David Rhodes Campbell

1935 - 2024

David Rhodes Campbell was born in Worcester, MA on April 23, 1935. He spent his entire childhood growing up in the New England states, declaring Maine as his favorite place. David's love of a life filled with music began at the age of 14, when he played his first musical job. David graduated from Tufts University in 1957, with a degree in music and a minor in engineering, and followed up with additional music courses from the Berklee School of Music in Boston. After college he auditioned for, and became a member of the 440th US Army Band at Fort Bragg, NC. While in the Army, he performed in many concerts; served as drum major for on-field performances; and designed, built, and performed with one of the first sets of steel drums for the US Army. Throughout the years, David played in all venues of music, from solo piano and organ, to trios, and large bands on his saxophone and other woodwind instruments.

Moving to North Carolina with the Army is how he found the love of his life, Juanita. Married on December 20, 1959, David and Juanita have enjoyed a love-filled and adventurous life for the last 64 years. While in North Carolina, David lived out his passion for music, performing in bands, serving as both a high school band director and supervisor of music for primary education for Fayetteville City Schools, and ran his own piano tuning and organ repair business.

As a member of the Piano Technicians Guild, David developed relationships with individuals in the piano industry, which led him into a career in piano manufacturing. From Fayetteville, NC to Indiana, back to North Carolina, New York, Connecticut, and Virginia, David pursued his love for music, and developed skills for engineering in piano manufacturing. A master piano builder, David designed and built both upright and grand pianos, and holds a US patent in upright piano construction. Kimball, Currier, Knabe, Mason Hamlin, Chickering, Sohmer, Steinway, and Pearl River pianos have all benefited from David's keen engineering mind for quality control and manufacturing techniques. In David's final commitment to the piano industry, he served as a highly preferred Steinway tuner and technician by solo artists, symphonies, and performing artists.

David was an avid reader, and enjoyed hiking, walking, traveling, trains, car ferries, and the great outdoors. As a lifetime musical performer, David was most comfortable at the keyboard, sharing his music with family and friends. He was a devoted husband to his wife Juanita, as well as a wonderful and attentive father to Laura and Scott. They are his survivors, along with Laura's husband Boyd, and their children Mary Beth (Grant) and Katy, and son Scott and his wife Marva, and their sons David (Lexi) and Matthew. David was preceded in death by his father Gordon, mother Charlotte, and step sister Barbara. He was a member of the Piano Technicians Guild, Musician's Union, Lion's Club and Bon Air United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, David's family suggests donations to the Bon Air United Methodist Church music program, or a favorite charitable organization.