MAY 1 I PECKNEL MUSIC I OBITUARY
Former NASMD, NAMM President Passes Away

Nick Peck, past president of both NASMD and NAMM, passed away on April 28. He was 84 years old.

At the time of his death, Peck had recently stepped down as the chairman of Pecknel Music Company, a position he held for over 50 years, according to the obituary published by The Greenville News. He was a member of the Mountain Hill Community Church at the Cliffs at Glassy in Landrum, South Carolina, as well as a member of the Glassy Men's Chorus and the Mixed Chorus. Peck was also the Clemson Tiger Band announcer for 29 years.

"Nick, what a mentor to me!" said Alfredo Flores, founder of Alamo Music. "He would say, 'If you're not tough, then that is not enough.'"

NAMM's Dan Del Fiorentino wrote the following tribute:

"It's always hard to say goodbye to a good friend and in this case, Nick was a good friend to our entire industry. He loved being a band director and music retailer and served the industry well as president of the NAMM board as well as being a founding member of NASMD. Nick passed away yesterday just two days before his 85th birthday.

"His entire face beamed whenever he talked about a great school music program! The son of a band director, the passion seemed to be in his blood. After taking over the store his father started in Greenville, South Carolina, Nick joined the NAMM board in 1969. He rose to the top becoming president at a very important time in the industry. He stated, "During that time, we had changes both in and outside of NAMM. It was hard work, but very rewarding." His first NAMM Oral History interview was completed on May 6, 2003, with two more to follow over the years including one interview dedicated to the 50th anniversary of NASMD.

"Here is a segment from his first NAMM interview.

"Ironically a short segment of Nick's second interview was shown at the general session at RPMDA.

"I had a presentation on the Oral History program and played a blooper reel for the attendees that included Nick smiling and asking, 'Dan, do you know how to work this camera?' It's fitting that he should leave us with a smile as Nick was so full of life."

Funeral arrangements are being made at Mackey Mortuary in Greenville, South Carolina.