Don Holcombe Dies at Age 91

Don Holcombe, a retailer and longtime supporter of NAMM, died on May 31.

Holcombe owned and operated several music stores during his long career, one of which he opened with fellow salesman Russell Lindquist in Houston, Texas, under the name Holcombe-Lindquist Piano and Organ. Holcombe’s stores were active during the home organ boom of the 1960s and 1970s. Don also served the industry as a member of the NAMM Board from 1968 until 1971 and as the secretary for the NAMM Executive Committee from 1971 to 1973.

“Over the years Don and I had dozens of conversations about the industry and I was always impressed by his level of interest in encouraging others to play,” NAMM’s Dan Del Fiorentino said in an email. “Even well after the challenges of Parkinson’s took their toll on him, he continued to practice piano and provide lessons for his students.”

Holcombe is survived by his wife Joan, their children Juliana and Charles Holcombe, their grandchildren Dylan and Laurence Holcombe, as well as his daughter from a previous marriage Debbie Bravo.

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