James July-August 2024 web - Flipbook - Page 27
Three years ago, musical instruments,
history and education all intersected
when That Great Gretsch Sound! Museum celebrated its ribbon cutting as
part of the grand opening of the Plant
Riverside entertainment district in
downtown Savannah. Since then, this
spectacular, interactive free-to-thepublic museum and exhibit quickly
emerged as a popular spot for residents and tourists alike.
That milestone and the museum’s
subsequent popularity due to its impressive instrument collection sparked
renewed public interest in the fascinating story of a family-owned company
regarded as one of the American music
industry’s most influential and innovative instrument manufacturers. In fact,
this year is Gretsch’s 141st year of being a manufacturer of the world’s finest
drums and guitars for generations of
musicians, music lovers and fans.
It is a fascinating family legacy.
The company was founded in 1883
when German immigrant Friedrich
Gretsch opened a small musical instrument shop in Brooklyn, New York, initially featuring calf-skin drums, banjos
and accordions. When he died in 1895,
15-year-old son Fred Gretsch Sr., took
the helm (assisted by his mother Rosa)
and by the turn of the 20th century he
had significantly expanded the business. By 1916 he even built a 10-story
building in Brooklyn. (Though no longer in operation, the building remains
as a neighborhood landmark).
Current President Fred W. Gretsch
says, “We’re one of the few remaining
musical instrument manufacturers
that is still family owned. I’m the fourth
generation and am delighted to have
FRED & DINAH GRETSCH
the fifth and sixth generations of family
members involved in the business my
great-grandfather started in 1883.”
How did the Gretsch company get
to where it is today? In 1967, with many
changes occurring in the industry,
Fred’s uncle sold the business to the
Baldwin Piano Company— but a determined Fred stayed with the company
even though it relocated to Chicago. He
promised himself that one day Gretsch
would be a family business again. And
that dream came true in 1984 when
he and his wife Dinah, in a dramatic
comeback, regained company control
by buying it back from Baldwin.
Since then, Fred and Dinah
Gretsch have compiled an impressive
record— especially fulfillment of their
dream of creating That Great Gretsch
Sound! Museum. The beautiful facility
that houses their instrument collection
was developed through a partnership
between the Fred and Dinah Gretsch
School of Music at Georgia Southern
University and the Kessler Collection.
Georgia Southern President Kyle
Marrero especially praises the Gretsch
husband-wife team for believing in
Georgia Southern’s shared vision of
making Savannah the “Music City
of the South,” and making Georgia
Southern the best music program in
the country.
The museum features some of the
most iconic instruments the company
has manufactured, including about
100 guitars— and Gretsch guitars have
been used by legendary artists such
as Chet Akins, Brian Setzer, Eddie
Cochran, George Harrison, Duane
Eddy, Pete Townshend, Stephen Stills
and many others. As for Gretsch drum
kits that are renowned for their superb
projection and tone quality, they have
been used by countless notable drummers including Mark Guiliana, Phil
Collins, Charlie Watts, Taylor Hawkins,
Mitch Mitchell, Steve Ferrone and even
by my friend (and prominent Georgia
lobbyist) Brian Hudson!
In addition to the instruments displayed throughout the museum, there
are sound dome displays with videos
highlighting Gretsch history, instrument
production, the worldwide community
of Gretsch artists and the family’s commitment to music education.
Fred Gretsch reflects on the amazing fact that “the recipes my father, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather
used in creating That Great Gretsch
Sound! generations ago are still used
today.” He says “this is truly the second
Golden Age for Gretsch.” Indeed it is.
Phil Kent is the CEO and publisher of James.
J U LY/AU G UST 2 0 2 4
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