Legendary Philadelphia-based piano retailer Al Rinaldi passed away on October 30th, 2014.
The first-ever recipient of the Steinway Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, Rinaldi was actually turned down when he initially requested to become an official Steinway dealer many years ago. Originally selling and leasing pianos and organs through dedicated departments at Gimbels and other retailers, Al eventually purchased Jacobs Music on Chestnut Street (once known as "Piano Row") in downtown Philadelphia. Jacobs carried mulitple other lines (the operation currently offers new pianos by Yamaha, Samick, Boston, Essex, and Steinway) before eventually having the opportunity to stock and sell Steinway instruments, which Al felt very strongly about.
Al's son, Chris, is currently the president of Jacobs Music and is continuing the tradition of excellence established by his father.
To view a clip of Al Rinaldi's 2012 NAMM Oral History interview, click here: https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/al-rinaldi
