Marblehead’s newest business was rockin’ last Monday night as people came to explore Johnny Ray’s Music Emporium at 31 Atlantic Ave.
Ray, who co-owns The Beacon Restaurant in town, and his partner Richard Messinger held a grand opening for their new music store. The vibe in the shop is cool and bluesy, with a baby grand and drum set in the middle of the showroom and guitars hanging under blue and pink lights on the wall. There are practice rooms and a state-of-the-art podcast studio.
Oh, and the Emporium is also home to Messinger’s fine art printing business.
“He’s turning photographs into fine art,” Ray said.
Messenger, a professional photographer, works with a special printer and produces copies of his own photographs as well as customers’ works. He can print larger-than-life photographs, including panoramas.
“Opening a music store is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Ray said. “It just kept getting bigger and bigger as we came up with new ideas.”
Johnny Ray’s Music Emporium sells and repairs new and vintage guitars, pianos, drums and electric keyboards. It offers lessons in guitar, piano and vocals.
Marblehead resident Michael McMahon, who is in the band Fun Bucket, is teaching guitar. McMahon was a staff composer for Handsome Brothers Music in Somerville, where he wrote scores for commercials and PBS shows. He’s been offering lessons for 35 years in his studio and is happy to move to the Emporium.
“This is a great space to learn and procure instruments,” he said at the grand opening.
His favorite in the shop is a 1965 Epiphone Cortez guitar, followed by a 1971 Gibson SG electric guitar.
Local tenor Matt Arnold will teach voice lessons, and Dan Kenney — Britney Spears’ former music director — is offering piano lessons.
Ray says the Emporium offers entry-level prices for novices buying their first instruments as well as more expensive items, including the $10,000 baby grand. Many of the guitars are collectors’ items.
Johnny Ray’s Music Emporium is open Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and weekends, noon-6 p.m. The podcast studio is available after hours.
Learn more at johnnyraysmusic.com.With opening of Music Emporium, Johnny Ray fulfills dream
