Foggy Mountain Music

Doug Hake was one of countless kids whose life was forever changed after watching the Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964. From that moment, Doug knew he wanted to play the guitar, and he quickly immersed himself in playing the instrument, finding it a powerful outlet for self-expression. His passion for music continued as he honed his skills as a songwriter and engineer, recording his own compositions whenever possible. In 1985, after relocating to Grass Valley, California, Doug was drawn to the local music store, Foggy Mountain Music, where he soon became a

Jimmy Risdal found himself in Grass Valley, California, where he crossed paths with Mary Ellen Sorci, the owner of Foggy Mountain Music. With a background in construction, Jimmy quickly noticed the aging store, built in 1894, was in dire need of renovation. With a team effort, they carefully peeled away the old drywall, revealing the original rock and brick walls, and dug out a basement for additional storage space. The transformation was nothing short of remarkable, giving the store an authentic, rustic charm that perfectly aligns with the small-town feel of Grass Valley.

Mary Ellen Sorci was destined for a life filled with music, growing up in a household where her parents’ love for the craft set the tone. Her mother, a skilled violinist, and her father, a woodwind player and bandleader, instilled in Mary Ellen a deep appreciation for music. By her teenage years, she owned her own Martin guitar and found joy creating her own music. This passion eventually led to the founding of Foggy Mountain Music in 1975, housed in a building her mother owned in Grass Valley, California. Over the years, the store became the heart of the local music scene, a plac