C. Darby Fulton

C. Darby Fulton’s father opened a music store, which seemed the perfect place for Darby growing up. He enjoyed the business and worked with his father as the company grew into 26 locations during the boom of the home organ craze in the 1960s. Having been a music retailer for years Darby became a grand promoter showcasing the Hammond products at county fairs, mall openings and tractor-pulls. During the height of the organ boom, 1973, twenty five percent of all musical products sold were organs. This fact presented challenges of supply for Darby. At one point his sales of trade in organs surpassed the sales of new organs. Over the years, Darby offered lesson programs and often provided free method books with each sale in order to encourage life-long playing. In later years Darby was a strong supporter of the NAMM Oral History program, helping us document the key leaders of the industry.