Grinnell Brothers

Don Broman worked long and hard in the music products industry, striving to create quality products and dependable customer service to dealers around the world. When he joined the Lyon & Healy company in 1937 the country was in the midst of the Great Depression, yet Don worked hard with the staff to keep the company above water. As he had said, “we stayed until the job was done.” He stayed 38 years until Baldwin Piano Company offered him a job as Vice President in 1975. Don remained at Baldwin until his retirement in 1984.  

James Reeder is the piano technician who formed James Reeder Piano in Lansing, Michigan, as both a repair and retail business.  With a strong background in the restoration of pianos, Jim sought to hire top craftsmen to create the best service possible.  Among those he hired was his father, who had a background in woodworking.  As a retailer, Jim began as a Steinway dealer and over the years he became the authorized dealer for the Blüthner Piano as well as Mason & Hamlin Pianos.  His focus has always been to provide the best sound possible out of each piano and match those qual

Lowell Simpson spent his entire life in music. As a child he played music as well as sang and in fact, continued to sing over the decades even after working as a sales manager for several industry manufacturers. From 1965 until 1978 he served as a sales rep for the Wurlitzer Company. He traveled to dealers across the company, many of which became long time friends. In more recent years Lowell has worked for the Roland Corp. and he continues to sing every chance he gets!  

David Teeple’s first job in the music industry was working for the large Grinnell Brothers chain in the 1960s, based in Michigan. When he was asked to teach guitar, he had to first learn himself! The experience provided him with the passion for music retail. His store in Port Huron, MI, helped to create a rich community of music in which Dave participates as a musician himself. His leadership within the industry has resulted in several important positions including serving as President of the National Association of School Music Dealers (NASMD) and on the NAMM Board.  

Tom Tuson was just 12 years old when he was hired by the Wurlitzer company to demonstrate their organs. As a “Wurlitzer Kid” he played at state fairs and supermarkets to gain the attention of would-be customers. Once he stopped playing, the sales team would walk around the crowd that Tom had gathered and see if a sale could be made. It was a wonderful education into the art of selling and just three years later he was given the chance to sell organs himself, and he did! He worked at Grinnell Brothers, which was purchased by Sherman Clay and stayed there for several years.