Herbert Couf Musical artist

Herbert "Herb" Couf (February 15, 1920 – July 8, 2011 Michigan) was an American clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, music store owner, music instrument manufacturer executive, and importer of music instruments. Couf had been the principal clarinetist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Paul Paray until the 1957 recession, when the orchestra laid off several musicians.Couf subsequently opened a music store – The Royal Music Center – in Royal Oak, Michigan, just north of Detroit. He later produced his own line of saxophones, clarinets, and mouthpieces under the name H. Couf. H. Couf saxophones were manufactured in Germany by Julius Keilwerth. H. Couf clarinets were made in the United States by Artley, Inc. (Artley became part of Conn-Selmer). Couf later became Vice President of W. T. Armstrong Company, Inc. (Indiana corporation: 1955–1988, merged with C.G. Conn) upon selling his line of instruments to Armstrong. Couf also had been the conductor of the Royal Oak Concert Band, Royal Oak, Michigan.