On August 9th we received the following message from NAMM’s Dan Del Fiorentino:
It’s with a heavy heart that I report Bill Tarpley passed away Saturday morning surrounded by his loving family.
Bill remembered the stories his father used to tell him about the early days of the family music retail store in west Texas. Times were hard during the era of the dust bowls and depression, but he credits his father’s skills as both a businessman and salesman in the success of the store. After serving in the Korean War, Bill returned to Texas and worked in the store full time. He and his brother Buzz became co-owners and expanded the company to include several product lines with a continued focus on pianos and organs. In 1972 they moved from Pampa to Amarillo where Bill oversaw the construction of the first tilt building in the city, located on Highway 40. With pride he turned over ownership to his nephew and son, who continue to run the family business.
To view Bill’s 2010 NAMM Oral History interview, click here:
