Music Retail
Chuck Wackerman always enjoyed making music. As a child he took trumpet lessons and later fell in love with jazz. Chuck joined the United States Air National Guard after high school, and later graduated from USC to become a music teacher and band director. He began teaching in 1957 at McGaugh...
Don Teach is the owner of Shreveport Music store, which was once run by his father. While his father guided the store it was mainly a Hammond dealer and became one of the first to offer Yamaha instruments. By the mid 1960s, he was asked to carry guitars for players who did not want to travel to ...
Jon Haber is the president of Alto Music in Middletown, New York. Jon grew up in New York and as a kid would go into Alto Music, which he later bought and expanded to include sales in their store as well as on the Internet. In 2006, when Jon was asked by American Express to appear in one of their...
William Dollarhide was the president and co-owner, along with his wife Margaret, of Dollarhide’s Music Center in Pensacola, Florida. He grew up in a very musical family, with his mother a pianist and teacher and his father a band director. His grandfather was also a band director, so Bill was very...
Nancy Groth-Kersten is the owner of the Groth Music store in Bloomington, Minnesota. The store is home to a full line of musical instruments, outstanding customer service and one of the most dedicated and family-oriented staff in the industry! Nancy cares greatly for her customers and her staff and...
Todd (TJ) Johnson serves as a manager of the Groth Music Store in Bloomington, Minnesota. As a singer and entertainer, TJ has offered his understanding of the needs of professionals who come into the store. His passion for music helps him to provide outstanding customer care, a core value of the...
Darrell Kersten served in the National Guard for over 20 years. After his time in the service he joined the team at Groth Music in Bloomington, Minnesota. After working on the road and calling on school band directors, Darrell requested to work in the stock room, where he has worked ever since....
Al Hager is the store manager for the Bloomington, Minnesota based Groth Music. As a professional bandleader and bass player, Al came to the store with a great understanding of musical instruments and business management. He has worked closely with the store’s owner, Nancy Groth-Kersten, to...
Dan Marshall’s father opened Marshall Music Center in Lansing, Michigan, in 1948, right after returning from World War II. The store soon became a leader in quality instruments and service for local musicians as well as the area schools. Under Dan’s direction, the company has grown and developed...
Gary Francisco opened his own music store in Southern California in the mid 1960s. Over the years he developed a strong business calling on schools and creating lesson programs. After closing the store he was asked to join the Nick Rail team and has since become an important part of their school...