Robert Giardinelli (January 23, 1914 in
Catania, Italy
Catania (, , Sicilian and ) is the second largest municipality in Sicily, after Palermo. Despite its reputation as the second city of the island, Catania is the largest Sicilian conurbation, among the largest in Italy, as evidenced also by ...
– October 1, 1996 in
New York City, New York
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
) was a noted musical instrument craftsman who operated a musical instrument repair shop in New York City. After immigrating to the United States, Giardinelli served in the United States Army during World War II. Starting in the Bronx in 1946, he later moved his music shop to midtown Manhattan, where he remained in business for over 40 years until his retirement. Giardinelli's business included musical mouthpiece manufacturing, a discount retail music store, and a custom repair shop for brass and wind instruments. Giardinelli's music shop was located on the upper floors at 151 West 46th Street. His business became a world-renowned stop for musicians during the 1980s.
He completed his biography three days before his death in 1996. Giardinelli's shop at 151 W. 46th Street (upstairs) is now occupied by Jon Baltimore Music serving a similar function of selling and repairing musical instruments.
[http://www.facebook.com/johnbaltimoremusic ] With the departure of
Sam Ash Music
Sam Ash Music was founded in 1924, and is the largest family-owned chain of musical instrument stores in the United States, with 44 locations in 16 states. With corporate headquarters in Hicksville, New York, Sam Ash sells musical instruments, r ...
in 2012, Jon Baltimore is the last musical repairman operating a shop open to the general public in the
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment hub, and neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is formed by the junction of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street. Together with adjacent ...
business area.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Giardinelli, Robert
Musical instrument retailers of the United States
American musical instrument makers
1914 births
1996 deaths
Italian emigrants to the United States