On October 4th, we received the following from NAMM’s Dan Del Fiorentino:
In 1946, just a few years after marrying the love of his life, Polly, Dick Ellis opened a small retail music store in Vermont.
Since that time the store has grown to cover hundreds of school music programs in and around the state as well as transition to a second generation when his son took over the store. Dick played saxophone for a number of big bands during the great Swing Era. He played in Mal Hallett’s Orchestra and was invited to join Gene Krupa’s band but decided to focus on his dream of running his own store. When Dick passed away last week at the age of 91, the first thing I thought of was, at last he will be reunited with his dear Polly, who passed in 2007. His store remains a vital business, now run by his three children and the role he played in bringing music to countless students over his long career will forever be a part of his musical legacy.
Dick was a very special person and our industry is better for having had such a positive leader help shape who we are and how we serve, assist and influence the next generation of music makers. Like so many others, I was proud to call Dick Ellis a friend.
To view a clip of Ellis’ NAMM Oral History interview, click here: https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/richard-ellis
