Welcome to Season 5 of Ad Yack, the podcast that explores the minds of creative professionals. I want to thank all the fabulous guests who have agreed to appear on the show over the past four seasons for being so open and vulnerable when sharing their thoughts and insights. Today’s guest will be no stranger to anyone who appreciates music and the exceptional craftsmanship that goes into creating one of the world’s most iconic brands. I’m speaking, of course, about Dick Boak and Martin Guitar. After a chance encounter with C.F. Martin the third, Boak got hired in 1976 as a design draftsman and spent the next 42 years honing his craft. We explored the many creative roles he’s held at Martin to some of the more disastrous jobs he’s attempted to support his bohemian lifestyle prior to joining Martin. Dick Boak is a fantastic artist, musician, guitar builder, woodworker, teacher, illustrator, poet, draftsman, and songwriter. A true renaissance man in every sense of the word and someone who’s work I have admired for a long time.Boak was instrumental in setting up Martin’s Artist Relations Department and conceiving more than one hundred signature guitar collaborations with the top musical talents of our time, such as Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Sting, and Mark Knoplfer. Boak shares his musical Mount Rushmore, along with the now infamous story regarding the destruction of an historic Martin on the set of the Quentin Tarantino movie, The Hateful Eight, to the best piece of advice he’s ever received, which he still uses to this day. Boak may be retired from Martin, but as you’re about to learn, he’s still out there making good art and pursuing his passions. So tune in, and Turn it on because here is my AdYak with Dick Boak.
Thank you to our sponsor, ASR media.