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Music Industry Icon Dies at 91 |
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Industry Icon Theodore "Ted" McCarty, 91, passed away on April 1, 2001. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Ted began his extensive career in the music products industry working for the Wurlitzer Company from 1936 to 1948. He then moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan to be the President of Gibson Guitar Company, where he was instrumental in the development of the electric guitar. Ted held many patents on guitar designs and accessories, including the Les Paul and Flying V guitars, and the McCarty and Tune-O-Matic Bridges. Ted left Gibson in 1966 when he purchased Bigsby Accessories and Flex-Lite, Inc. which manufactured vibratos for guitars and custom flashlights. He later served as a consultant for PRS Guitars. The company now has a line of guitars named in his honor. Ted retired and sold his business in 1999 at the age of 90. He is survived by his two children, Susan and Ted; four grandchildren, Wendy, Glenn, Jeffrey and Lynn; two step-grandchildren, Amy and Cassie; and six great grandchildren. His companion/care giver, Mable Ann Sherrill, also survives him. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be given in memory of Theodore M. McCarty to The American Music Conference Foundation, 5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008, to help fund their mission of educating the public about the benefits of music. Ted was actively involved with AMC, first as president, later as executive director, and most recently as a Henry Grossman Honorary Lifetime Director. |
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