October 19, 2026 I Obituary
John Packer Musical Instruments Founder Passes Away
John Howard Packer
John Packer Musical Instruments’ founder, John Howard Packer, passed away on Oct.10. He was 75.
Packer founded the company in 1974 in his hometown of Taunton, Somerset, U.K. Over the next 50-plus years, he served as the driving force behind its growth. His entrepreneurial skills became the cornerstone of the company’s success. According to a statement by the company, Packer lived and worked by a fundamental rule: He always treated people exactly the way he expected to be treated himself.
Under his leadership, John Packer Ltd achieved high honors in British business. The company was recognized with both the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2018 and the King’s Award for International Trade in 2025.
