On June 5, we received the following from NAMM historian Dan Del Fiorentino:
It is with a heavy heart that we note the passing of William Dunkley on May 30, 2019. He was 97 years old. His death marks the end of an important era in the music products industry as he ran a successful retail company as well as worked long and hard to support the industry and encourage music making whenever he could.
William and his wife Dorothy co-founded Dunkley Music Stores in Boise, Idaho. In addition to taking the trade of organ and piano sales out of the store and into the truck to their customers, the Dunkley’s were widely known in the industry as great advocates of music making. Along with a long list of local and national music-related charities, they have contributed to the growth of the music products industry on several levels. William’s love for aircraft and their annual flights to the NAMM show are also legendary within the industry. He served on the NAMM Board of Directors twice (1965-1968 and again from 1974-1977). His store moto was echoed throughout our industry as it clearly states our true feelings: The Richest Child Is Poor Without Music.
