Richard Cocco

Richard Cocco carried forward a remarkable family legacy in the music products industry, rooted in string making traditions dating back to 17th-century Italy. Building on the foundation established when his grandfather, Olinto Mari, and great-uncle Emilio founded the E. & O. Mari company in New York in 1913, Richard helped guide the evolution of the business from its early focus on orchestral and guitar gut strings into the modern era of string manufacturing. As the industry shifted in the 1980s, the company moved away from gut strings and continued to grow under the La Bella Strings name, blending time-honored craftsmanship with advancing technologies. Over more than 50 years in the industry, Richard played a key role in expanding the company’s reach, providing strings for nearly every type of stringed instrument and supporting a wide range of manufacturers and musicians. Early in his career, he collaborated with innovative instrument designer Ned Steinberger, helping to develop specialized strings that required entirely new design and production approaches. This work reflected his passion for problem-solving and his enthusiasm for custom projects that pushed the boundaries of string performance. Richard led the company alongside his family, including his son Eric, who served as Vice President and founded the Olinto Bass line, producing premium, hand-built bass guitars in their Brooklyn facility. His daughter Lorenza served as Chief Operating Officer of La Bella Strings and remained active in the Women of NAMM program, reflecting the family’s continued leadership within the industry. Under Richard’s guidance, the company maintained its commitment to offering musicians a wide range of high-quality strings, combining tradition, precision, and innovation to support artists around the world.