TORONTO (CelebrityAccess) — Canadian musicians nationally are in mourning over the death yesterday (Sept. 4th) of Jack Long, the founder of Long & McQuade, Canada’s leading instrumental retailer.
He was 95.
Long changed the face of Canada’s music business when he founded Long & McQuade in 1956 with the idea of selling instruments to friends in the local music industry.
His original two-room retail store on Toronto’s Yonge Street eventually spawned over 80 branches across the country.
A professional musician as well as a businessman, Long took his customers’ and competitors’ interests to heart. He also provided financial and in-kind support to more than 100 of Canada’s educational, charitable and musical organizations.
The Long family also owns Yorkville Sound a manufacturer of audio amplifiers (including the Traynor amplifier line), loudspeakers and related professional sound reinforcement equipment.
Yorkville Sound began in 1963 in the back room of Long & McQuade’s store on Yonge Street. Peter Traynor, who was working as the business’s repairman, was asked by a customer to build a pair of portable p.a. speakers for him. Traynor’s product became the first-of-its-kind YSC-1 6×8″ p.a column, the main catalyst for the launch of Yorkville Sound a few months later.
In 2014, Long received the Order of Canada for his contribution to the Canadian music industry, and in particular for founding both Long & McQuade and Yorkville Sound
“Making music is a lifelong passion,” Long said in an interview. “Music is something that can improve people’s lives.”
From a post shared by the Long Family:
To friends and family of Long & McQuade,
“We’re sorry to share the sad news that Jack Long, our father and company founder, passed away last night at the age of 95. Jack lived a long and happy life, surrounded by music and family until the very end. We are proud of the legacy he leaves and will miss him every day.”
The Long Family
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