Emil K. Blessing

Originally born in Germany, Emil Karl Blessing emigrated to the United States in 1896, where he began honing his craft within the American brass industry, notably working for the Holton company by 1903. In 1907, he relocated to the legendary manufacturing hub of Elkhart, Indiana, and began fabricating his own instruments inside a small workshop located right behind his house. As production expanded, the business evolved; by 1926, the enterprise was officially known as the Emil K. Blessing Co., which was later renamed the E.K. Blessing Band Instruments Co. in 1936. A brand-new, modern manufacturing facility was constructed in 1940, and by 1942, the corporation was legally registered as E.K. Blessing Inc.

Following the passing of Emil Sr. in 1954, leadership of the family company was assumed by his son, Emil Blessing Jr. In 1961, the firm entered a high-profile merger with the Martin Band Instrument Company and several others to form the Richards Music Corporation (RMC). This cooperative venture proved short-lived; following the collapse of RMC, Emil Sr.’s son-in-law, Merle Johnson, stepped in to purchase the assets in 1964, successfully restoring the independent corporate identity of E.K. Blessing Inc. The family legacy continued for decades until 2009, when the company was sold to Verne Powell Flutes. In 2015, the brand was acquired by St. Louis Music, ensuring that the historic Blessing name continues to endure in the music world today.