Robert Zildjian
Robert Zildjian is founder of Sabian Cymbals, the largest manufacturer of cymbals in the world. Robert Zildjian belongs to the Zildjian family, which brought the technology of cymbal making from their ancestral homeland in Western Armenia (modern Turkey) to the United States by Avedis Zildjian and then was passed on to future generations of the family members.The company was founded in 1980 in Meductic, New Brunswick, Canada by Robert Zildjian, son of Avedis Zildjian III, the head of the Avedis Zildjian Company. Family tradition had it that the head of the company would only pass its secrets down to the oldest son, but Avedis III gave the information to both his sons, Armand and Robert. This led to a family feud and a legal squabble, resulting in Robert leaving Zildjian to form the rival Sabian company. The companies continue to be rivals, and are both among the world's most popular cymbal brands. Sabian cymbals have been used by many famous drummers in the world. The company's name is a combination of his three children, Sandra, Bill, and Andrew.