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Charles R. Walter Passed Away
#2850298
05/20/19 07:34 AM
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 6,376
Piano World
OP
6000 Post Club Member
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OP
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 6,376 |
Charles R. Walter, the founder of Charles R. Walter piano company passed away Friday. I had the pleasure of chatting with him at the NAMM show a few times over the years, a true gentleman. I received this email from Dan Del Fiorentino (historian for NAMM)... "Charles R. Walter, a pillar in the piano business for nearly 60 years, passed away on Friday. He was 92. Charles was hired by the C.G. Conn Company to work in the piano design department back in 1964. While there he worked under the legendary Dr. Earle Kent, the Director of Research and Engineering. When the company decided to discontinue one of their piano lines, Charles saw an opportunity. In 1977, a year after establishing his own piano manufacturing business, he introduced the first Charles R. Walter Piano at the NAMM Show in Chicago. It was the beginning of his own brand and design, which grew into a family business that continues to produce quality instruments. Here is a segment from his 2005 NAMM Oral History interview: https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/charles-walterIn addition to running a successful business, Charles was also very active in encouraging music makers of all ages by supporting several organizations including AMC and the NAMM Foundation. His contributions to music will be felt for generations to come. Dan"
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2850304
05/20/19 07:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 3,248
NobleHouse
3000 Post Club Member
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3000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jan 2018
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2850332
05/20/19 08:51 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,779
Rickster
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Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
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My sincere condolences to Charles Walter and his family.
Rick
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2850341
05/20/19 09:13 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,574
Retsacnal
4000 Post Club Member
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4000 Post Club Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,574 |
"If it sounds good, it is good." - Duke Ellington P E R F O R M A N C E over p r o v e n a n c e
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2850344
05/20/19 09:20 AM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,096
terminaldegree
5000 Post Club Member
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5000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,096 |
My condolences to his family and friends. My wife and I got to meet him at the factory once, and we saw him just a few years ago at NAMM, actively manning the Charles Walter booth. A very nice man with a very nice family, all involved with the company!
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2850354
05/20/19 09:53 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,376
Ed McMorrow, RPT
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5000 Post Club Member
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Charles Walter was a very fine gentleman. He was always very attentive in our discussions regarding pianos. I am sorry he is gone.
In a seemingly infinite universe-infinite human creativity is-seemingly possible. According to NASA, 93% of the earth like planets possible in the known universe have yet to be formed. Contact: Ed@LightHammerpiano.com
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2850371
05/20/19 10:21 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,926
j&j
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1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,926 |
My sincere condolences to the Charles R. Walther family. It’s very sad news to music lovers everywhere.
J & J Estonia L190 Hidden Beauty Casio Privia PX-330 Pianos - the reason God made trees!
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2850377
05/20/19 10:42 AM
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 11,640
Rich Galassini
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I have had the privilege of spending time with the Walter family over the years and they have always been wonderful to work with, to do business with, and to have as friends. Charles was the patriarch of a clan of fine people. I understand from his family that he would still go in occasionally and spend time working and helping out even though he had formally turned the company over to his children.
He seemed to have lived a good life filled with family and doing work that he loved. It is my sincere hope that they continue on unencumbered by his passing.
Rest well Mr. Walter and God Bless you and your family.
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2850406
05/20/19 11:33 AM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 753
GC13
500 Post Club Member
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500 Post Club Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 753 |
This is very sad news. Charles' influence on the piano industry is huge. He's left a great legacy behind. We have all benefited from his labors for decades, and many others will reap the benefits for generations to come.
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2850420
05/20/19 11:51 AM
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,729
Hank Drake
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,729 |
Very sorry to learn of this. I never met him, but I greatly enjoyed his pianos. Mr. Walter left a legacy to be proud of. Rest in Peace.
Hank Drake
The composers want performers be imaginative, in the direction of their thinking--not just robots, who execute orders. George Szell
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2850893
05/21/19 08:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 39
BenjaminR
Full Member
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Full Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 39 |
I never met the man, but know some of his family. A loss to our community and the piano world.
Benjamin Rogers Fmr. Piano Sales & Marketing Professional
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2851463
05/23/19 11:03 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 646
jdsher
500 Post Club Member
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500 Post Club Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 646 |
My condolences to the Walters family and all those who knew this legendary man. Jon
"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." Albert Einstein Charles Walter W190 Ebony
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2851574
05/23/19 06:09 PM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 11
J.D. Ford
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 11 |
So sad. I've worked on many pianos that he inspired. He devoted his life to our industry!
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Re: Charles R. Walter Passed Away
[Re: Piano World]
#2851822
05/24/19 01:40 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 768
Kurtmen
500 Post Club Member
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500 Post Club Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 768 |
I had the opportunity to spend time and be acquainted with Walter's. My condolences to such a wonderful family.
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