I'll Ways Be Grateful

[Roger Sadowsky]

I started my own shop in Manhattan in 1979. Everyone at Manny's befriended me--Henry and Stuart, the beautiful blond wives, Ian and Judd and all the guitar sales guys. I will always appreciate the referrals from them. A special memory was when Henry called me one day in the early 80's and told me to come up to the store asap. Awaiting for me was the personal acoustic guitar of Mick Jagger to take back to my shop for repairs.

Thank you Manny's for all your support and friendship.

Roger Sadowsky

[Damon Vickers]

A kid from Queens... who loved music... years after my dad had left wall street, he drove a cab. I remember him telling about this amazing store in manhattan called Manny's. My dad bought some instruments for me there, and then I went to the high school of music and art. The kids at that school (4) robbed my house and all my equipment. Needless to say, it was very sad. My dad went to Henry and he worked with him to put together the receipts with Stu too I think, so that we could claim insurance. The money went straight back to Manny's. In my room I had a Yamaha CP 70, Pearl Drum set. Voyetra synth, Tascam 8 track, Sennheiser Mics, a Marshall full stack, and just to get that volume really cranked 2 altec lansing voice of the theater 1000 watt pieces. I would listen to Pink Floyd and drop ...... you figure it out. well one day Judd saw me working at Tech Hi Fi, and said"why don't you come work for us"... I was really excited, I went to the store, and Henry was there, and Ian... I was the youngest guy in the shop... I def took the job and worked upstairs in keyboards with Rick, and Sal, etc... Rick had sold me a lot of stuff when I was a customer but now I was on his turf, Rick and I struggled to get along, but Rick you should know that I will always be grateful to you for taking the time to listen to the dreams of a young kid who lived in Queens who had "stars" in his eyes. That listening to peope... is what Manny's great. I remember helping alot of people just that way, and they weren't so famous then, but they were Will Smith, and Usher, and LL Coo J, and Cuba Gooding, and Omar Epps, etc etc etc... in Manny's dreams were possible, and we helped people make that happen. Henry, I never did become a "famous" musician, I still play tho (Yamaha C7) -today... :)
but honestly you have my love and so does your family. You listened to my dreams... You did that for everyone...