Jan Hart, 76, is part of a lineage steeped in musical tradition. His ancestral connection to music can be traced back to his great-great-grandfather, born in Germany in 1802, who honed his craft as an apprentice at the Erard Piano Company, renowned for crafting instruments for iconic composers like Chopin and Liszt. Eventually, Hart’s grandfather ventured to the United States, where he helped construct the pipe organ for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. 

The musical legacy was passed down through successive generations of the Hart family as they established their roots on a farm in Preston, Idaho. 

“My dad and my uncles were just a bunch of farm kids who disliked farm work, and their dad—my grandpa—knew it,” said Hart. “He told them that if they would each learn an instrument and practice, he would cut back on the farm work.

Needless to say, they all got into music pretty heavily.

Hart’s dad, Wendell, was an accomplished drummer and played Dixieland music alongside notable musicians like Nat King Cole and George Shearing.  

Following their service in World War II, Wendell and his four brothers returned home, channeling their shared passion into the founding of Hart Brothers Music.

BEATLE-HAIRED PIANIST

Growing up, Hart’s interests leaned more towards athletics than music. However, when a knee injury thwarted his athletic plans, Hart took it upon himself to learn the piano. 

“I even played in a band, The Churchmen, during the ’60s, sporting a Beatle haircut,” said Hart.

Hart Brothers Music stores eventually expanded to Salt Lake City and Grand Junction. Back then, music stores were not exclusively dedicated to the sale of instruments, Hart recounted. He noted that, for several years, people could only buy televisions in music stores. 

The family business also played a key role in responding to the heightened demand during the home organ boom.

“I remember coming over here, riding shotgun with my dad or uncle, delivering pianos,” said Hart. “It was kind of like selling encyclopedias and knocking on doors. We’d send fliers ahead of time to communities so people would know we were coming. Then once the pianos were sold, we’d come home.”

According to Hart, that’s how they discovered Western Colorado. 

Wendell and his brothers opened the Grand Junction store at Third and Main Streets in the early ’60s. The business found its footing in various locations, including Junct’n Square Pizza and the Teller Arms Mall, before making a permanent move to its current location at 417 Main.

“My dad retired and I came here to our current location in 1972, and we’ve been here ever since,” said Hart.

DELIVERING MUSiC TO NEW HEIGHTS

Selling and delivering pianos has consistently been one facet of the business, which has given Hart many stories to share.

“Several years ago, we sold a grand piano to a woman who lived in Crested Butte. She wanted the piano to reside on the third floor of her home, but we could not get the piano in the house,” he said. 

But she really wanted that piano! 

Just when they were about to turn around and bring the instrument back to the store, the woman contacted a man with a crane who owed her a favor.

“He arrived and hoisted that piano up and onto the third floor,” said Hart, “and in a snowstorm!”

A similar story unfolded during the delivery of a grand piano to a home in Ouray.

“We knew the truck wouldn’t make it up the road with the piano, so a helicopter was hired to lift the piano, carry it there and put it down close to the front door,” he recalled.

Delivering exceptional service has become a hallmark of Hart Music. The commitment to quality extends beyond standard offerings, with Hart’s team engaging in intriguing customization for customers.

“We worked with an executive from Warner Brothers during the Looney Tunes era who lived in Aspen,” Hart shared. “This man had always wanted a piano as a kid, and now he and his wife had decided to purchase a player piano. While we were waiting on the piano, we found someone in the community who knew all the theme songs from these characters and recorded them, which we added to the piano’s repertoire. This gentleman was quite surprised!”

Hart attributes the success of his business to three fundamental principles: “You have to provide the highest-quality product at a fair price and be nice to people.”

Recently, Johnny Phillips, a guitarist on tour with The Sounds of Silence, encountered a setback when his soundbar malfunctioned, posing a threat to the overall quality of the group’s performance at the Avalon Theatre. He connected with Hart and his sons, Brent and Aaron, who were able to help with the equipment, and the show went on successfully.

VISITS FROM MUSIC ROYALTY

The store’s reputation has spread far and wide, attracting business from big-name musicians.

While on tour with Judy Collins, Stephen Stills, of Crosby, Stills and Nash, spent an entire afternoon in the store and left with a guitar purchase, adding to the store’s list of esteemed clientele.

“We sold a lot of equipment to the Everly Brothers in the ’60s,” said Hart. “Later the store did business with Fleetwood Mac. Stevie Nicks bought a really nice grand piano. Jackson Browne and Jerry Wexler heard about us and purchased instruments, and of course, Joe Cocker, who lived near Crawford, was a regular.”

The store wields a profound influence on multiple generations of musicians. Now branded J.B. Hart Music Co, the store’s Facebook page is replete with posts showcasing local music enthusiasts, spanning various ages and skill levels, who visit the store to explore beautiful instruments and experiment with their musical talents.

One particularly heartwarming post gained national attention, featuring a young boy with Williams syndrome named Fallon. His parents made the journey from Montrose so Fallon could play his dream guitar—a vibrant blue Dean ML Dimebag Darrell Guitar. Touched by hearing Fallon play, a fellow customer was moved to purchase the guitar for Fallon, entrusting the Harts to present it to him on his next visit.

After many unsuccessful attempts to connect with Fallon’s family, fate intervened several months later. It turned out the family had relocated to Texas, but were back in town to visit family during the holidays. Fallon and his family returned to the store, where he received his cherished guitar. 

Hart can be found working in the store nearly every day it’s open, alongside his sons Brent and Aaron. 

“I hope that what we do makes a difference for people,” he said. “We are now working with grandchildren of our original customers. Many have become good friends, and music has brought us together.”