
Gretsch Company CFO Dinah Gretsch adds, “KMC Music has its own impressive history of developing product lines, as well as a highly regarded reputation for building and managing successful brands. This was important to us as we evaluated potential partners, because it was essential that they would understand and be sensitive to the very special history and legacy of the Gretsch drum brand. Given their already comprehensive knowledge of the drum market, KMC was uniquely qualified to partner with us. Their skilled marketing team develops and deploys very effective and innovative advertising and promotional programs. I also enjoy working with their artist relations managers to ensure that all Gretsch endorsers receive world-class service and support.”
Speaking from the KMC Music perspective, Gretsch Drums product manager John Palmer says, “We’re very pleased to celebrate our ten-year anniversary of distributing Gretsch drums on a worldwide basis. Gretsch drums enjoy a unique, colorful, and respected place among the great American drum brands, and we’re proud to expand on this tradition. We’re thrilled to be able to embellish on the Gretsch legacy by making improvements, where possible, at the USA Custom factory, in addition to continuing to expand our overall drum offering. We are committed to building on the Gretsch legacy by continuing to provide all drummers with superior-sounding Gretsch drums to inspire the maximum drumming experience.”
Finally, KMC Music senior vice president for sales & marketing Paul Damiano adds, “We at KMC Music are obviously very pleased with and proud of our Gretsch drum business. Ten years ago, it was our strategic objective to solidify our position in the drumset market so that we would have a firm foundation on which to build our percussion business. The strong market acceptance of Gretsch drums gave us the confidence to build on that success with the addition of Latin Percussion and Sabian cymbals. As those brands began to flourish, the rest of our percussion accessory business also began to flourish, including Remo and Evans drumheads, and Vic Firth sticks and educational percussion. Today, KMC Music is a ‘destination’ supplier for any serious drum shop in the USA! And we owe that status in large part to our partnership with Gretsch.”
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