B&J Music

Abbott Buegeleisen and his late brother ran the music wholesaling business that his father formed in New York City. Abbott’s father and a friend, who soon after passed away, combined their names to form Buegeleisen & Jacobson. B&J became a strong force in the industry by providing accessories and top line instruments such as accordions from Italy after World War II. Abbott recalled working in the company before the war, but made his mark with his brother after the war by expanding the product line and increasing their dealer base in much of North America. Abbott’s intervie

Greg Hornberger served as the president of the Musical Instrument Association of Canada (MIAC) in the early days of the organization and worked to expand the membership and scope of the annual trade shows. As president of B & J Music he played a vital role in the growth of the Canadian market and the introduction of several key products (too numerous to list in this short bio) from countries such as Japan and China.

Dale Kroke has been a passionate music maker since he was a kid.  He studied music in college and earned a teaching degree before pursuing an advance degree in composition.  His first job in the music industry was with Kaman Music in 1990, working with overseas distributors within the company's international division.  One of the countries he created strong relationships with was Canada, including the company B&J Music.  In 1997, three years after Kaman purchased B&J, Dale moved to Canada as Vice-President of Marketing for the company, becoming General Manager in 2005.

Noel Moore was hired by the B&J wholesale company in Canada in 1951, and served the company for 53 years before his retirement. Noel came to represent the integrity and dedication to customer service that was so much a part of B&J’s reputation. Noel embodied the values of the company, and as a result, his position grew over the years.

Larry Peyser spent most of his career in the music wholesale business. Larry’s sister married Abbott Buegelesien after World War II and over the years Larry did not just work for the company, he learned much of its early history. Abbott’s father, Sam, formed the historic music wholesaler, Buegelesien & Jacobson, along with a music retailer in the late 1920s. B&J, as the company is also known, was the first to publish a four-color catalog in the pages of trade magazines. They carried a large number of popular products including Kent Guitars and Abbott Clarinets.

Ray Scherr was hired by Wayne Mitchell, the founder of Guitar Center, to help strengthen and develop the small store.  Ray added the culture and helped drive the growth of the company from the one location to the largest music store chain in the world.  His passion for the music industry began when he was hired to work as an assistant to the buyer and manager at B&J Music in New York.  He worked there, mostly on organizing the invoices, from 1969 until 1971 when he moved to California.  While running Guitar Center, Ray also created the famous Rock Walk on Sunset Boulevard in H