Jenkins Music

Glenn Axelton managed a few stores for the famed Jenkins Music Company in and around Kansas City before opening his own store in Manhattan, Kansas. Glenn’s Music soon became a music center for the town and surrounding areas and led to one of the largest music lesson programs in the area. As a repairman, Glenn saw to it that the store created and maintained a well respected band instrument repair service, which has been a key element of their success over the years.

Allen Blasco began to smile during his NAMM Oral History interview when he spoke about how his mother and father met at Jenkins Music in Kansas City. His father was in charge of the music publishing department of Jenkins and his mother worked in the retail part of the company. Soon after they met, Allen’s father noticed his future wife was a great writer and asked if she would write a song. He had a melody in mind and that song, in 1948, became the song of the year; “My Happiness.” The song has since been recorded by over 700 artists including Ella Fitzgerald and Connie Francis.

Ed Blasco was one of the best known organ salesmen in Kansas City during the 1970s. He worked for Sherman Clay, Jenkins Music and even ran his own store, Ed Blasco’s Conn Organ Center in the mid 1970s. Ed’s passion for the organ was the foundation of his selling and he never lost sight of the important role he played bringing music into the lives of his customers and their children.

Dick Christian has spent his entire career in the piano and organ business and has made many friends along the way. His support for the industry led him to the role as president of the National Piano Travelers Association. Having worked retail before joining the teams of Thomas, Baldwin, Wurlitzer and Samick, Dick has a great understanding of the role a salesman can fill for both supplier and dealer and works to help both from his position.  

Hal Cowan studied business administration while playing music all through school. He loved playing organ and found himself in the company of fellow organ buffs as well as employees of organ stores and manufacturers. Hal worked for the Jenkins Hammond Organ Studios as president under Paul Jenkins who was a family member of the Jenkins Music Company. Hal took over the Hammond Studios as owner when Paul Jenkins left in 1977 and changed the name of the store to Jenkins Music Company (he licensed the name from J. W.

Joe De Fio has had a long and exciting career in the music industry, especially in the area of piano sales! His career began in 1968 when he was hired as a salesman for Clark Music in New York. A few years later he began working for Bob Popyk, who focused on organ sales while Joe focused on pianos. Those were exciting times with promotions such as a 24-hour sale that was very successful and great fun. He later opened his own store - The Music Center - and ran it from 1981 to 1991. Associations with Hammond Organs and Jenkins Music followed before Joe opened a second store called P

JW Jenkins was president of the large music store chain in and around Kansas City that his great grand father first opened in 1878. His father, Paul W. Jenkins, kept the company running during the Great Depression and provided a great example to JW who expanded the store locations after World War II and dedicated his time to provide support to the music industry. He worked in the store full time from the 1940s until the company was sold in 1969. During that time he also served on the NAMM Board three times, beginning in 1961. He was active with AMC and was a member of the NAMM ExC

Craig Smith began piano lessons at the age seven and by the time he was twelve, was fascinated with the sounds of the home organ. He started demonstrating organs for Karnes Music at thirteen and worked there part-time through high school. During his college years, Craig continued to work part-time selling pianos and organs at Byerly Music in Peoria, IL. He also played professionally in hotels and supper clubs. After college, he toured the country with a show band for a couple years, before settling down into a retail career with his early mentor from Karnes, Pete Sopp, who by the

Denver Spence joined the music industry in 1968 after having been involved with his school marching bands and school band programs since he was in elementary school.  He worked as a school road rep for Jenkins Music in Kansas City for two years before opening his own retail store in Ada, Oklahoma.