Harry Carter was already a school band director when he opened a music store in Ottumwa, Iowa in 1948. Carter and two partners set out to develop a store that would specialize in customer service for band directors.
As the store grew, Harry hired college friends and several buddies from his army days. The school programs grew as did the home organ business, the record department, and in-store lessons. The store, like so many in America at the time, became the musical cultural hub for the community and Harry was known as the town's music man. Along the way Harry provided music to countless people in Ottumwa and his impact grew as those students moved away, out to Centerville, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and beyond. He sold his store to Steve West of West Music in Coralville to retire.
To view Harry’s 2009 NAMM Oral History interview, click here: https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/harry-carter
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