Robert Zildjian recently died at the age of 89. Hurriyet Daily News has reported that the Sabian cymbals founder is being mourned by Sabian employees and drummers alike. Robert and his younger brother, Armand Zildjian, inherited the Zildjian Company in 1979 when their father, its founder, passed away. A dispute between the brothers resulted in Robert leaving the family business and he founded Sabian in 1981. The two companies have been competitors ever since. Robert derived Sabian’s name by combining the first two letters of his children’s names: Sally, Bill, and Andy. The Zildjians have been in the cymbals business since 1623. Read more here: Founder of cymbal firm dies