Episode 7 of our “Paige’s of History Spotlights” is ready to go. A significant drum stick and mallet company started during this time as well as Drum Corps International. Watch the video to learn what else was happening in our country and with our company between 1960-1975!
TRANSCRIPT:
Hi there, Erin and Jeremy here. We’re back with more “Paige’s of History,” looking today at the years 1960-1975.
This time period was a very eventful one, both in our country and for our company.
Several important events shaped our modern history, such as the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, and the Beatles’ first American appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.
The Vietnam War lasted for this entire time period, finally ending in April of 1975.
In 1963, music educator Clifford Cook began the first U.S. based Suzuki string education program at Oberlin Conservatory, with 30 young students and 2 teachers. Suzuki methods are still widely used to this day to teach young children.
That same year, percussionist Vic Firth founded his percussion company in Boston, Massachusetts.
In 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts was created.
This important agency provides grants and seeks to fund, promote, and strengthen the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation.
Yamaha released their first wind instrument, the YTR-1 trumpet, in 1966. That was followed by the YAS-61, the first serious competitor to the popular Selmer Mark 6, in 1972.
Elsewhere in the music world, the Woodstock Festival drew over 450,000 people to Bethel, New York in August 1969. And in 1972, Drum Corps International was founded and hosted the first DCI World Championships.
Let’s take a look at some of the notable happenings for Paige’s Music during this time.
A fire damaged the downtown Terre Haute store in 1963. 10 years later, a second location was opened at the Honey Creek Mall.
Although he had worked various odd jobs for the company since he was a teenager, Warner Paige the 3rd graduated from college in 1964 and began working for the company full-time.
Next week, we’ll see how the company “moved on up” and changed the trajectory of its future in the band and orchestra world. Join us then for more “Paige’s of History.”