Kline Locher

Kline Locher was a seasoned piano salesman who crisscrossed the highways of America long before the era of two-lane interstates. His journey began as a teenage trumpeter, performing with prestigious big bands in iconic venues of the swing era, including the Peabody in Memphis and the Casa Loma in Toronto. In 1941, he embarked on his music industry career in retail before joining Kohler & Campbell Piano Company. Throughout his illustrious career, Kline represented several piano companies, first as a road representative and later as an executive, contributing to the growth of numerous brands. In 2004, in recognition of his lifelong dedication to the piano industry, Kline received the National Piano Travelers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. That same year, he shared his insights and experiences in his first NAMM Oral History interview. Sixteen years later, amid the challenges of the 2020 COVID pandemic, Kline, then a centenarian, participated in a second interview, underscoring his enduring passion for and commitment to preserving the history of piano salesmanship. Kline’s remarkable life and career spanned 106 years of change within the music products industry, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, professionalism, and service that will long be remembered.