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"In May of 1991 the
company led the effort to start an outdoor music festival. The downtown street event was called SpringFest. The
festival began as a one day event to raise funds for the
Alzheimer's Association. I volunteered my time to start SpringFest in memory of my mother, Adelaide Dollarhide of Jackson,
Mississippi, an Alzheimer's victim who died in 1987. Beginning
with one volunteer an organization was built that was successful
from the beginning and grew to become one of the outstanding
weekend music festivals in the United States. I ceased to be involved after the 1998 event but the
festival continued successfully for several years. It has since fallen victim to
profitability challenges and is currently not operating. It was a great source of hundreds of
thousands of dollars for area non-profits while it was active and will hopefully return in some
form in the future."
"On May 1, 1998,
the business, needing more space, was moved to a free-standing,
two-story, 12,000 sq. ft. building on the edge of Cordova Mall in
Northeast Pensacola."
"In early 1999 the
company entered e-commerce with the startup of www.MusicForKids.com,
a web site offering musical instruments, music toys and educational
materials for parents of children 1 to 12."
"In June of 2000
the company was named the authorized dealer for the Allen
Organ Company for 17 counties in NW Florida and South
Alabama. It is our goal to properly represent this
prestigious company and properly care for the needs of the worship
community."
"In July of 2000
the pro guitar department was closed. Excess local and
Internet competition hastened this decision which had been
considered for some time. The company's sound division, Advanced
Sound Design, continued to operate as an audio/video contractor
serving schools, churches and businesses."
"2001 saw growth in
all remaining departments. The business was now more focused
than ever on the music and sound needs of families, schools and
churches." "2002 brought the
company to another expansion move, this time back to downtown Pensacola in
June. The space needed for expansion was found in an expansive
building at the corner of Palafox Place and Romano Street.
With 15,000 square feet and excellent parking and visibility the
building offered our customers more than ever." "The summer of 2002
also saw the company begin a partnership with the most prestigious
piano company of them all when we became the appointed
representative for Steinway
and Sons pianos. What better to offer our customers
than the Steinway, Boston and Essex brands offered by the company
considered the 'Standard of the World'?" "By the end of 2006 the sound division had been scaled
back to a small department serving the over-the-counter products needed by churches and schools
and
was no longer offering custom design-and-build installations. The Internet division,
MusicForKids, was sold earlier in the year to a California company. The company continued to focus even more on the piano
& organ and school music businesses."
"2006 was a landmark year for our company. We began the year with our
largest ever pipe/digital Allen Organ installation at the First United Methodist Church in de Funiak
Springs, FL and concluded the year with the installation of an entire fleet of new Steinway Pianos
at the University of West Florida, making it the 65th school to be named an "All-Steinway School."
"The company entered 2007 concentrating entirely on the needs of piano
& organ and school music customers." "As lifetime
musicians and teachers, Margaret and I understand the need for
quality products and services. We have gradually gathered
together the best of all the music products available and proudly
offer them to you." "We are
grateful to our hard working staff and our loyal customers. We look forward to each passing day
with great anticipation."
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