November 28, 2022 I Event
Music & Arts Holds Block Party Event at Ken Stanton Music
From left: Sean Taylor, Music & Arts district sales manager; Jeff Gottlieb, president of Music & Arts; Kenny Stanton, former Ken Stanton Music owner; Mike Marra, Music & Arts southeast director of sales; John Bond, Music & Arts Marietta store manager; and Jason Brock, Music & Arts West Cobb store manage during the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Block Party.
To celebrate Ken Stanton Music recently joining the Music & Arts family, Music & Arts held Block Party Customer Appreciation Day at its Marietta, Georgia, location on Nov. 12, with more than 500 community members in attendance.
Focusing on band and orchestra, guitars, drums, pro-audio and more, Ken Stanton Music, now part of Music & Arts, has been a musical instrument powerhouse since its founding in 1949. Its locations in Marietta, Alpharetta, West Cobb and Stone Mountain include rental and repair services. Ken Stanton Music’s educational reps have built personal relationships with many of the region’s band directors and music educators. This acquisition, which includes all four retail locations and a warehouse and distribution center, is one of Music & Arts’ largest in several years and supports the company’s ongoing growth strategy. Designated as one of Music & Arts’ Destination B&O Stores, the Marietta location showcases the most extensive assortment of band and orchestral instruments and accessories Music & Arts has to offer, with close to 150 brass, woodwind and string instruments.
Music & Arts marked the occasion of Ken Stanton Music joining the Music & Arts family by hosting the Nov. 12 block party. The event kicked off at 11 a.m. with the Marietta City High School Pep Band performing on the event’s main stage, followed by clinics sponsored by Yamaha. Mark Gauthier, Music & Arts national retail marketing manager, took the stage at 1 p.m. and welcomed the crowd, and then introduced Jeff Gottlieb, president of Music & Arts, and Kenny Stanton, former owner of Ken Stanton Music, for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony to signify the store’s transition from Ken Stanton Music to Music & Arts.
Attendees enjoyed live music from local bands, food trucks, exclusive giveaways, clinics and product demos. On-site food trucks provided free food to the first 400 attendees. Instrument vendor representatives were also on hand, including personnel from DW Drums, Fender, Gibson, Martin, Taylor and Yamaha. Gift cards were distributed to attendees and two $650 scholarships to the Conn-Selmer Institute (CSI) for educators were also awarded at the event.
“After 73 years of Ken Stanton Music in Atlanta, it’s time to pass the torch to the next team to carry on our legacy,” said Kenny Stanton. “After all that time, the only things that really matter are our customers, people, educators and vendor partners. I want to thank all for everything you’ve done to support us through the years. I’m very pleased to see Music & Arts doing right by the same people in this transition, and you can all rest assured you will see the same folks in the stores and in the schools day in and day out.”
“I am so proud of the M&A team,” said Jeff Gottlieb, President of Music & Arts, who attended the Block Party along with former owner Kenny Stanton. “The Block Party in Marietta was a celebration that highlighted the best of our M&A Customer experience in Greater Atlanta — our band and orchestra expertise mixed with the combo legacy of the Ken Stanton Music business. But what really stood out was just how talented and passionate our teams are.”
