Vale John Barbuto.

[Be Quiet...Listen]

Today we say goodbye to John Barbuto.

A consummate gentleman, and founder of JB Hi-fi, who lived a rich and full life to the age of 86.

Survived by his partner Rita, his three children and respective grandchildren.

He leaves an indelible mark on not only the people who knew and admired him, but the Australian audio industry - its life, story and longevity.

If not for him, whether you are an enthusiast or an industry figure, our landscape would be inexplicably unrecognisable.

 

Thank you, old friend. It’s been a pleasure.

[Saxon Hall]

I met him quite a few times in his original store at The Centreway in the Melbourne suburb of East Keilor .

It was just a small shop at the start. Things went well so he expanded into the shop next door and knocked a hole in the adjoining wall. Things continued to go well so he expanded into the next shop and knocked another hole in the wall. And he repeated the process one more time. The shop was so popular that they would sometimes have to restrict entry due to overcrowding. One time I went in and his staff were running around drying all the stacks of cassettes as there had been a water leak . It was quite a funny scene but JB seemed to be taking it well

It was the Go To place for well priced stereo gear in the 80s era. People would travel from all over Melbourne to this little hidden away shopping strip in a far flung outer suburb

R.I.P J.B.

Edited December 2, 2023 by Saxon Hall

[audiofeline]

I used to go to the original store at The Centreway in Keilor Victoria when it was small and starting to expand.  Would always walk out with a few cut-out LP's, the reason for my visits, and often a box of cassettes, the cheapest in town.  I later lived literally around the corner from another of their stores, bought lots of CDs.

 

Edited December 6, 2023 by audiofeline

[cazzesman]

I worked part time with JB at Centreway from 84-86.   That was around the time I had my first Flat and the JB money kept me afloat when interest rates were in the mid teens.   

 

As has been said, a true gent of a man.     Does anyone know how old he was at his passing?

 

I remember one Christmas Eve, two girls manning the cash registers taking near on a $100,000 in plastic bags, to the Bank on the other side of the park.    I walked across with them as 'Security'.   I had visions of a masked man on a motorbike, carrying a sawn off, riding up to us.     

 

What a Legacy and what an Empire he created.

 

RIP Mr Barbuto 

 

Regards Cazzesman

[cazzesman]

I just read this from an article

 

Mr Richard Bouris and partners David Robb and Peter Caserta bought JB Hi-Fi from founder John Barbuto in 1983, when it was a single store trading in Keilor East.

 

I remember working for Richard, Dave and Peter in 84 but JB was still around, working from time to time.     Richard and Dave were pretty laid back, but Peter was like a whirling dervish. 

 

Regards Cazzesman

[buzz lightyear]

RIP JB

who doesn’t remember the Keillor JB hifi  store been there many times as a teenager. 

[wen]

I remember going to John's place, before JB hi-fi, when he was selling out of his garage, a friend who bought a 12" 3 way still has them, memories.........

[altecman]

RIP

 

Edited December 9, 2023 by altecman
Photo removed at family request.

[Guest]

Missed this thread. What a legacy. 

I too made many visits to the East Keilor store and so many within the industry started their careers there.

RIP John.

[altecman]

Edited December 9, 2023 by altecman

[Be Quiet...Listen]

A more recent shot of JB’s room. 
It is impressive.

Very passionately, purposefully built for audio. 

 

Edited December 6, 2023 by Marc
Photo removed at family request.

[Redbook]

A true gentleman.

 

RIP.

Edited December 5, 2023 by fordute

[proftournesol]

I remember driving across Melbourne to buy cheap boxes of TDK tapes when he was operating out of his garage at home.

[altecman]

[ray4410]

very sad to hear of John's passing
i used to travel from chelsea to johns house in Keilor when he was selling hifi from his big listening room at the back of his house,sold a few systems for him to friends i also bought his personal Revox A77 RTR from him,recently bought a Marantz SA KI PEARL sacd player that belonged to John it still had the original sales receipt inside the owners manual with his home phone no i thought i would give him a ring which i did and said my name and you may remember me from my visits to your house many years ago he remembered well and invited me around for coffee thinking i was nearby as we both share the same phone area code but i told him i was on the other side of the bay to him he said if you ever come over this way pop in i am sorry that i did not get to see him again a true gentleman will be sadly missed
condolences to his wife and children 

[Pops110]

Looks like

Harbeth 40.1

Wilson Alexx 

Altec VOTT ? Modified?

[Guest]

Guys, at the family's request, I have removed the photos that were posted within this thread.

I would ask that we respect the family's request, that as John was a private person, no photos are posted of his listening room without the blessing of his family.

[RockRolley]

On 02/12/2023 at 2:31 PM, Be Quiet...Listen said:

Thank you, old friend. It’s been a pleasure.

Sorry to hear that Trav, condolences, I know you had developed a friendship. 

[Allan]

On 02/12/2023 at 4:38 PM, wen said:

I remember going to John's place, before JB hi-fi, when he was selling out of his garage, a friend who bought a 12" 3 way still has them, memories.........

 

We too use to shop at Johns rumpus room store out the back of his house off Dyna Pde. in fact we still have the Kenwood stereo bought from him back then and all the LP's. What a great success story his life's been, from humble beginnings selling HiFi gear out the back of his house to a very successful PLC... namely JB HiFi.

 

He was a true gentleman, he always had time for his customers... even us cheeky young bucks back then.

 

Sincere condolences to his family & friends.

 

 

Edited December 9, 2023 by Allan

[Shaun238]

John was a great guy, I live about 5 minutes away from The Centreway in East Keilor. I first started going there in 1974 after school. John sold me my first stereo, it was a Hitachi. Had many conversations with him over the years. He used to grab a random pile of records and mark them at $1 so people that knew who he was used to watch him and grab the $1 records. You could always tell he was there when he used to smoke cigars. He was a remarkable man.

Edited December 11, 2023 by shauns729

[Addicted to music]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/exclusive/article-12892047/JB-Hi-Fi-John-Barbuto-dead.html

 

 

RIP John Barbuto.

 

Started a record and music hifi store in Melb West.   I use to go to that store to buy CDs,  I know which CDs I bought from there all those years ago, as a work colleague use to live around the corner.  Today we are familiar of the store that's grown in numbers around AUS and NZ.  

[Wimbo]

RIP John and well done in your life mate.

[Eagleeyes]

RIP JB, the passing of a true audio legend.

[AvSat44]

John was introduced to me in the early 2000's by a fellow audiophile. He arrived at my home with a friend in a little white "Bongo" van. I brought them upstairs and showed him the items (a very large collection of mainly vintage English gear) and he just bought the lot without any demo's. An hour or so later, I waved good bye as they drove off with John's friend leaning over his seat into the back so that all the gear didn't fall on them. In that brief visit I met a gentle but determined man and can only wish that I had continued the relationship.

RIP JB. 

[BCHR]

Legend. Only met him once, he came into the record store I was working in seeking HiDef CDs. We ended up talking music recordings for an hour. Lovely guy.

 

*Smash* JB You've done it again...