‘Internationally known company based in New Brunswick’
Robert Zildjian who built an internationally known manufacturer of cymbals, passed away late last week at age 89.
Coming from 10 generations of Armenian cymbal makers, his father emigrated to Boston from Turkey in 1900, followed two decades later by a great uncle. Together they founded the Zildjian cymbal company, which has since become the biggest cymbal manufacturer in the world.
The company later expanded into New Brunswick, but when his father died, Robert and his brother quarreled over ownership and direction, and his brother took control of the Boston Zildjian operation and Robert took over the Canadian plant. He renamed it in Sabian, in honour of his three children Sally, Bill, and Andy.
Robert Zildjian later built the Sabian operation into the second biggest cymbal manufacturer in the world. In an early interview he said,“I’m not that worried about being the biggest. But if we are the biggest, that’s good too. But being the best is primary…that’s my motivation.”
Sabian cymbals are used by many of the world’s best known musicians.
(mm with notes from Sabian.com)
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