Word on the Street: JT’s Music Store recently opened in Clovis

Music has been a passion of Jeff Taylor’s life since junior high, but his job of 32 years doesn’t allow him the time to be in a band. His solution? Open a music store in Old Town Clovis.

“Music is the universal language, right?” he said.

Taylor has been in various bands in the past, mainly as a guitarist and lead vocalist, although he also has a bit of experience with drums. He tried to pursue his music career in Santa Cruz, but the competition then was stiff and he never caught a break. So he and his bandmates instead went their separate ways.

Taylor’s other job is a senior operator at a hydroelectric power plant, which requires him to work unusual shifts that would make playing music on a regular basis impossible.

“Every week is different for me, like perpetual jet lag,” he said.

Taylor said he still plays, opening for art galleries and other events around Clovis. But a music store would let him remain part of the industry, without having to always be physically present.

The grand opening of JT’s Music Store at 325 Clovis Ave. was July 18, with about 100 people in attendance. The store carries “everything that a guitarist needs” from guitars and amps to strings and straps, along with percussion items, Taylor said.

His store has two employees, and he said he is likely to hire more in the future. His manager Dan Atkins handles the repairs and set-up of stringed instruments, including lutes, banjos, ukuleles, violins, violas and guitars.

He’s also signed on guitar tutor Jim Hampton to come into the store and teach beginning and advanced guitar during business hours, although exactly when Hampton will be offering lessons remainsto be decided.

He said customer feedback has been positive, with people telling him how happy they are not to have to drive across town or out of town to shop at a music store. On average, the store has about 10 customers a day.

The store’s website is http://jtsmusicstore.com.

This story was originally published July 29, 2015 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Word on the Street: JT’s Music Store recently opened in Clovis."