This obituary remembrance of Bill Stokes, known to many bluegrass players for his company, Showcase Musical Products, is a contribution from his good friend, Scott Snider, who also added these personal comments:
It is with a heavy heart that I bear the news that Bill Stokes, of Showcase Musical Products, passed away in his sleep Wednesday, 6/24. I have been in close contact with “The Lovely Miss Becky,” his bride, and have been asked, by her, to post this memoriam and my personal feelings about my friend.
Bill was a an innovator, entrepreneur, promoter of our beloved music and , perhaps most importantly, a dreamer. Never satisfied with the status-quo, Bill was always looking to ‘raise the bar’ for bluegrass banjoists. Among his many , and various, accomplishments was keeping the McKinney capo alive, his now coveted Showcase 41s finger picks, his (arguably the best) banjo straps, pick strops, etc.
Perhaps his greatest innovation, for banjo enthusiasts, was the pursuit of better tone in the form of the utilization of “Old Wood” in banjo parts and accessories. His work on sourcing sunken wood from Lake Superior was game changing. Don’t believe me? Ask Scott Zimmerman, aka Desert Rose. His work with Tony Pass completely changed Stelling Banjos (old sunken wood block rims.)
My point is that nearly anyone who is making, or has made a factory floor rim, an old maple gym wood bridge, etc., owes a debt of gratitude to Bill.
Lastly, I want to try to convey what Bill was to all in his orbit. He was an endearing, engaging, entertaining, encouraging, and passionately enthusiastic human being. He never missed an opportunity to leave you with a smile on your face and, most importantly, he never failed to mention his true passion in life , his bride, “The Lovely Miss Becky.”
As for me, he was a true friEND and I will miss our conversations together greatly. My daddy once taught me that there was magic in spelling it that way. I’ll leave it for y’all to figure out. I loved him.
Bill Stokes was born July 30, 1941, in San Antonio, Texas, and passed away peacefully in his sleep the morning of June 24, 2026. He was 84 years of age. This would have fulfilled one of his favorite quotes by Woody Allen, “I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
Bill was a man of humor with a passion for life, remarkable creativity, determination, and craftsmanship. His life reflected both artistic talent and an entrepreneurial spirit.
His athleticism was concentrated in his love for short-distance running and boxing. He broke the one-mile record for his elementary school and boxed in the most prestigious network of amateur boxing tournaments in the United States, the Golden Gloves.
He graduated from Paschal High School in Fort Worth in 1959 and attended Arlington State (now University of Texas at Arlington). He then earned a degree in Advertising Art from Texas Tech University (Go Raiders!), where he was classmates with musical legend John (Deutschendorf) Denver and renowned Texas artist, John Hanna of John Hanna Art.
After college, he built a successful career in banking but eventually resigned as a vice-president to pursue one of his passions: developing a cartoon strip called Wee Knees. The strip featured twin sisters, whose characters were based on nieces Kem and Amy, with one of them having the desire to play the five-string banjo in the school’s marching band. The strip was accepted for syndication, but there was a six-month wait. He was at the end of his savings, so he needed to go to work. However, Bill’s creative drive never faded.
He worked in residential real estate sales and then as a general contractor, building custom homes.
Bill was also an avid bluegrass musician who loved playing the banjo. In time, he combined his love of music with his gift for skilled handwork by creating Showcase Musical Products, a business in which he crafted high-end products for musical instruments. His legendary Showcase 41s finger picks, Showcase capos, and latigo leather straps were used and sought after by professional musicians as well as amateur pickers. In 2000, he continued his passion for providing the best sound he could out of a banjo by creating the Timeless Timber series of banjos. These banjos were made from old-growth timber salvaged from the depths of Lake Superior. Some of the growth rings indicated that the trees were three to four hundred years old.
He became widely respected in the bluegrass community for his excellent craftsmanship and dedication to quality, not to mention his love of discussing all things banjo.
Bill was also a well-respected MC for many bluegrass festivals in Texas and Oklahoma. He loved drawing the crowd into the performance of the bands and musicians by highlighting each member and their talents.
Anyone who spent time with Bill knew that he loved to tell a great joke. It didn’t matter how many times he told the joke; he still found it extremely humorous! His laugh was contagious.
After retiring from work due to health constraints, he dabbled in painting again, which he hadn’t done since his 20s. He created a wonderful likeness of one of his favorite musical artists, Ray Charles. He was also in the process of painting an old steam locomotive.
Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Virginia Cummings Stokes, and father, William M. Stokes Jr.
Bill is survived by his “bride,” Becky. They celebrated their 45th anniversary on June 15th. Laughter, encouragement of each other, as well as respect for each other as individuals led to their lasting union.
Bill is also survived by his stepson, Bryan Howington; his grandchildren, Carson and Loretta; his sister, Sherry Mullin, and her husband, Patrick; his nieces, Kelli and Shana; his brother, Ed Stokes, and his wife, Donna; his nephew, Hodge; his nieces, Kem and Amy; as well as many friends.
Bill had a full life, and he felt that he had achieved all his dreams and goals. He was content with what he had accomplished and encouraged others to follow their passions.
His life has been marked by talent, perseverance, and a passion for both art and music. He has left a lasting impression on all who have known him and will be lovingly missed.
Visit Chamberlandfunerals.com to leave condolences.
R.I.P., Bill Stokes.
