Danny Henkin

Danny Henkin was one of the true characters of the music products industry. He began his career with G. Leblanc Corporation and later worked as sales and marketing manager for Gemeinhardt Flutes – that is, before he bought the company. His background was in advertising and over the years he grew to understand the inner workings of the industry and the business end of those companies he worked with. By the early 1980s, Danny had owned 26 music companies including C.G. Conn, Armstrong Flutes, and King Musical Products. While owner, he also expanded the product line to include a Conn Henkin clarinet; the instrument Danny began playing as a boy.  Along with his wife, Mary, the couple created Mardan Inc. an umbrella company for their instrument companies that also created their own unique guitars and banjos, which were produced in the 1980s.  In 2012, Mary and Danny donated their vast collection of industry archives to the NAMM Resource Center.  These materials included company and personal papers as well as catalogs and photographs documenting their careers in the music products industry.  Danny passed away at the age of 82 in his beloved hometown of Elkhart, Indiana on November, 8 2012.