In 1900, together with his parents and 8 brothers and sisters, they emigrated to the United States. At an early age, he lost both his parents and was forced to drop out ofschool after 8th grade and go to work at the Wurlitzermusic store in Chicago. In 1920, he was hired as a sales agent at the Martin Band Instrument Companyin Elkhart, Indiana, but after 6months he founded his own Chicago Musical Instrument Company, which he ran until his retirement in 1974. Chicago Musical Instrument Company (CMI) produced accordions, pianos, violins, etc. Over the years, it has been the world's largest distributor of musical instruments. In 1944, Berlin purchased the guitar producing company Gibson, and by 1960, it had become the world's largest manufacturer of electric guitars. In 1948, he made another acquisition - an Olds Band Instrument Company, transferring the produc- tion process to Fullerton, California, and became part of the Ambassador trumpet production process, soon becoming the largest wind instrument manufacturer in the United States. In 1957, CMI acquired Epiphone guitar manufacturer - Gibson's main compe- titor, refocusing its products mainly on the Asian market. In 1956, he bought the Lowry Organ Company for $ 250,000; in 1957, sales of Lowry increased to $ 1. million, and by 1969 - up to $ 50 million.