In 1966, Ted and Betty Meyer opened the doors of what would become Kansas City’s most beloved family-owned music store with just $6,000, a lot of heart, and more grit than glamour. “We never quit our day jobs at first,” Ted recalls. “Blue Springs only had 1,500 people when we started. But we believed in this.”
This March, Meyer Music is celebrating 60 years in business with three locations, three generations of family working side-by-side, and a name trusted by students, families, and educators across 84 school districts.
From Polkas to Percussion
Meyer Music’s evolution mirrors the changes in music education itself. “When we started, our product lines were essentially anything related to music–record players, organs, you name it,” said John Meyer, third generation member of the Meyer family. “Today, we’ve narrowed our focus to band and orchestra rentals and servicing school programs.”
Even as inventory and industry have shifted, the heart of the company remains: family, community, and an unwavering personal touch.
“There are more people and more zeros, but at the core, it’s very much the same as it was 60 years ago,” said Mike Meyer, second generation. “Family was, and still is, at the center of everything.”
A Business Built on Birthday Songs and Sunday Dinners
Meyer Music isn’t just a business. It’s where childhoods unfolded behind counters and under pianos, where birthday serenades from staff made 13-year-olds simultaneously embarrassed and proud, and where school bus drop-offs turned into lifelong careers.
“I remember working the counter after school, eating full-course dinners Mom brought in,” Mitzi Meyer Phelan, a second-generation member of the family, shared. “She set up a ‘family room’ downstairs with a stove, fridge, and TV so we had somewhere to be while our parents worked until 8 p.m. It was a very special dynamic most families don’t get to experience.”
“Growing up, there was no daycare,” John recalls. “There was Meyer Music.”
Today, that same sense of tradition plays out on Saturdays, when John and his dad sit in the office talking shop, life, and leadership. “Those conversations are everything you could hope for from both a manager and a dad,” he said.
Everyone Knows “Aunt Linda”
Ask any Meyer who shaped the business, and you’ll hear one name again and again: Linda Simpson. Hired at just 17, she’s been with the company for 55 years and holds the role of general manager and head of HR today. More importantly, she’s family.
“Linda was Betty’s right-hand saleswoman,” Ted said. “They were really a heck of a team.”
“She’s been a staple in all our lives,” recalled Mitzi. “She took my mom to the hospital when I was born, and took me to the hospital when my daughter was born.”
“She’s more than the best employee we’ve ever had,” John added. “All of us grandkids still call her ‘Aunt Linda.’”
Family First–At Work and At Home
With three generations actively involved across the business, the Meyers credit their longevity not just to passion and persistence, but to knowing each other’s strengths.
“We all have our lanes,” Mike noted. “We don’t expect each other to be good at everything, and that’s the secret. It’s kind of like trying to fight five people at once if you’re competing with us; we’ve all got our role.”
Ellie Meyer Boyle, third generation, agrees. “My grandparents were masters at separating work from family,” she said. “No matter how challenging the week had been, we all gathered at their house on Sundays. Meyer Music was never part of the conversation.”
That legacy continues today, with Ellie and John beginning to lead Meyer Music into its next chapter.
Notes That Last
When customers walk into a Meyer Music store, they feel something different. A sense of familiarity. A name remembered. A warm welcome.
“We make the counter staff memorize students’ names,” Mike shared. “That moment a kid walks in to pick up their first instrument…it matters.”
“We hope customers feel the loyalty and values behind everything we do,” added John. “We’re invested in their success, not just their sale.”
That spirit of giving extends beyond the storefront. Meyer Music co-founded the nonprofit Band of Angels, which provides donated instruments and scholarships to students in need. “We love that through both the business and nonprofit side, we can lift others up,” shared Mike.
Playing It Forward
After six decades, the Meyer family remains as involved as ever. And they’re just as humble.
“We don’t take this for granted,” Mitzi said. “Every day is hard work to keep the ship moving forward.”
“I think we’re in a great situation,” Tom Meyer, second generation, explained. “We’ve got a true plan for the future. The third generation is already being trained, and learning.”
And what a foundation they’re inheriting.
“Mom and Dad didn’t just want to start a business,” Mike said. “They wanted to create something that felt like home–for our family, and for everyone who walks through the doors. And they did.”
Visit Meyer Music
Meyer Music has three locations serving the Kansas City region. You can visit their Blue Springs store at 1512 Highway 7 in Blue Springs. Additional locations can be found in Overland Park and Kansas City, making it easy for families across the metro to experience the Meyer tradition of service, music, and community.