Whitesel Music Doing Big Things for Downtown Music Revival
Whitesel Music opened almost 50 years ago in 1948 as a music supply store located in downtown Harrisonburg. After decades of service to the surrounding valley, the store was sold and turned into another music store, Ben’s Music. Four years later, Josh Love, grandson of the original owner of Whitesel Music, came back to reclaim the store that he learned to love growing up in Harrisonburg.
Josh Love graduated from Bridgewater College in 2004 and moved to Pennsylvania to pursue a career as a stock broker. After three years as a stock broker, Love decided the music business he grew up around was his calling. When asked his motivation for coming back to reclaim his Grandfather’s music store, Love replied, “I missed the music business. I spent so much time in my grandfather’s store and I learned to love and appreciate what my Grandfather was doing.” However, Love’s respect for music extends past the business side of things. Love is also a dedicated guitar player who has been playing for many years.
The name Whitesel Music has a rich history in Harrisonburg. At the moment Love offers the sale of countless instruments, amplifiers, and anything else a musician would need including a large collection of Gibson guitars. Apart from serving as a music supply store, Love has quite different plans for his newly acquired business compared to its traditional ways. Love plans to keep his Grandfather’s mentality while putting his own spin on the store as well.
Whitesel Music will serve as a music supply store during the day, and at night provide a chance for individuals throughout the community to come together for instrument demonstrations. These events are already in the works. A Blues Jam Session, which begins this Thursday, April 17, will give enthusiasts the opportunity to jam with others throughout the community. Love has set up a drum set in the store for the event and has also set up a hammond organ for people to play. ”The hammond organ is the original blues keyboard. It is over 30 years old and was the instrument of choice by many blues greats like Stevie Wonder,” said Love. The Blues Jam Session will be a weekly event on Thursday nights at 7:30.
Love also plans to begin a Jazz Jam Session that will start the following Friday, April 25, that will work along the same lines. “This will be a great opportunity for music enthusiasts throughout the community to come and play with complete strangers, yet create something that everyone can enjoy,” said Love.
Whitesel Music has brought a brand new vibe to the valley and is a key player in the downtown music revival effort. As a guitar player and music enthusiast I feel like this store is the missing link in the valley because of its modern ideas, amazing supply of instruments, and excellent customer service. Harrisonburg needed a dedicated music store, and I believe that Whitesel Music, “Where everything is music…..and music is everything,” is exactly what we’ve been looking for.
There will be a private grand opening of Whitesel Music on April 25 for high school and college students located throughout Harrisonburg and surrounding areas. Be sure to go and check out this amazing store and what is has to offer music enthusiasts throughout the valley.
For more information, contact:
Josh Dove
Whitesel Music – 34 South Main St. Harrisonburg, Va. -(540) 434-1376 – www.whiteselmusic.com
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