Moshay
Moshay Picks - as used by Elvis, The Everly Brothers and Al McKay from Earth, Wind & Fire! (The Everly Brothers went on to develop their own pick. Guess which pick they styled it on....see one under 'Unusual Shaped Picks').
Moshay Picks were invented by Joseph Moshay (born Joe Moshy) in Beverly Hills. He began his musical career in the ‘20’s playing the violin and mandolin. As an accomplished violinist, he led his own orchestra. Playing in Hollywood’s most glamorous nightclubs and headlining at the Mocambo and Ciros on the famed Sunset Strip, he then went on to play the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and the Coconut Grove at the famous Ambassador Hotel.
Being a versatile musician and booking agent, he formed MUSIC by MOSHAY, which provided music for all types of events throughout Southern California. Moshay, along with playing society engagements, spent 20 years as a studio musician for MGM, Columbia and Paramount.
When playing his double, banjo, he found that the picks had lots of problems. The first being that he would keep dropping his celluloid pick on stage as they had no grip. Also they would either crack, chip or peel. So, he looked in to different materials and developed and patented a hand made 100% pure nylon pick, with the famous hole punched in the middle for optimum control. His first ones were called “skin-grip”.
One of the other great things about these picks is that Moshay because they were die-cut, they had sharp edges. Moshay decided that they needed to be hand bevelled as they were too sharp, so he employed out of work musicians to do the work!
The picks were made in three different sizes, small, medium & large, and four different gauges, thin, medium, heavy & thick.
Unfortunately Moshay passed away in 2004. I've read that he was a really lovely genuine guy and it's great that his name lives on in these picks. Read his obituary here to find more of the amazing things he accomplished in his life.
Moshay Picks were invented by Joseph Moshay (born Joe Moshy) in Beverly Hills. He began his musical career in the ‘20’s playing the violin and mandolin. As an accomplished violinist, he led his own orchestra. Playing in Hollywood’s most glamorous nightclubs and headlining at the Mocambo and Ciros on the famed Sunset Strip, he then went on to play the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and the Coconut Grove at the famous Ambassador Hotel.
Being a versatile musician and booking agent, he formed MUSIC by MOSHAY, which provided music for all types of events throughout Southern California. Moshay, along with playing society engagements, spent 20 years as a studio musician for MGM, Columbia and Paramount.
When playing his double, banjo, he found that the picks had lots of problems. The first being that he would keep dropping his celluloid pick on stage as they had no grip. Also they would either crack, chip or peel. So, he looked in to different materials and developed and patented a hand made 100% pure nylon pick, with the famous hole punched in the middle for optimum control. His first ones were called “skin-grip”.
One of the other great things about these picks is that Moshay because they were die-cut, they had sharp edges. Moshay decided that they needed to be hand bevelled as they were too sharp, so he employed out of work musicians to do the work!
The picks were made in three different sizes, small, medium & large, and four different gauges, thin, medium, heavy & thick.
Unfortunately Moshay passed away in 2004. I've read that he was a really lovely genuine guy and it's great that his name lives on in these picks. Read his obituary here to find more of the amazing things he accomplished in his life.