St. Louis Music
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Musical instruments, audio equipment |
| Founded | January 1, 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
| Founder | Bernard Kornblum |
| Headquarters | St. Louis , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Gene Kornblum, Ted Kornblum |
| Products | Musical instruments, gear, accessories, amplifiers |
Number of employees | 350 (2005) |
| Website | www |
St. Louis Music (SLM) operates as a producer and supplier of musical instruments, gear, and accessories. The company represents more than 260 prominent brands within the industry and owns multiple brands specializing in string and brass instruments. It holds exclusive global manufacturing and distribution rights for Alvarez and Alvarez-Yairi guitars.
Founding period (1920–1927)
Bernard Kornblum, a violinist who emigrated from Vienna to St. Louis, Missouri, initiated the business by acquiring a shipment of instruments and accessories at advantageous exchange rates. This approach allowed him to offer retailers competitive pricing, quickly establishing his import enterprise. By 1922, Kornblum had set up an office in downtown St. Louis under the name Kornblum Brothers Music. Employing family members, the company expanded its facilities twice by 1927 as it strengthened its market position.
Growth in supply and distribution (1929–1959)
In 1929, Bernard and David Kornblum launched European distribution operations based in Belgium, while Erna Kornblum took ownership of the sheet music wholesaler St. Louis Music Supply (SLM). Eventually, the brothers discontinued their European activities to refocus on the U.S. market. At that time, SLM had a workforce of 20 and broadened its product range to include band instruments, sheet music, and accessories. During World War II, to maintain business viability, SLM diversified into products such as paint, leather goods, and fine writing instruments. Following the war, the company expanded its musical instrument offerings by adding brands like Harmony guitars, Kay guitars, Regal ukuleles, York Band Instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Turner microphones, and secured Thomas Organ distribution rights in 1954.
Rock and Roll period (1961–1974)
With rock and roll driving increased demand, Gene Kornblum joined SLM full-time in 1961. Under his leadership, the company gained exclusive distribution rights for Trixon Drums and launched its own Apollo Drums brand. SLM also became a regional distributor for Magnatone guitars and amplifiers. In 1968, Gene collaborated with Japanese luthier Kazuo Yairi to create Alvarez-Yairi handcrafted acoustic guitars endorsed by artists such as Roy Clark and Waylon Jennings; subsequently, Alvarez expanded its line into electric guitars. By 1971, SLM had obtained exclusive distribution rights for the Elka Rhapsody string synthesizer and enhanced its Ferguson Avenue facilities. The company refined its operations by importing unfinished string instruments for final assembly domestically.
SLM Electronics, Crate Amplifiers, and Ampeg era (1975–1987)
Following Magnatone’s closure in the mid-1970s, SLM initiated a guitar amplifier division through a partnership with technician John Karpowicz to develop the Electra MPC modular guitar amplifier, which debuted at the 1976 NAMM Show. Acquiring Karpowicz's repair shop led to the formation of SLM Electronics. Drawing inspiration from Crate & Barrel’s retail displays, Gene Kornblum introduced Crate Amplifiers in 1978 featuring wooden cabinet designs such as the CR1 model. Opting for domestic manufacturing rather than outsourcing provided a competitive edge as Crate expanded into amplifiers for guitar, bass, and keyboards. By 1980 and again in 1986, SLM Electronics moved into dedicated facilities while also creating Audio Centron PA systems designed for live sound reinforcement.
In 1986, St. Louis Music purchased Ampeg out of bankruptcy and revitalized the legendary SVT tube bass amplifier by maintaining original specifications alongside modern improvements. The company rebranded itself as St. Louis Music, Inc. in 1987 to reflect corporate growth. Expansion continued with new research and manufacturing sites established in Yellville, Arkansas in 1992 and 1994. Ted Kornblum, representing the third generation of family leadership, joined management in 1996 to further advance the company's strategic development.
Ownership transitions (2005―2008)
In March 2005, following an extensive two-year effort to find potential buyers, St. Louis Music was acquired by LOUD Technologies for a total of $38.4 million paid in cash and stock. At that point, the company reported annual revenues of $85 million and had a workforce of 350 employees spread across its main office, warehouse, engineering departments, and manufacturing sites located in Missouri and Arkansas.
By November 2008, U.S. Band and Orchestra Supplies, Inc. purchased St. Louis Music along with its Knilling string instruments and Austin guitars divisions from LOUD Technologies. Operations under the St. Louis Music name were reinstated by March 2009 at the original Ferguson Avenue location.
Contemporary period (2009―present)
Since 2015, SLM has pursued growth through targeted acquisitions such as E.K. Blessing Brass and Hamilton Stands. The expansion continued in 2018 with the addition of Alvarez Guitars, DEG Music Products, Inc., and HW Products to its portfolio, alongside obtaining exclusive North American distribution rights for Antigua Winds. These strategic actions have broadened SLM’s product offerings and strengthened its position within significant sectors of the musical instrument market.
Awards
- 2015, Music Inc. "Supplier Excellence Award"
- 2017, Music Inc. "Supplier Excellence Award"
External links
- Articles with short description
- Companies based in St. Louis
- American companies established in 1922
- Guitar amplifier manufacturers
- Distribution companies of the United States
- Audio equipment manufacturers of the United States
- LOUD Audio
- 2005 mergers and acquisitions
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment