Fuller's Music is the oldest music store in North Carolina and is currently celebrating its 100th year of operation. Fuller’s Music House was founded on September 5, 1905 when George R. Fuller decided to end his career as a traveling pump organ salesman based out of Savannah, Georgia. At the age of 25, he decided it was time to settle down and open his own music store. He chose New Bern North Carolina after studying a Rand-McNally Road Atlas and figured with two rivers there, the fishing around New Bern had to be good. The business started by retailing pianos and pump organs from the back of a horse-drawn carriage as well as from its showroom in downtown New Bern. Later, with the advent of the phonograph, victrolas and records were added. When his older son Reid, an avid electronics buff, joined the firm, radios and later, televisions were sold. This diversification in product lines helped Fuller’s Music survive the Great Depression--a feat that only a handful of music stores nationwide were able to accomplish. The business rented retail space at three different locations in downtown New Bern until 1924 when George Fuller decided to purchase the Citizens Bank building located at 216 Middle St. This site housed the business for the next 75 years. After World War II concluded, younger son Andrew joined his brother and father in the business. Reid and Andrew ran the business following George Fuller's death in 1957. Andrew's son Wade began working in the business in 1973. He acquired his father’s portion of the partnership in 1976 and his Uncle Reid’s portion in 1981 and has operated the business ever since. Retail focus has expanded over the years and is currently concentrated on band instruments, guitars, amps, percussion, keyboards, print music, sound systems, recording equipment and related accessories. Fuller’s Music’s present location on Trent Rd. was designed by nationally renowned music store designer Glen Ingles and is considered one of the finest music retail showrooms in the state. This relocation was a giant leap forward and helps Fuller’s Music position itself for the retail and merchandising challenges of the new millennium.

The 100th anniversary event itself was a huge success with a standing room only crowd.  Pearl provided Fuller’s with an EXR Gun Metal Sparkle set to give away and Pearl Artist Nick Campbell provided a clinic. “Nick was great” said Ray Windt, Pearl Regional Sales Manager. “He’s extremely articulate, very knowledgeable and his performance blew everybody away.”

(L-R) Ray Windt, Wade Fuller, owner of Fuller’s Music

(L-R) Wade Fuller, Pearl drum set winner Celeste Edwards and daughter, Ray Windt

(L-R) Ray Windt - Pearl District Sales Manager, Nick Campbell - Pearl Artist, store manager Jon Johndrow, owner Wade Fuller

(L-R) Pearl Artist Nick Campbell, Pearl drum set winner Celeste Edwards and her Gun Metal Sparkle EXR. The drum set winner Celeste Edwards has 5 daughters, 3 of whom are drummers!  The set could not have gone to a better home.

Drum City Guitarland Celebrates 40 Years

With $50.00 in his pocket and a driving desire to open his own drum shop, Ronny Kae set out to make his dream a reality, and, in 1965 Drum City opened its doors for business in Wheat Ridge, a suburb 10 miles west of Denver. Ronny’s career began in New York City and hit one of many high notes when he played dates with Frank Sinatra. He also performed with Bobby Darin and Tony Bennett among others. Following years of playing every gig he could get, Ronny decided to pursue a career in hotel management. He relocated his family to Wheat Ridge, CO to attend a management program there, but he still had the bug, and continued to pick up gigs on the west coast. His desire to own his own store became a reality in 1965 when Drum City became one of the very first Pearl dealers in the United States. Ron Read, Pearl’s Director of Purchasing and one of Pearl’s original employees in the U.S. remembers the early days for Drum City. “I started with Pearl in September of 1973, and Drum City was already a Pearl dealer. Ronnie had a reputation of being very direct. If Ronnie had a problem he wouldn’t hesitate to call you at home in the middle of the night to fix it. I always enjoyed Ronnie and NO ONE was ever more loyal to Pearl than him.”

Ronny Kae

Ronnie was scheduled to introduce his new song “Elway, Throw That Ball” during the Broncos’ August 20, 1993 preseason game, but he lost his battle with cancer on July 31 of that year.

Ronny’s two sons Tim and Jason grew up in the store; in fact Tim says he started working there at the age of 4, earning $1.25 per hour. Having given his son’s a life long education he turned the reigns of the store over to them. Tim runs the drum department and Jason directs the operations of the guitar business. They changed the name of the business to Drum City Guitarland to better reflect the full scope of their business. Still in the original location to this date, the store features 3200 square feet of gear on the main floor and an additional 3200 feet of drums on the stores upper level. Tim takes great pride in this area and his attention to detail has helped make Drum City Guitarland one of the top high end Pearl dealers in the country. With great pride Tim will tell you he carries the four best names in drums; starting with Pearl. “It’s a philosophy of business that we stay away from all “no name” kits. Lessons are offered in the building next door but one of Tim’s new offerings is mobile lessons, sending his instructors to the student’s home to get training on their own kit.

Ronny’s attention to detail also included a mandate for superior customer service, something that Tim and Jason learned and insist on to this day. Among the stores many awards Music & Sound Retailer named Drum City Guitarland the Best Single Store Percussion Dealer in 2003.

Pictured from left to right: Les Butts, Pearl District Sales Manager, and Jason and Tim Kae, owners of Drum City Guitarland. Tim Kae holds a commemorative snare drum, commemorating their 40th year in business.

Visit them at drumcityguitarland.com

Graner Music Grand Opening
Graner Music has been serving the Colorado Springs area for over 25 years with three locations. Mel Graner, owner, and his staff recently moved into a new and much more spacious location. A former band director himself, Mel places a huge emphasis on teaching so the new store features an extensive teaching facility. According to Pearl District Sales Manager, Les Butts, Mel is 75 years young, and built a large portion of the structure himself.

Pictured left to right: Mel Graner - owner, David Grant (Pearl Prize Winner - S1330B Snare Drum), Les Butts - Pearl District Sales Manager, Corky Trevino -General Manager

Visit them at granermusic.com

“Congratulations to Anthony Cartinella, owner of Dark Horse Percussion, and his partner, Dennis Zimmermann of Premier, NJ cover band, Big Orange Cone, on the establishment of “Studio 22” in Union, New Jersey.  Studio 22 will house full service rehearsal studios, private instruction facilities, and a showroom displaying the hottest brands of percussion equipment & a selection of Hughes and Kettner products.  Studio 22 will open in January 2006.

Until then, keep tuned to www.musicstudio22.com for information and updates.