Illinois

Bruce Bannister is the current president of Samuel Music in Effingham, Illinois. The store was formed in the 1940s by Lowell Samuel, the band director turned music industry pioneer. Bruce was interviewed in the store and recalled working closely with Lowell as well as Dean Samuel, Lowell’s son and the company’s CEO. Bruce began working with the store in the early 1970s at the height of the home organ boom and provided his thoughts as to the great growth of the product as well as its steep and sudden decline a decade later. Bruce attributes the success of Samuel Music to their dedicated staff and strong focus on customer service.

Peter Bartkus grew up in Rockford, Illinois and was proud to establish a music shop there in the early 1950s. True Tone Music became a hub for musicians and was known throughout the area for Peter’s creative and precise instrument repairs. With a passion for the accordion, Peter enjoyed the innovations he witnessed over the years including the Roland accordion complete with MIDI. Peter also made his own True Tone brand of guitars and basses.
 

Larry Biernacky opened the first of three music stores in Deerfield, Illinois. Like with all three locations he named it after the local community, such as Deerfield Music, to provide a neighborhood feel to each store. Along with a strong focus on customer service, the stores have become the place to be for musicians and students. Over the years Larry has taken extra care in building the company’s music lesson programs, picking qualified and dedicated teachers and making sure books and accessories are available for all levels of students. Larry has shared his ideas with independent retail groups as well as NASMD and NAMM to help strengthen the industry he is passionate about. 

Evelyn Brue-Roeder opened her music store in 1940! Her main focus in the early days was music lessons, however she soon added sheet music, accessories and musical instruments. She developed a passion for steel guitars as she witnessed their development over her career. When the pedal steel guitar was introduced she had to have one and has been playing and giving lessons on the instrument ever since. Evelyn and her husband George became active in various musical clubs including the Pedal Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.
 

Don Canedy was a beloved band director and professor at Southern Illinois University before being hired by the Roger’s Drum Company in 1961. Don played drums beginning at the age of 10 and was a perfect fit for the company’s Educational Director. Just prior to his job at Roger’s, which at the time was owned by CBS Musical, Don played a vital role in establishing the Percussive Arts Society. Encouraged by Remo Belli, Don organized the first mailing list, poster for PAS and became the organization’s first president.  

Joy Collins has had a successful career selling piano and organs! In fact she may very well be the person who has sold the most Allen Organs, ever. Joy was hired by Glenn Davis, who owned a piano and organ store in Chicago, as a secretary but soon discovered selling was in her blood. She would take home her tasks as a secretary, such as letters and reports, and completed then over the weekend so she had time to sell instruments during the week days. She soon became a top salesperson for Mr. Davis. The company changed its name to The Beautiful Sound in 1978 when Mr. Davis passed away and Joy purchased the company. Under Joy’s direction the company became the Steinway dealer for Chicago in the 1980s.

Gil Ellman grew up in the big band era, loving the sounds of large orchestras. He was motivated to create as many opportunities for students to make music as possible. He studied band instrument repair before opening Ellman’s Music Center in 1958. Soon after the store opened Gil began creating his own brand of instruments including bongos. In 1963 the store moved to Naperville, Illinois, where space was created for lesson programs. Gil and his wife Joan, who provided music lessons at the store for many years, were both present at the NAMM Show in 2008 when they were awarded the Milestone plaque for 50 years in business.
 

Joan Ellman and her husband, Gil, established Ellman’s Music Center in 1958. Five years later the store moved to Naperville, Illinois, where it is located today. Joan kept the books and inventory as well as managing the store when Gil would call on schools and travel for industry meetings. She has always been proud of the fact that her sons decided to work in the business and began running the business when Joan and Gil retired. Both Joan and Gil were present at the NAMM Show in 2008 when they were awarded the Milestone plaque for 50 years in business. 

Jesse Flores is the founder of Flores Music stores located in Peoria and Pekin, Illinois. He had the idea of surrounding himself with music when he was a young boy and when the chance came to open a store, he took it. The year was 1957. Jesse saw the rise of the electric guitar and the home organ and along the way he also saw countless people who became music makers thanks to his passion for his work. Jesse stood proudly next to his son Victor when NAMM presented a 50th anniversary milestone award at the winter show in Anaheim.

Gary Gand grew up playing music and developed a passion for musical instruments. In 1971, he parlayed this passion into a successful career in music retail. Gand Music and Sound, located in Northfield, IL, was among the first stores in the country to carry pro audio and lighting equipment and has been on the pioneering side of product introductions and marketing campaigns.