Folk Music Center

8 / 10

closed today

Local business Vintage Store Shop

Serving the needs of music lovers for over 60 years. The Folk provides instrument sales and repair, August 12, 1958 Charles and Dorothy Chase opened the Folk Music Center in Claremont, CA on Harvard Ave. in back of Boots Beer’s Real Estate Office. Boots told them they were “welcome to have the back room because no one will ever come to see you anyway. Read more” The rent was $35 per month. They borrowed $2000 from Dorothy’s brother and bought some records, books, strings and a few instruments – just enough to get started. Very soon, Boots was complaining about all the traffic coming through the office. Two months later, Mike Fay showed up and loaned them a sitar, a pair of tablas and a tamboura. That was the first international show. The Claremont Courier took pictures and ran a story that got the store a lot of publicity. Shortly thereafter, the store moved around the corner to a small place of it’s own on 1st Street. Dorothy’s father, Albert Udin, known to the whole town as “Grandpa,” ran the store while Dorothy taught guitar and banjo lessons in the living room of their home and Charles repaired instruments in the basement. The store was soon bursting at the seams. In 1961, Dorothy and Charles opened the Golden Ring, a music cafe, on Harvard Ave with friends Peggy and Al Hulse and Jean and Will Marcotte. During it’s five year existence, the Golden Ring was one of the earliest venues for folk music in the Southern California area, bringing such greats to Claremont as the revered Gary Davis, Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry, Doc Watson, Hedy West, John Fahey, The New Lost City Ramblers, and Guy and Candy Carawan. On April 5, 1970, after a short stay at 221 Yale the store moved to an even bigger location across the street at 220 Yale Ave. Over the years Dorothy continued to teach guitar, banjo, dulcimer and autoharp to hundreds of local children and adults. She began the Claremont Folk Song Society and organized house concerts. While Dorothy continued to focus on the instruction and promotion of music, Charles provided opportunities for local young people to learn the art of instrument repair. The store’s reputation for skilled repair spread and people came from near and far to have instruments repaired or to stay and learn the art themselves. In the summer of 1962, Peter and Polly Gatt pitched a tent Update description

Address:

220 Yale Ave
Claremont

Telephone:

(909) 624-2928

Web site:

folkmusiccenter.com ⇒

Opening hours:

Wednesday: 10:00-16:00

Thursday: 10:00-16:00

Friday: 10:00-16:00

Saturday: 10:00-16:00

On facebook:

Yes ⇒

Change info:

here ⇒

Reviews Updates (5)

Review Folk Music Center

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Debby C. 2015-10-23

If you have a guitar repair take it to Henry! After having taken my Martin to several shops I made the hour + drive to The Folk Music Center. I'm so...

Kathy Reagan B. 2015-10-11

We live 40 minutes away, but it's worth the drive for the variety of stringed instruments, helpful staff, and welcoming atmosphere. My teen sons can...

Yann D. 2018-08-17

So good, must see & try ;) !

Eric A. 2018-07-08

Awesome shop. Diverse set of instruments.. great vibe.

Melissa M. 2018-05-07

I love this place, it’s full of many treasures. The staff is really nice. They installed some buttons on my uke, and new cords on my hubby’s uke. They...

G. Andrew V. 2017-12-18

I love the store and I go there whenever I’m in Claremont. This time a dream came true and Ben Harper was there, manning the register. I was so...

Jeff O. 2017-11-06

This place is a hidden gem for great concerts. Just saw I See Hawks in LA last night. And Tony Gilkyson. Great show!

Kevin G. 2017-08-27

I visited your store/museum today with my two daughters. Such a warm welcome by your whole staff. My daughter loved getting a chance to play several...

Josefina J. 2017-07-16

A fun place for our kids to visit, learn about various instruments and,family friendly environment!

Jessica B. 2017-04-19

Moment inoubliable hier!! Merci encore...

Elizabeth M. 2017-03-25

Our Family Loves The Folk Music Center ~ and the history of the Very gifted musicians who have owned it for generations past. Loved the Beautiful...

Jonathan M. 2017-01-17

This place, is far more than a music store! It's a dream and inspiration for the children, the parents and the community! I absolutely love what...

Christine S. 2017-01-01

My Dad bought my first Guitar for me at folk Music Center when I was very young ,he taught me my first chord on his electric guitar much younger...

Shawn P. 2016-10-23

THE BEST MUSIC STORE EXPERIENCE WE HAVE EVER HAD. AS SOON AS YOU ENTER YOU SIMPLY FEEL THE CREATIVE ENERGY AND YOU WANT TO TOUCH, PLAY, LEARN EVERY...

Howard S. 2016-10-10

This music store has been here since I was in high school. Always enjoy our trips to the store. Very friendly and hands on store. Fun family location.

Darío Fernández L. 2016-10-07

Very kind people, good music and lots of rare things to see! Claremont looks good too. thanks!

Damien H. 2016-09-26

Was very lucky to visit the FMC this summer, and after a nice and kind welcoming, you'll had chance to see a bunch of great guitar, percussions,...

Gary S. 2016-09-12

Well worth the hour drive from Torrance. Henry is an amazing luthier and the staff were so friendly. We bought some excellent instruments and loved...

Cathy G. 2016-07-20

I have never enjoyed a store more, like a kid in a candy shop, the instruments and selections are amazing. I even found a steel slide that fits my...

Jack T. 2016-01-27

They care about every customer who comes threw there door. Your trested friendly and professional. Also very knowledgeable

Updates from Folk Music Center

Folk Music C. 2017-06-03
Frank Fairfield will be featured on the American Epic Sessions next week and you can see him perform, in person, tonight at the FMC. Tickets available at the door..

Folk Music C. 2017-06-03
CONCERT TONIGHT, get your tickets at the door.. Frank Fairfield and Meredith Axelrod Saturday, June 3rd 7:30pm (doors@7) $15 Frank Fairfield and Meredith Axelrod sing the sweetest melodies of yesteryear and transport you musically to 1928. They perform on

Folk Music C. 2017-05-31
Frank Fairfield and Meredith Axelrod this Saturday, June 3rd 7:30pm (doors@7) $15 Frank Fairfield and Meredith Axelrod sing the sweetest melodies of yesteryear and transport you musically to 1928. They perform on various string instruments and play from

Folk Music C. 2017-05-30
Frank Fairfield & Meredith Axelrod in concert this Saturday, June 3rd 7:30 pm (doors@ 7) $15 Frank Fairfield and Meredith Axelrod sing the sweetest melodies of yesteryear and transport you musically to 1928. They perform on various string instruments a

Folk Music C. 2017-05-17
BEGINNING UKULELE CLASS this Sunday, May 21st 4:30-6pm Beginners will learn to tune, hold and strum the uke, and basic chords. In minutes you will be playing lots of easy songs. Bring a ukulele or borrow one of ours. $20 per person (cash or check) *Ca

Popularity of Folk Music Center

Social Media Popularity Score:

8 / 10

This value is based on the number of visitors, checkins, and likes on Facebook in the last few months.

Most activity in May:

Folk Music Center has a total of 1828 visitors (checkins) and 5730 likes.

20 reviews of Folk Music Center. Average grade 5 av 5.

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Folk Music Center

Review Folk Music Center

Updates from Folk Music Center

Popularity of Folk Music Center

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