Klarinet Archive - Posting 000248.txt from 2003/01

From: "mlmarmer" <mlmarmer@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] New Obituary
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 10:52:46 -0500

There was another person who passed away last month, who was in the retail
music world.

He was Chuck Levin owner of the legendary Washington Music Center in
Wheaton, MD. Mr. Levin was 76 and started the business in Washington, D.C.
in 1958. One of the largest single music stores in the country.

Although, WMC was very well known in the rock and roll world of music, as
customers were Stevie Wonder, the Moody Blues and the Rolling Stones, he did
allot for the local kids getting them into band instruments like the
clarinet with inexpensive rentals.

In 1998, a Washington Post story reported that he rented 3,800 instruments
in a three week period. Mr. Levin had been leasing instruments to children
for 35 years and during that time, prices had gone up only 10 percent. In
running a business, one must increase prices to keep up with inflation,
topay the bills, especially since 1967! Cost are much different as you know
in everything since that time! He loved kids and enjoyed helping them with
the cost of the rentals.

I was one of those who rented from him a clarinet and was able to bring in
money to his store, weekly, on account, to save up for that $295 R-13
clarinet in 1970, as those were the days of no credit cards and the average
incomes was $8,000! Plus, it taught me the value of saving up for something
that you want, that is lost in today's of credit card balances.

He was a great person in the music world.

Mike Marmer
Germantown, MD

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