A Legacy of Music, Mentorship, and Making Sure Every Kid Has a Chance
A Life Shaped by Music
Roy Elkins’ journey into music didn’t begin in a studio, on a stage, or in a classroom. It began in a small Michigan home where money was scarce, safety was uncertain, and the future felt like something other people got to imagine. In the middle of that instability, Roy found one thing that gave him a sense of possibility: an old, battered organ that would smoke, sputter, and sometimes stop working mid song.
Most kids would have given up on an instrument like that. Roy didn’t. He played it anyway — because it was the one place he could breathe.
That organ didn’t just introduce him to music, but gave him refuge, direction, and a sense of self. Roy has said many times that the instrument didn’t just change his life; it saved it. That belief — that a single instrument can alter the trajectory of a child’s life — became the foundation of everything he would go on to build.
From Musician to Builder of Musical Communities
Before he became a tech founder, a nonprofit leader, or a mentor to hundreds of musicians, Roy was simply a working player. He gigged, arranged, produced, and spent countless hours in studios long before Broadjam or the Madison Area Music Association existed. His musical instincts, his ear, and his collaborative spirit shaped his identity long before his entrepreneurial work did.
But Roy’s greatest gift has never been just his versatile musicianship. It[MW2.1]’s his ability to connect people — to see talent, nurture it, and build platforms where others can shine. He has spent decades helping musicians find their voice, their audience, and their confidence. He has mentored young artists, supported established ones, and quietly lifted up countless people who never forgot the kindness.
Ensoniq, Sonic Foundry, and the Bridge Between Music and Technology
Roy’s career took a pivotal turn when he joined Ensoniq, one of the most innovative synthesizer and keyboard companies of its era. There, he worked alongside engineers, sound designers, and musicians who were redefining what electronic instruments could do. Ensoniq sharpened his understanding of how technology could empower creativity — and how the right tools could open doors for musicians who didn’t have access to traditional resources.
Later, at Sonic Foundry, Roy helped shape some of the earliest and most influential digital audio tools used by musicians, producers, and content creators around the world. This was the dawn of computer based recording, and Roy was right in the middle of it — translating the needs of musicians into software that democratized music creation.
These experiences reinforced his lifelong belief: music becomes more equitable when the tools are accessible.
That philosophy would eventually lead him to create Broadjam and to champion the mission of the MAMAs.
Founding the MAMAs Mission
When Roy helped shape the [MW3.1]Madison Area Music Association, he brought his childhood with him — not as a burden, but as a compass. He knew firsthand what it meant to be a kid who needed an instrument and didn’t have one. He knew what it meant to feel unseen, unheard, or unsupported. And he knew exactly how powerful it is when a child discovers that music can be a lifeline.
That’s why the MAMAs’ core mission is simple and unwavering: to put instruments into the hands of every child who needs one.
For Roy, this has always been more than charity. Giving kids the chance he almost didn’t get is providing access to justice.
Leadership, Vision, and a Lasting Impact
As Board Chair, Roy guided the MAMAs through years of growth, change, and community-building. He championed equity in arts access, strengthened partnerships across Madison, and ensured that the organization stayed grounded in its purpose. His leadership was never about spotlight or status — it was about service.
Today, as Board Chair Emeritus, Roy’s influence continues to shape the organization. His values — generosity, humility, creativity, and a deep belief in the transformative power of music — remain at the heart of everything the MAMAs do.
A Legacy That Lives in Every Note
Every time a child in Madison receives that first instrument, Roy’s story echoes. Every time a young musician discovers confidence, community, or joy through music, his legacy grows. And every time the MAMAs help a kid find her voice, we honor the boy in Michigan who found hope in a smoking, unreliable organ — and turned that hope into a lifetime of giving back.
Roy Elkins is more than our Board Chair Emeritus. He is the reason our mission exists. And his impact will resonate for generations.