Daynes Music
Encyclopedia
Daynes Music, located in Midvale
, Utah
, is the oldest retail business and continuously operated family business
in Utah. It is the 76th oldest family-owned business in the country, and the oldest music company west of the Mississippi
. What began as a small music and jewelry store in a log building in 1862, has grown to be a fourth-generation family business.
, but he and his wife Eliza Miller Daynes and their family converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and left England in 1862 to travel to the Utah Territory
. They brought several instruments with them, including a melodeon
, which their 11-year-old son, Joseph J. Daynes
, played very well. Joseph grew to be the first organist
for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
at age 16, a position he held for 33 years.
John Daynes was a watchmaker
by trade, but music was his hobby and passion, and he was able to make it his business in Salt Lake City when he recognized and met the craving Mormon pioneers had for music. They had been largely unable to bring instruments with them across the Great Plains.
John convinced Steinway & Sons
to ship him one of their pianos in 1873. This piano had to be shipped to San Francisco and then carted over Donner Pass
and through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This purchase, as well as subsequent purchases from Steinway, makes Daynes Music the oldest Steinway dealership in the United States and the second-oldest music store in the United States.
to a successful business.
The business which has been running for 150 years has had its ups and downs. The company was nearly dissolved after the Great Depression
, but Gerald was slowly able to rebuild it. Determination and hard work were still necessary when Skip took over the business and its $97,000 deficit as its fourth-generation owner. It took many rounds of trial and error, determination, and hard work for Skip to get the business back on its feet. He recognized that, "A successful owner is willing to participate on every level of his business." Skip also learned something from his heritage: "If people are in the business simply to make money, they cannot continue a family business. They have to be oriented around service to the community."
In a 2006 Music Inc. article, Skip explained some of the business wisdom he has learned and used over the years including:
PNOscan uses a small optic sensor, installed under the keyboard, to make any piano into a digital piano. Software is available to hook this system up to a computer and turn your piano into a full orchestra, to compose your own music, and to help students expand their music education.
). In 1976, Skip Daynes housed the new Utah Opera Company in his store until it grew enough to provide its own facility. Skip also provides both instruments and financial aid to the Grand Teton Music Festival
.
Midvale, Utah
Midvale is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 27,029 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Midvale is located at ....
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, is the oldest retail business and continuously operated family business
Family business
A family business is a business in which one or more members of one or more families have a significant ownership interest and significant commitments toward the business’ overall well-being....
in Utah. It is the 76th oldest family-owned business in the country, and the oldest music company west of the Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. What began as a small music and jewelry store in a log building in 1862, has grown to be a fourth-generation family business.
History
Founder John Daynes was a native of EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, but he and his wife Eliza Miller Daynes and their family converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and left England in 1862 to travel to the Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
. They brought several instruments with them, including a melodeon
Melodeon (organ)
A melodeon is a type of 19th century reed organ with a foot-operated vacuum bellows, and a piano keyboard. It differs from the related harmonium, which uses a pressure bellows. Melodeons were manufactured in the United States sometime after 1812 until the Civil War era...
, which their 11-year-old son, Joseph J. Daynes
Joseph J. Daynes
Joseph John Daynes was the first organist at the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah and for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Daynes was born in Norwich, England, to parents John and Eliza Miller Daynes...
, played very well. Joseph grew to be the first organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
at age 16, a position he held for 33 years.
John Daynes was a watchmaker
Watchmaker
A watchmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs watches. Since virtually all watches are now factory made, most modern watchmakers solely repair watches. However, originally they were master craftsmen who built watches, including all their parts, by hand...
by trade, but music was his hobby and passion, and he was able to make it his business in Salt Lake City when he recognized and met the craving Mormon pioneers had for music. They had been largely unable to bring instruments with them across the Great Plains.
John convinced Steinway & Sons
Steinway & Sons
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway , is an American and German manufacturer of handmade pianos, founded 1853 in Manhattan in New York City by German immigrant Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg...
to ship him one of their pianos in 1873. This piano had to be shipped to San Francisco and then carted over Donner Pass
Donner Pass
Donner Pass is a mountain pass in the northern Sierra Nevada, located above Donner Lake about nine miles west of Truckee, California. It has a steep approach from the east and a gradual approach from the west....
and through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This purchase, as well as subsequent purchases from Steinway, makes Daynes Music the oldest Steinway dealership in the United States and the second-oldest music store in the United States.
Foundation and growth
John Daynes ran his business until 1902, when he turned it over to his son Royal W. Daynes. Royal ran the business for 49 years until his son Gerald Daynes became its president in 1950. Current president, Skip Daynes, became president in 1967, and turned Daynes Music from the brink of bankruptcyBankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
to a successful business.
The business which has been running for 150 years has had its ups and downs. The company was nearly dissolved after the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, but Gerald was slowly able to rebuild it. Determination and hard work were still necessary when Skip took over the business and its $97,000 deficit as its fourth-generation owner. It took many rounds of trial and error, determination, and hard work for Skip to get the business back on its feet. He recognized that, "A successful owner is willing to participate on every level of his business." Skip also learned something from his heritage: "If people are in the business simply to make money, they cannot continue a family business. They have to be oriented around service to the community."
In a 2006 Music Inc. article, Skip explained some of the business wisdom he has learned and used over the years including:
- Get a second, disinterested opinion; it can be enlightening.
- Adapt your services and image to the needs of your customers.
- Offer extra services to make return customers out of first customers.
- Donate to and participate in local arts.
Recent history
Daynes Music has had to learn to adapt. Computers and technology have revolutionized the music industry. Skip has noticed that developments in technology have brought instant gratification and cheap instruments to the forefront, rather than pianos. He has noticed in his business that music "stabilizes the family," and by using technology, he has expanded the versatility of pianos, especially with the Story & Clark and QRS Music system of PNOscan. This technology can turn a traditional piano into a teaching tool with almost limitless implications.PNOscan uses a small optic sensor, installed under the keyboard, to make any piano into a digital piano. Software is available to hook this system up to a computer and turn your piano into a full orchestra, to compose your own music, and to help students expand their music education.
Community involvement
Daynes Music has also been very involved in community arts. In 1940, Royal Daynes helped establish the Utah Philharmonic Symphony (now the Utah Symphony). In 1963, Gerald R. Daynes housed the offices and scenery of the Utah Civic Ballet (now Ballet WestBallet West
Ballet West, Salt Lake City, Utah was founded in 1963 by Glenn Walker Wallace, who served as its first president. It was called the Utah Civic Ballet company. Willam F...
). In 1976, Skip Daynes housed the new Utah Opera Company in his store until it grew enough to provide its own facility. Skip also provides both instruments and financial aid to the Grand Teton Music Festival
Grand Teton Music Festival
Located in Jackson Hole at the gateway to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, the Grand Teton Music Festival offers seven weeks of classical music concerts each summer. The Festival Orchestra is the centerpiece of Grand Teton Music Festival's programming...
.