INDUSTRY VETERAN KEN DATTMORE PASSES AWAY I ndustry veteran Ken Dattmore, who worked
Ken Dattmore
music students around the world. Dattmore later operated his own company, Pegasus Strings, before starting his career — and retir- ing — at Yamaha. During his tenure at Yamaha, he played a role in the growth of the electric violin, which won a NAMM Best in Show award at The 2016 NAMM Show. {yamaha.com}
with William Lewis & Son Company and Yamaha for a number of years, passed away on Dec. 4, 2025. He was 64. Dattmore started in the MI industry with the William Lewis & Son Company, which brought violins into the hands of thousands of young
Bob Rockwell
BOB ROCKWELL OF PLAYGROUND MUSIC PASSES AWAY R obert “Bob” Henry Rockwell Sr., for- merly of Playground Music in Florida, passed away on Nov. 19, 2025. He was 74. Rockwell was raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan and graduated from Ypsilanti High School in 1969. He went on to attend Eastern Michigan University. During a spring break trip to Tampa, Florida, he met and married the love of his life Sherry. The two were married for more than 50 years. Rockwell was a husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, friend, colleague, coach, co-worker and men- tor. He made a deep and lasting impact on his community both personally and professionally. He worked for more than 45 years with the family business, Playground Music Center. Rockwell was a trusted presence across the northwest Florida band community. During his career, Rockwell helped thousands of young musicians find their instrument, while serving countless band programs as a friend to educators, parents and students. {playgroundmusiccenter.com}
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