Dan Martin

Dan Martin, a guitar vendor whose clientele included Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Eddie Van Halen, has died. He was 57. Martin died Dec. 21, his sister said. The cause of death was not immediately known. His sister said he had been hospitalized for about two weeks before he died and had suffered from congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and diabetes. Martin developed what friends called an ability to find the perfect instruments for some of the world's most famed guitarists. He operated two guitar shops and made frequent trips to New York and Los Angeles. Starting in high school, Martin would work on guitars in the family basement. Martin later worked as a roadie with the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Bob Dylan and the Band, Foghat, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Stevie Wonder and more. It was during that time that he bought and sold guitars, making the contacts that led to his first shop, The St. Charles Guitar Exchange. Later he operated Empire Guitars.