Bob Gand was a folk singer, “big band” and jazz trumpet player, civil rights worker, music teacher and mentor, proprietor of the Village Music Store in Deerfield for over 50 years, a veteran, and an avid runner. Having played trumpet in the army, Bob taught himself guitar in the 1960s and soon after started teaching lessons to others. This evolved into the Village Music Store and the Village School of Folk Music in Deerfield, IL, and the business has thrived for over 50 years.

Bob believed in the transformative power of music in people’s lives and always said, “Music makes you smarter.” He was confident that everyone had a musical ability, and would teach anyone of any age, any instrument, even if it meant he had to learn the instrument himself. He taught his daughter Gale and his son Gary to play instruments, and they performed as the Gand Family Singers. They played at community events as well as nationally at folk festivals, coffee houses, Disneyland, Expo ’67, and more.

Bob passed away on December 31, 2014 at the age of 88. Read more about his music-filled life here.

Please join us in celebrating his legacy with a contribution to the Bob Gand Music Scholarship Fund at The People’s Music School. All funds will go towards The People’s Music School Jazz Ensemble. Click here to donate and note “Bob Gand Music Scholarship Fund” in the memo line.

You may also send contributions c/o: 

Bob Gand Music Scholarship Fund
The People’s Music School
931 West Eastwood Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640