Sam Ash

Sam Ash Music Corp. was founded in 1924, and is the largest family-owned chain of musical instrument stores in the United States. Sam Ash sells musical instruments, recording equipment, DJ and lighting equipment, and professional sound equipment. The parent company, Sam Ash Music Corporation, also owns several major long-standing brands in the music industry, including Groove Percussion (drums and percussion), the Brownsville NY (guitars and amps), Carlo Robelli (stringed instruments, guitars, and accordions), and Jean Baptiste (brass and woodwinds). Some of Sam Ash's products, such as the Sam Ash Fuzz Boxxx and Sam Ash Guitar Amps, have become collector's items.

Their flagship store has been located at 333 West 34th Street in Manhattan since 2013, with 30,000 feet of retail space. Previously, Sam Ash had a major presence with multiple storefronts on 48th St. in Manhattan.

Samuel Ashkynase was born on August 21, 1897 to Moishe and Mottl Ashkynase, in a small town in Austria-Hungary. The family immigrated to the United States in 1907.

The family soon moved to Brooklyn, more specifically Hopkinson Avenue, in which the whole Ash family had resided for some time. As soon as they settled, Sam began school and stayed in school until the sixth grade. During this period Sam also attempted to learn English.

Sam’s father Morris later developed a tumor putting him temporarily out of work. By the time his condition improved he had already been replaced in his job. This left Sam to pay the bills by himself. Sam started out working as an apprentice in cutting. This helped to pay for the family, but Sam didn't enjoy the work. He wanted to continue his passion, the violin.

Sam soon began studying more on the violin and later started teaching others how to play. He went on to form the Sam Ash Orchestra. They played many weddings, dances and Jewish organizations around the New York City area.

In August 1923 Sam met his future wife, Rose Dinin. Rose had arrived in America around the same time as Sam, though she had emigrated from Russia when she was three. After six months they married on February 9, 1924. Sam was 27 and Rose was 21.