Turner Music Company
Turner Music Company
Tuba virtuoso Phil Turner opened Turner Music Company in Independence, Missouri, in 1934. In 1960, his accordion master son, Kenneth, made it a family-run business which it remained until 1978 when, due to health issues for both Phil and Kenneth, it sold to the Prewitt family. The Turner name and the iconic neon sign stayed with the store even after it closed in the early 2000s.
Turner Music specialized in “live” music, selling and renting musical instruments and equipment—no records were sold in the store while the Turner family owned it. In-store music lessons were offered, and Phil Turner started the first William Chrisman High School band in the late 1930s, which included Kenneth Turner, a Chrisman student at that time. Turner Music then initiated the first school band instrument rental program in Independence.
Familiar to many Greater Kansas Citians between 1950 and 1980, The Phil Turner Band Wagon performed at hundreds of area events, including: The American Royal Parade, the annual Boy Scout Roundup, The United Way Campaign at Municipal Auditorium, Opening Day for the Kansas City Athletics, and both the groundbreaking and dedication of the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, to name but a few.
Others will remember the big band jazz of the Kenny Turner Combo which performed throughout the region from the mid 50s to the mid 80s.
Over the years, Turner Music occupied four small storefront locations around the Independence Square. In 1947, at its 310 S. Main location, Turner displayed the first neon sign in Independence—a neon music staff and treble clef with the name Turner Music Co. in a script font. This delicate neon did not survive Turner’s move to 405 West Lexington Avenue in 1952 where their second neon sign, a two-sided flag-mounted music note was installed. In 1969, Turner Music opened their “new” and final store at 205 West Lexington Avenue, just off the Square. The proud Turner family dubbed it “the most beautiful music store in America.”
Turner Music closed once the Prewitt family sold the store to Monster Music. The neon note remained affixed to the building until the space opened as a vintage furniture store, at which time the sign was relegated to the basement.
The LUMI Neon Museum is honored to have this vintage neon sign in its collection and equally delighted to be in contact with Phil’s grandson, Gary Turner, who worked at two Turner Music locations.
At some point, Acme Sign came into possession of the Turner note, and later donated it to Randy Steinmetz of Steinmetz Neon who graciously gifted it to LUMI. We thank Randy for his generosity, as well as Element Ten for restoring the iconic note, with Olivia Shelton, one of Kansas City’s newest neon talents, bending the neon. A special shout-out goes to Dylan Steinmetz for helping make it all happen.
Tuba virtuoso Phil Turner opened Turner Music Company in Independence, Missouri, in 1934. In 1960, his accordion master son, Kenneth, made it a family-run business which it remained until 1978 when, due to health issues for both Phil and Kenneth, it sold to the Prewitt family. The Turner name and the iconic neon sign stayed with the store even after it closed in the early 2000s.
Turner Music specialized in “live” music, selling and renting musical instruments and equipment—no records were sold in the store while the Turner family owned it. In-store music lessons were offered, and Phil Turner started the first William Chrisman High School band in the late 1930s, which included Kenneth Turner, a Chrisman student at that time. Turner Music then initiated the first school band instrument rental program in Independence.
Familiar to many Greater Kansas Citians between 1950 and 1980, The Phil Turner Band Wagon performed at hundreds of area events, including: The American Royal Parade, the annual Boy Scout Roundup, The United Way Campaign at Municipal Auditorium, Opening Day for the Kansas City Athletics, and both the groundbreaking and dedication of the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, to name but a few.
Others will remember the big band jazz of the Kenny Turner Combo which performed throughout the region from the mid 50s to the mid 80s.
Over the years, Turner Music occupied four small storefront locations around the Independence Square. In 1947, at its 310 S. Main location, Turner displayed the first neon sign in Independence—a neon music staff and treble clef with the name Turner Music Co. in a script font. This delicate neon did not survive Turner’s move to 405 West Lexington Avenue in 1952 where their second neon sign, a two-sided flag-mounted music note was installed. In 1969, Turner Music opened their “new” and final store at 205 West Lexington Avenue, just off the Square. The proud Turner family dubbed it “the most beautiful music store in America.”
Turner Music closed once the Prewitt family sold the store to Monster Music. The neon note remained affixed to the building until the space opened as a vintage furniture store, at which time the sign was relegated to the basement.
The LUMI Neon Museum is honored to have this vintage neon sign in its collection and equally delighted to be in contact with Phil’s grandson, Gary Turner, who worked at two Turner Music locations.
At some point, Acme Sign came into possession of the Turner note, and later donated it to Randy Steinmetz of Steinmetz Neon who graciously gifted it to LUMI. We thank Randy for his generosity, as well as Element Ten for restoring the iconic note, with Olivia Shelton, one of Kansas City’s newest neon talents, bending the neon. A special shout-out goes to Dylan Steinmetz for helping make it all happen.
