World War II

Harry Begian has become one of the most respected band directors in the United States. Serving at the high school and college levels for over 45 years, Dr. Begian conducted his first band while he was in his teens. As the band director at Detroit’s Cass Technical High School and for 14 years at the University of Illinois, he taught his students respect for the classics and the power of team work.

Richard Bennett served many roles during his long career in music, perhaps most notably as the sales rep for Wurlitzer towards the end of the 1960s. His involvement in retail and his philosophy on customer service have had a lasting effect on his success and the success of the dealers he would call on. This point has been proven time and time again as we have interviewed others in the industry who have remarked on Dick’s care for the retailer. His first job after serving in the Navy during World War II was as a band director.

Dr. Richard Brittain was invited to a small gathering of music educators in the months following World War II. The original goal of the meeting was to provide a venue for the music educators to distribute new music scores, which were difficult to obtain. The year was 1946. The first Midwest Band Clinic was born! Dr. Brittain was educated at VanderCook College, where he returned after the war and became one of the music college’s most esteemed professors.

Robert Bromberg has had a long career in the music products industry, as did his father. In fact, his father designed the mirror piano, which helped keep the industry alive during World War II by addeing mirrors to used pianos to make them more sellable as all-new pianos were not being made during the war. Robert’s long career includes working with his father in retail as well as creating the manufacturing process for the Guild Guitars in the 1950s into the 1970s. In more recent years Robert has been working with Hap Kuffner and Rob Turner at EMG Pick Ups, adding his insight to the company. 

Harold Burt was just about 3 years old when a musician from a traveling circus came to his North Carolina town and sold his parents a clarinet for young Harold. His life has been filled with music ever since. In 1950, he established the first high school band in Cary, NC and he served as the program’s first musical director. In fact, Harold formed ten such bands before opening his own store, Burt’s Music. In 2000, the city of Cary honored Mr. Burt by asking him to be the grand marshall for the city’s annual parade.

Robert Campbell began his career in the music industry working for Conn Organ in 1947, the year the company gave a unit to President Harry S. Truman. Bob later worked with Don Leslie, the inventor of the famed Leslie organ speaker. Bob played an important role in the Leslie Speaker Company being purchased by the musical instrument division of CBS. Don and Bob made a dynamic duo in the promotion and marketing of the speaker products; they had several obstacles to overcome and yet still wound up on top. He stayed on with the Leslie product under CBS for five years before he was promoted to President of CBS Musical Instruments. He retired from CBS in the early 1980s to Bloomington, IN.  

George Hansen’s father was hired by M. Steinert and Sons, the piano dealer in Boston, in 1900. Forty years later George would help his father out after school and on weekends to earn some pocket money. In 1947 George was hired full time and has become the longest running employee in the company’s history. George has managed the Worcester, Massachusetts, store after working in every position of the company. After decades of repairing, tuning and selling pianos, George became an expert of the many makers and models and can name most of them on sight.

Morris Hayes had some harrowing moments during v, but would rather spend time telling you about the glee club he formed while overseas. As a life long choral director, Morris created several methods that have made him a well respected leader in the industry. He is also given credit for creating one of the finest choral departments in the country at the University of Wisconsin. He served as President of the American Choral Directors Association and even, in retirement, surrounded himself with music.

Glen Howard was the first salesman hired by the Winter Piano Company following World War II. Raised in Marshalltown, Iowa, Glen is the son of a real estate broker who fell on hard times during the Great Depression. Glen emerged from those difficult years with a strong understanding of the value of a dollar and with his friendly personality; he seemed destined to be a salesman. During his career at Winter he played a role in the re-development of the dealer relationship program that grew cold during the war.  

Dale Hyatt was hired by Leo Fender while the iconic guitar building was still a radio repairman in Fullerton, CA. The year was 1948. Dale recalls all of the major landmarks that helped establish the development of the Stratocaster and the birth of rock and roll. Dale remained with Leo as he established The Music Man and with Fender when it was sold to CBS Musical Instruments. Dale worked with Leo and George Fullerton to create G&L Guitars. In fact, Dale retired from G&L, Leo’s last guitar company, six months after Leo’s passing in 1991.