The start of an unforgettable partnership
I don’t remember the exact date, but I do know it was in the early ’90s when Brian Whitehouse embarked on his journey to become a distributor of our guitars in the United Kingdom. More importantly, it was the beginning of a friendship that would become a lasting part of our lives.
A timid visit that marked a before and an after
The first time he visited our old shop on Concepción Jerónima Street No. 2, his only intention was to ask if we would allow him to purchase our guitars for resale in his business in the UK. He approached the conversation with great caution, staying true to his modest and unassuming nature—something that made it impossible to predict that, over time, he would become not only one of our finest representatives but also one of the most specialized, knowledgeable, and respected figures in the guitar world.
Between books, guitars and friendship
He loved visiting us with his wife, Margaret, whenever they came to Madrid, and for us, it was always a pleasure to enjoy their company. One of his visits was especially memorable—when he brought his sound engineer to record a CD featuring some of the guitars from our collection. This project resulted in an exquisite book, The Ramírez Collection, in which each piece corresponded to the historical period of the guitar carefully selected for the recording. We treasure that book as a historical gem, one that fills us with both pride and gratitude.
A legacy that remains
The unexpected news of his passing brought us immense sorrow. We learned about it through a message from John Mills, who expressed his deep grief with words that perfectly capture the extraordinary person Brian was:
“What Brian Whitehouse achieved over many decades for the world of the classical guitar, through his passion, enthusiasm, energy, research, and various important projects, was incredible, and he will be greatly missed by the guitar world. A real gentleman in the true essence of the word.”
