Larry R. “Link” Linkin

Larry R. “Link” Linkin — 87 years old and still one "slick dude" to the end — passed away peacefully on Aug. 26, 2026, at his home at Westminster Village in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Link was born May 29, 1939, in Burlington, Iowa, where he began his passion for the clarinet at the age of 7. It was at Burlington high school that music teacher Maurice Wright set him on his path toward a love of music. As a young student, Link stood at the foot of the stage at the Memorial Auditorium soaking up the Big Bands passing through town and later played many evenings in Crapo Park with the Burlington Municipal Band. He considered it a true honor to return “home” as a soloist with the Southeast Iowa Symphony. 

Link’s talents as a musician were so well known that University of Iowa’s Hall of Fame football coach, Forest Evashevski, awarded Link a football scholarship to enhance the Rose Bowl-bound Hawkeye’s football squad with a "slick" marching band. His talents continued after college as the United States Airforce recruited him for membership in the NORAD international band that made dozens of recordings for Capitol Records and three concerts at Carnegie Hall.

Link met his wife, Peggy, in the Concert Band at the University of Iowa, and together they raised a daughter and a son, making homes over the years in Chicago; Escondido, Calif.; and the Phoenix area. Music was more than a business for this “faboo” master clarinetist — it was his way of life, and for more than 30 years, he devoted himself to the global promotion of music education. His involvement with NAMM began in 1970 as director of planning and development; he was promoted to staff vice president before leaving in 1977 to serve as president of Slingerland/Deagan and later vice president of C.G. Conn Ltd. Link rejoined NAMM in 1980 as president and CEO and led it until his 2001 retirement, growing the organization from a small, grassroots operation into a global association of more than 7,700 members in over 100 countries — proof that when it came to music advocacy, there truly was none other than “whoelsebut” Link. Along the way he earned an honorary doctor of music from Berklee College of Music and an honorary doctor of music education from Duquesne University. He served as a commencement speaker at both ceremonies, and in 1999, he was listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who Worldwide and the Global Registry of Business Leaders.

An accomplished clarinetist and self-described “cool cat” to the very end, Link soloed in concert halls around the world, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, later traveling the globe as a featured performer aboard Holland America Cruise Lines and appearing in Las Vegas as part of the variety show “Tap, Swing and Laugh” alongside Arthur Duncan and Paul Lennon. He performed across the United States and Canada, sharing his gift for music until the very end of his life.

Link was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Peggy Sue (Jones) Linkin, and by his parents, Ross and Nell (Timmerman) Linkin. He is survived by his partner, Barbara Sullivan; his daughter, Lisa Linkin, and Lisa’s boyfriend Ron LeMieux; his son, Brent Linkin, and Brent’s fiancée, Margie Maka; and his three beloved grandchildren, Annika, Jake and Camilla. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, teacher and friend to musicians and music-lovers around the world — a life lived, quite literally, in music.  
 

Services:  
Saturday, September 12, 2026   
Memorial Service  
11:30 am – 12:30 pm  
Valley Presbyterian Church  
6947 East McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253  
  
A Celebration of Life Luncheon  
1:30 – 4:30 pm  
Westminster Village  
12000 N. 90th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85260  
  
In memory of Larry "Link" Linkin, donations may be made to the following organizations:  
The NAMM Foundation  
(Works to expand access to music learning around the world)  
Online donation link: https://donate.nammfoundation.org/give/414386#!/donation/checkout?eg=tr…;
Checks can be mailed to:   
The NAMM Foundation  
5790 Armada Drive  
Carlsbad, CA 92008  
  
Westminster Village Jazz Series Fund  
(Link was one of the founding organizers of this monthly performance at Westminster Village)   
Online donation link:  
https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E347638&id=16 &nb…;
(Select In Memory of, choose Jazz Fund in drop down and list Larry ‘Link’ Linkin as Tribute name)  
  
Checks can be mailed to:  
Westminster Village  
12000 N. 90th Street  
Scottsdale, AZ  85260  
Attn: Accounting / Jazz Fund in memory of Larry ‘Link’ Linkin