Albert Weatherly, longtime esteemed member of the New York City and American flute community, passed way on Thursday, Dec. 17th of pneumonia.  He was 85 years old.  He was famous amongst the world’s most renowned flutists who frequented his shop, such as Jean-Pierre Rampal, James Galway and Julius Baker (as well as an endless list of flutists who worked in NYC’s primary orchestras: NY Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, studio musicians who recorded music for TV and Movies, Broadway flutist, and uncountable others) who called upon him for his brilliance as a flute technician and master flute maker.  He was known as well for his honest business practices, and as a mentor and friend to both his customers and his colleagues.

Al Weatherly was a rather private person who much preferred to talk about the mechanical problems of the flute rather than reminisce about his life.  Yet his family, his mid-western roots and growing up in the lean years of the depression had everything to do with the kind of person he was. Born in Coffeyville, KS but raised in Tulsa, OK, his parents were both teachers. Al’s father, Albert Weatherly Sr., was a band director and his mother, Julia, was a home economics teacher.  Both he and his brother, Robert, who was a trumpet player, studied to become musicians.  Like nearly every family in Oklahoma during the depression, the family suffered great hardship, losing nearly everything as his sister in law, Gloria Weatherly explained. Yet, his parents persevered, making it possible for both of their sons to attend the Juilliard School of Music.  Robert began his studies at Juilliard in 1940 and Junior, as Al was called within the family, followed two years later.

At nearly every turn in his life Albert Weatherly was truly fortunate in having the opportunity of studying with the very best.  At Juilliard as a flutist he studied with Arthur Lora, principal flutist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and the great French flutist, George Barrère.  He spoke of Barrère as “the soul of kindness.”  Later, as a flute repairman he apprenticed with Verne Q. Powell, a fellow Kansan and the premiere flutemaker of the 20th century.

While attending Juilliard Al and Robert freelanced sometimes working at the Radio City Music Hall. For a young man from the bleak dust bowl that was Oklahoma during the depression, New York City represented a place of energy and excitement.  He loved the city, often explaining that you could get anything you wanted in New York and there was always something happening and so many interesting people to meet.

With the entrance of the United Stated into World War II after Pearl Harbor, Al and Robert enlisted in the army both serving in air force bands. Robert became a member of the Air Force President’s Band while Al was stationed at Randolph Field, TX until he was honorably discharged from the service in May of 1943 whereupon he returned to New York City and the life of a journeyman musician.

After spending some time on the road with touring orchestras, Al began to cast about for something else to do with his life.  Contemplating marriage he began to look for a profession that would give him more stability.  After marrying Susanna Magnus, a native New Yorker, in January of 1946, he made his way to Boston, MA and an apprenticeship with Verne Q. Powell Flutes Inc.   Originally, the apprenticeship was to have lasted three years but Al was so quick and talented for this work that at the end of a year, Mr. Powell said he had learned all he needed to know to open his own shop.  Finally, Al could return to his beloved New York City with Sue and the prospect of a new and much needed flute business.

From this point forward Al’s is a story of American entrepreneurial success.  With the knowledge and skills he had acquired along with his mid-western work ethic and innate business sense, his reputation as an excellent repairman spread not only across the United States but internationally as well.  Many flutists from touring orchestras who came to New York City for engagements at Carnegie Hall or other venues quickly learned that Albert Weatherly was the man to see when flutes were in need of repair. He was also the first person to see when looking for a new and interesting flute to buy. As well, Al and Sue made flute and piccolo pads, Al helped the Powell Co. by preparing headjoints for finishing at the factory in Boston and made connections with European manufacturing companies for the importation of high quality machined flute parts such as spuds and screws for key cups and pivot screws.  He sold these parts to the various American flute manufacturers making him into an important supplier.

By the 1960s Al’s reputation as one of the top class flute repairman and flute dealers in the world was well established. It was only logical that Al would be approached in 1968 by the Prima Gakki Co., the worldwide distributor of the newly established Sankyo Flute Manufacturing Co., to become the U.S. distributor for these flutes. This was the most important business relationship of Al’s career, a relationship based on mutual respect between the two founding flutemakers, Mr. Takai and Mr. Hisakura and Al. Once again fortune smiled on Al when he made the acquaintance of Ayako Uchiyama who educated him in the culture and customs of Japan and served as his translator and helper for some 40 years.  Although the business relationship ended with Al’s retirement, the people at Sankyo continue to look upon Albert Weatherly with the type of veneration and deference the Japanese people extend to their most respected elders.

Whether it was due to the difficult times his family faced during the depression, the familial traits of intelligence, inner strength, determination and resourcefulness or just plain Kansan grit, or most likely a combination of all of these, Albert Weatherly was a good and noble man who made an absolute success of his life.  If you won his friendship – and he did not suffer fools gladly – you could depend on him to be a kind, compassionate and generous friend.  If you won his friendship, you could be proud of yourself. The flute world has lost a model all the world would be wise to consider and emulate.

Albert Weatherly was pre-deceased by his brother, Robert, his wife, Sue, and his niece, Nancy Weatherly.  He is survived by his sister-in-law, Gloria Weatherly and her daughters, Julie and Joanne as well as his sister-in-law, Helene Magnus and her son, Robert.  He is also deeply mourned by his loyal friend Ayako Uchiyama and Jan West, dear friend to both Al & Sue, and her sons, Shawn and Jared.

by:Mara Goosman

*Extra Content: An interview with Albert Weatherly by Katherine Saenger