full line music store

Gus Acevedo is the owner of the International House of Music in downtown Los Angeles, a store that first opened in 1902. Gus purchased the store from the Schireson Brothers and over the last thirty years he and his business partner, Oscar Naranjo, have focused a great deal of their energy and staff training on customer service. In recent years the store has seen an increase in Latino customers and has proudly been able to provide the highest level of service and products thanks to a dedicated sales staff.

Robert Averwater’s father, M. J. Averwater taught music, wrote a method book and opened up Amro Music in Memphis, TN, with a fellow music teacher. Robert recalls the early days after the war reorganizing the company as new products were once again being produced. He was proud that two of his four sons, Chip and Patrick, followed in his footsteps at the store, and that a fourth generation of Averwaters, CJ, has begun working at the store.
 

Chip Averwater took over the music retail business in Memphis, just as his father did and his son would one day, keeping the tradition in the family. Chip’s passion for the music business expanded beyond the store and out into volunteer positions for several organizations including NAMM. Serving on the NAMM Board, Chip played an important role in the development of international outreach programs including providing support for the newly created China show. Chip was the Chairman of the NAMM Board for two years beginning in 2008.

Gary Bennett entered the music products industry in 1964 working for Chesbro Music in Idaho. At the time of his NAMM Oral History interview, taped during the NAMM Show in January 2012, Gary was still proudly working for Chesbro. During the 1970s Gary played a vital role in their becoming the distributors for Ibanez and Hoshino brands within the United States. Gary has been a fixture at the NAMM shows for decades resulting in one retailer’s remark, “It does not feel like a NAMM Show until I shake Gary’s hand.”

David Briggs is a great example that not all those in the music products industry enters into it because of their passion for music. David’s passion is business and he has developed one of the strongest retail chains in the UK, Dawson’s Music. Mr. Briggs noted, “Looking for ways to improve what we do is very exciting for me.

T. Warren Brown was president of the music store his father established in the Tacoma, Washington area in the years of World War II. Ted Brown Music became an important leader in the music retail business with Warren playing key roles in the expansion of the store. Warren was also active within the industry, where he helped the establishment of the Omega Group as well as NASMD National Association of School Music Dealers. A matter of pride for Warren is that his daughters grew up in the business and went on to run the business. His daughter Stephanie ran the Richland Store and Whitney was at the Evergreen Plaza Store, while the three worked as a team at their Tacoma Mall Blvd. location.

William Callaway worked in his father’s music store as a child, sweeping up on weekends and working his way up to president of Thearle Music in San Diego. His father, Harry, was President of NAMM from 1951-1953. William recalled the pride his father had in being involved with the industry that he loved. William ran the store for his father and expanded the sheet music department as well as the rental program within the band instrument department. William developed MS just before his father’s passing in 1976.

Bob Cavanagh was once the president of the famed Boston music retailer EU Wurlitzer (not to be confused with the R. Wurlitzer Piano Company, the Wurlitzer String Company or the Wurlitzer Juke Box Company). Bob's deep passion for music is traced to his own guitar playing, which had the chops to play with Joe Pass among others. His role at EU Wurlitzer began when the founder was still active and progressed in the eras of his sons and finally when Bob took charge. He left the company several years before it closed. If you want to meet a passionate member of the music products industry, let me introduce you to Bob Cavanagh!
 

Ruth Charles and her husband Dick opened a music store in Glendale, California, called Charles Music. They enjoyed a long life together as music makers and teachers and retailers of musical products. The couple pioneered many products in the southern California area including those of Yamaha and Roland. Their friendship with Mr. Kakehashi, the founder of Roland, has been one of the most cherished elements of their lives in music. In 2011 Mrs. Charles became the first music retail gallery sponsor of the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California.