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Chuck Surack – Entrepreneur, distributor, producer, soundware expert, sound engineer, saxophonist, and keyboardist. Fort Wayne resident Chuck Surack started Sweetwater Sound in 1979. Although it started out primarily as a recording studio out of Surack’s mobile home, Sweetwater Sound has become one of the country’s largest distributors of sound equipment, including guitars, keyboards, drums, microphones, digital recording systems, mixers, loudspeakers, and signal processors. In the early 1980s, Surack purchased a $20,000 dollar Kurzweil K-250 programmable keyboard that eventually changed his business focus and allowed his company to grow rapidly. Intending to use the keyboard to sample sounds and use them for recording, Surack started renting out the instrument and selling some of his sampled sounds to musicians, including Stevie Wonder and Kenny Rogers. Because of Surack’s expertise in programming the Kurzweil K-250 and creating sound libraries for them, he decided to become a music retailer, specializing in pre-sale and post-sale service. Although always based in Fort Wayne, Sweetwater Sound has upgraded its space several times to accommodate its booming business. In 1994 and 1995, SS made the list of Inc. 500 – Fastest Growing Companies. As of 2005, Surack had a working crew of 220 people. In 2009, he received an Indiana Governor’s Arts Award. The following year, Surack became one of NAMM’s board of directors. In 2006, Sweetwater Sound collaborated with WAJI Majic 95.1 from Fort Wayne to produce CDs of acoustic music, and the proceeds go to Riley Hospital. Musicians in on the project include REO Speedwagon, Landon Pigg, Jars of Clay, Jon McGlaughlin, Josh Kelley, and Collective Soul. In more recent years, Surack has expanded into optical and charter helicopter businesses. Lastly, he contributes to over 600 non-profit organizations every year.
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