It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Robert Paiste, family member, visionary cymbal maker and perennial company principal, states the Paiste company website.

In the four generations of family members to guide the company, Robert was a foremost presence. His contribution was of immense importance, and he shaped Paiste in major ways.

Robert’s life-long focus was the development and production of cymbals and gongs. As an uncompromising perfectionist, he established the benchmarks for quality, fidelity and consistency that are the hallmarks of Paiste today.

Robert  was born in the family’s country of origin, Estonia. The disruptions during the mid 20th century brought the family through Poland to Northern Germany, where in the late 1940s he joined his father Michail in cymbal and gong making.

He moved to Switzerland in 1957 to found the company’s new and present home base. Robert went on to lead Paiste together with his brother Toomas throughout the second half of the 20th century.

Together, on the foundation of their father’s and grandfather’s work, they built a cymbal company of world-wide significance.

paiste.com