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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Carlyle said, "Music is said to be the speech of angels."
I agree. I love music but don't have a great deal of it in me. David Dickey of Lee's Music in Price, Utah really provided me an opportunity to see how music can enhance and improve the quality of life.
With a population of about 10,000, Price is not what you would consider a prime site for one of the most successful and well-respected piano dealers in the country. Dave has served on several Baldwin Piano Advisory Boards and has served on many piano dealer panels. He was the organizer and president of the Utah Piano Association. He has served on the Wurlitzer board and spearheaded a national public awareness campaign promotion to benefit music education.
David Dickey taught organ lessons when he was 14 years old. At 19, he and his father, Lee started Lee's Music in 1976. When Dave accepted a church mission call, his mother lived in the back of the store and managed the business until David returned.
David had to be creative and ambitious to make the Carbon County business so viable. He has over $250,000 worth of pianos on loan to universities and colleges in Utah and Colorado. After one year of use the pianos are then offered to the local communities at great prices. Lee's Music caters to largely underserved populations by taking pianos to the people. It is a travel-intensive niche and a fairly protected one. "I don't worry too much about other dealers doing this," Dave said. "They would have to be a little crazy." Dave also said that he would send a technician 350 miles to service a customer. Most retailers won't go to those lengths.
Dave Dickey is really entrepreneurial. He has had the opportunity to use his skills and talent in larger metropolitan areas. Why Price? "Because I live the dream life," he told me. "There's no better place to live."
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
