News: Obituary

December 29, 2024

Former ISB President Barre Phillips Passes Away

Former president of the International Society of Bassists, Barre Phillips, passed away at his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Dec. 28, 2024. He was 90. Barre…

December 26, 2024

Founder of Fort Bend Music Center Passes Away

Rick Cochran, founder and president of Fort Bend Music Center, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 4. He was 64. Born on Feb. 19, 1960, Cochran dedicated his life…

November 01, 2024

ESP Guitars Founder Hisatake Shibuya Passes Away

ESP Guitars has announced the company’s founder and owner, Hisatake Shibuya, passed away in late September. He was 87 years old. “As we mourn Mr.…

October 15, 2024

NASMD’s Council James Goldberg Passes Away

The National Association of School Music Dealers (NASMD) has announced that its legal counsel James “Jim” Goldberg passed away on Sept. 13. He braved…

September 20, 2024

Former St. Louis Music President Passes Away

Gene Kornblum, who helped build St. Louis Music into a leading MI company, passed away on Sept. 17. He was 89. Kornblum was born on July 21, 1935, and was…

September 20, 2024

Jordan Kitt’s Music’s Atlanta VP Passes Away

Steve Mills, Jordan Kitt’s Music’s vice president and general manager in the Atlanta market, passed away on Sept. 17. He was 75. Born in Newport News,…

September 09, 2024

Industry Veteran Dennis Houlihan Passes Away

Former NAMM chairman and Roland U.S. president Dennis Houlihan passed away at his home in Long Beach, California, on Sept. 5. He was 74 years old. Houlihan was…

September 04, 2024

John Hornby Skewes & Co. Founder Passes Away

John H. Skewes, founder of U.K.-based John Hornby Skewes & Co. (JHS), passed away on Sept. 4. He was 90. Born in 1933, Skewes was a sales professional,…