Local music store owner Ben Jack dies
Local music store owner and operator Ben Jack has passed away, according to information posted on the store’s website, benjacks.com.
A graveside service for friends and family will be held at 2 pm today (Nov. 9) at Gill Cemetary in Van Buren, Ark. Flowers may be sent to Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, located at 4100 Alma Hwy., Van Buren, AR 72956.
From the website:
Our stores in Fayetteville and Bentonville will both be closed Monday so that our employees can pay their respects. We resume normal business Tuesday at 10am.
Jack first opened Ben Jack’s Arkansas Music in 1965. The store is a popular destination for local musicians seeking guitars, amps, strings, etc.
He was 75.
More from the Web
- Ben Jack’s Arkansas Music – Official business website
- Obituaries 11/8/09 – NWAnews.com obituary for Ben Jack
- Ben Jack Interview – NAMM interview from July 13, 2006.
[Accompanying photo taken from a screenshot of an NAMM interview from 2006.]
Discussion
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By Urk on November 9th, 2009
Ben Jack’s Arkansas Music opened the year I was born, and I grew up knowing it was part of the town. Because I’m dense it never occurred to me to wonder what kind of music Ben played until this year, when i started finding 45s put out on the Cimmarron Label in the early 1960s. Cimarron was owned by Leon Mcaulif, a veteran of Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys, who settled in Rogers around the late 1950s/early 1960s. I discovered the label looking for a single by the Emcees, a Fayetteville garage rock combo. I found that, and I also found two singles by Ben Jack and the Country Boys. On those two singles are 4 pretty nice country-pop songs with some excellent steel guitar playing, which I think is Ben.
I had personal friendships with folks who worked at other stores, so i didn’t go to Ben Jack’s very much when I lived in Fayetteville, but it was definitely a local institution. My condolences to his family and friends.
By Lauren Ashley on November 16th, 2009
Ben Jack’s Arkansas Music was a part of Fayetteville, Arkansas and the Music Industry for more years than I can remember. I have heard that Ben Jack’s was one of the reasons, famous muscians agreed to do concerts in the area because of their top of the line inventory and service. Ben Jack’s only hired the best of local muscians to work in his stores. One musician I recall, Bruce Grubb was with the company for 22 years,a well known local muscian that could play any instrument by ear) and was one of Ben Jack’s greatest assets. Bruce had knowledge of every piece of equipment, always greeted customers with a smile and knew how to tailor to each customer needs. Many customers returned to Ben Jack’s year after year because of Bruce.(Just another example of Ben’s expertise for running a successful business) Ben Jack was a great business man, humanitarian, and loving husband. Once I heard him say that he attributed his success to wife Shirley for her loving support and always believing in him. Thank you Mr. Ben Jack for your contribution to Fayetteville and to the world of music. You will be missed by all that knew you. God Bless! My deepest consolence to his family and employees