Hartley Peavey

Hartley Peavey (born December 30, 1941) is an American entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Peavey Electronics Corporation, a musical equipment innovation and production company. A 1964 graduate of Mississippi State University, Peavey has been recognized by his alma mater as an Alumni Fellow and as the 2004 commencement speaker. He also received an honorary doctor of creative and performing arts degree from Mississippi State in 2004.

Hartley Peavey founded Peavey Electronics, one of the world's largest manufacturers and suppliers of musical and professional audio equipment, in 1964 after building his first amplifier in 1956. Since its founding, Peavey Electronics has been privately owned and has grown massively from their humble beginnings in Hartley's basement in the 1950s.

Career Growing up, Peavey dreamt of becoming a rock star. His father discouraged him from pursuing such a career because he thought rock 'n' roll would never last. Peavey wanted to participate so badly that he built a working amplifier from surplus parts, but he was not a particularly good musician. His first band would play for fraternity parties for $50. He would build an amp or a PA system whenever his band needed them. Unfortunately, he was kicked out of the band afterwards. 2001: Inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame 1996: Profiled by CNN and featured in international print ad campaign in Forbes, The Economist, BusinessWeek and Money 1991: Honored by the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, for workplace training, education and achievements in the international marketplace 1990: Inducted into Rock Walk of Fame, Hollywood, California