John Waltrip

John Waltrip began being involved in music as a small child and in fact, became the main pianist for his church as a teenager.  He played in the school bands and studied music in college.  He taught music after college before being drafted.  Even in the army, John sang in the choir group, which entertained the troops and even recorded with the group in Hollywood.  After his time in the service, John began teaching again and soon discovered a natural link between teaching and selling musical products.  While working in a small retail store in southern California, John was introduced to the Yamaha educational division and became involved with that program in 1969.  In 1977 he opened John Waltrip Music Center, which he grew over time before retiring in 2001.