Clark’s Music Center (Photo from FaceBook)
Clark Kirkwood’s Original Store, Discount Music in Jacksonville, Florida
I would like to share an awesome article below this post from msretailer.com on my good friends the Kirkwoods and the music store they operate, Clark’s Music Center in Jacksonville, Florida. They have come along away since the adventure of resurrecting Discount Music many years ago on Blanding Blvd. The original business was a local icon but a cluttered and unorganized mess as I recall. I would venture in when I was younger for drum parts, sticks and heads but never felt comfortable. At that time there were only a few music stores in town to visit and it was the closest to me. The reception was fairly cold by the staff if I remember correctly and it felt dark and dank and always wreaked of cigarette smoke. It took them several years to get it whipped into shape to better manage and present products to customers. Watching it evolve was truly amazing.
I am extremely proud to have known Clark and his family, his wife Lisa and son Joseph, for so many years. I have known Clark since the early days of middle school and we shared a passion from drumming as long as I can remember. Mainly sharing ideas and gaining knowledge from him on hardware, tuning and drum set history. Clark has an awesome mental repository of drum equipment and brands as well as a great display in the back of his store showing some of his prized possessions from drumming’s past. He is very knowledgeable about vintage drum sets and snare drums as well as being able to locate hard to find parts for older equipment.
Clark Kirkwood and Terry Bozzio at Clark’s Music Center (I am unsure of the photographer’s name)
I continue to consult with Clark and his son Joseph about my drumming questions and latest projects as well as purchase needed equipment, heads or accessories. When it comes to the drum set I always liked to play but was never huge in tinkering with the toms or working with different hardware configurations as much as Clark. He is both a player and an engineer in my eyes.
I am very proud of Clark and his family. If you are a musician or interested in becoming one please take time to visit them if you are ever in the area of Jacksonville, Florida. It truly is a family business and you will find it a great overall musical experience.
Read The Full Article Here
Rich…
More to follow..... Keep On Drumming!!!
