Yeah, I am certain he died in '97 or so. His store is located in Kirkwood, Missouri just downstream from my town. I have been in there many times and talked with him. I too thought he was a "logo" but he was very real. Mel Bay publishing has a TON of books, not just instructional manuals. I think that you can get a complete catalog from them. The store sells all that they publish as well as a wide assortment of musical instruments. They also rent instruments. They try to keep prices down but do stock the expensive instruments as well. My mandolin cost $150 but I traded an old tenor banjo I had picked up at a yard sale. I think I paid him $25 or $30. Got a chipboard case and his mandolin instruction book as well. They stand behind everything they sell and replaced the first mandolin which developed a "dip" in the top after a couple of months of humid Missouri summer, bad bracing.

He knew my uncle Ted Meisenheimer who is a musician, writer and arranger. I thought that he said they were in an orchestra together, possibly Ben Pollak's. They played during the same era. ( the 1930's to 40's) If the death date is correct and he was 84 at the time of his death, he and uncle Ted are about 4 years apart. Ted was born in 1907 and will be 95 this July. I'll call Mel Bay's and ask about the date.

CB