Music
Focus has been serving the South Bay for over 14 years.
Here's a little history for anyone interested in this stuff.
In the mid 60's there
was a place in Manhattan Beach called Gene Leis Guitars. Gene Leis was
a jazz guitarist quite fond of the Brazilian and Latin sounds. Gene was
a great man and a certified legend in the South Bay. His "Django"
license plate still evokes his memory. Well, about 20 different teachers
taught for Gene during the 'hey day' of that little store front on Sepulveda
Blvd. It was across the street from Lucky's, and the car wash (there used
to be a hamburger place there called "Clancey's"...). All the
young kids would come to this new place that was really cool. You could
just hang out, talk guitar, and maybe Gene would give you a lick to play
or ask you to play some difficult scale. It was our little hot bed of
'see and be seen!' After years of teaching in tiny little booths, some
of the teachers got up the idea to teach 'off world'. What a novel idea.
Well, Gene was all for it too. He helped out a little here and there and
soon there was a new offshoot to Gene's called "Music West."
Many people helped to build and maintain the new facility. Among the more
notable 'pioneers' were Craig Welch, Brian Sisson, Pat & John Dietz,
Brian Hartzler, Tammy, Paul Dewitt and many others.
Music West was located on Duncan Ave. in Manhattan Beach just down he
street from the Manhattan Car Wash (coincidentally across the street from
the new location of Dietz Bros Music). The early days of teaching at Music
West were filled with easy going schedules and lots of sharing rooms,
materials, songs, licks and laughs. After a settling in period the teaching
squad finally reduced to a core group: Brian Hartzler, Pat & John
Dietz, Craig Welch and Paul Dewitt. About this time Craig unfortunately
was diagnosed with Lymphatic cancer. Though hope and prayer were not spared,
Craig ultimately succumbed to the malady in the late 70's.
Karl Grossman had become a regular substitute teacher at Music West
during Craig's various hospital stays. His involvement was doubly appreciated
because he was able to teach 'rock' guitar at a very reasonable volume.
Something which Paul Dewitt was having a harder and harder time doing.
Pat, John and ultimately Paul decided to part ways at which time Karl
became the headmaster 'rock' teacher at Music West.
Karl Grossman continued to refine and expand his teaching repertoire and
student base to nearly 50 students a week. To this day he uses a proprietary
notation system derived from the system Paul Dewit developed in the early
70's
In the early 80's Karl became more and more interested in recording and
the equipment involved in doing so. Karl also became involved in various
rock groups in and around the South Bay. By happenstance one group was
booked into a practice room on Valley Drive. 673 Valley Drive was the
home of Miles Christiansen's recording and rehearsal studios. We used
to rehearse in Miles' studio. But sometimes we would rehearse in the little
unfinished studio next door at 671 which Miles also leased. Karl's first
memory of the space was of sheer cacophony. There was no baffling at all
and the rehearsal sound was deafening. All cement and brick walls!!
As serendipity would have it, Miles had to drop the lease on the 'little'
studio and offered Karl first choice. Of course he took it and the space
became and remains to this day a landmark of local band's dreams and schemes,
plans and jams.
In 1984 Music West had left the Duncan location and Karl had become director
of the business at the Valley Drive location. The Dietz Bros had set up
their own shop and Karl began in earnest to develop and maintain a recording
facility.
During the late 80's it became clear that another party had already begun
doing business in the northern part of the state as 'Music West.' Thus
began a search for a name that would be easy to remember and evoke a positive
and forward looking image. After many, many 'how abouts...' Music Focus
was decided upon and trademarked.
Throughout our long history of people and their dreams we owe a great
deal to the early motivators who began all this at Gene Leis Guitars through
Music West and finally our present incarnation... Music Focus. We thank
and honor those givers and lovers of music and spirit. God Bless you all.
As of 1996, the Music Focus name continues its service role in the community
and as always keeps its 'eye on your future!'