SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — The Santa Monica Music Center, a family-owned institution on Santa Monica Boulevard, has been striking a chord with residents for more than 50 years. Founded in 1972 by drummer Paul “Chico” Fernandez, the center initially offered a few small practice rooms and basic lessons. Over time, it transformed into a full-service music hub that provides instrument rentals, retail sales and a bustling calendar of workshops and performances. Today, it remains a key pillar of the city’s arts community under the leadership of Mayor Lana Negrete, Fernandez’s daughter.
From its earliest days, the Music Center has welcomed budding musicians into a welcoming, hands-on environment. The staff prides itself on providing personal attention and nurturing new talent, whether it’s a fourth-grader learning their first violin scale or a professional seeking a rehearsal space. Over the decades, the center has cultivated strong relationships with the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District, partnering to offer school-based programs and low-cost rentals so that all students can participate in band and orchestra.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the center began hosting open-mic nights and jam sessions that brought together amateur enthusiasts and seasoned pros. Word spread that this unassuming shop was more than just a place to buy guitar strings—it was a community gathering spot. Local rock bands and jazz combos gravitated to its intimate performance room, and numerous artists credit the center with giving them their earliest public stage. One notable visitor in later years was Johny Barbata, famed drummer for The Turtles and Jefferson Airplane, who stopped by for a book-signing and stayed to chat with young musicians.
Through its nonprofit arm, Outreach Through the Arts, the Santa Monica Music Center sponsors scholarships for children in underserved communities. The program provides free lessons in piano, guitar, DJing and more, offering access to music education that might otherwise be out of reach. In addition, the center frequently hosts free weekend workshops led by local performers, who share practical tips and inspire new generations to find their artistic voice. These programs have earned the center multiple awards, including recognition for its long-standing dedication to arts engagement.
Mayor Negrete’s stewardship of the business runs parallel to her public service. Appointed to the Santa Monica City Council in 2021, she was selected by colleagues to serve as mayor not long afterward, making her one of the few sitting mayors in the region who also runs a brick-and-mortar retail establishment. Her day often begins with civic duties—such as meeting with local organizations and overseeing city initiatives—and concludes at the music center, where she might greet customers, handle inventory or finalize preparations for an upcoming recital.
“We’re a small, family-owned business that has survived tough economic times, civil unrest and the pandemic,” Negrete says. “But we never wavered from our mission to bring people together through music. That sense of purpose is what keeps our doors open and our community thriving.”
The Santa Monica Music Center’s resilience is testament to its unique place in the city’s heart. Despite shifting trends in retail and music consumption, the center continues to resonate with neighbors who remember renting their first trumpet there, parents who celebrate their children’s musical achievements and visitors drawn in by the friendly staff. Now poised to serve future generations of aspiring performers, it stands as both a vestige of Santa Monica’s cultural heritage and a beacon of possibility for what music can do to unite a community.
