In The Spotlight: Beach Music Studios

Danny White is well-known in the Belmar area not only for his musical talents as a solo performer and front man of the Danny White Band — but also for his generosity in supporting community events and for his popular music school, Beach Music Studios. When he’s not entertaining crowds at local venues or recording his own songs, he’s making a difference in young lives through music education.

Tell us a little bit about your business.
Beach Music Studios (BMS) will be celebrating its 15th year in December 2019. We offer expert music lessons for all instruments, band rehearsal space, pro recording, and instrument repairs, rentals, and sales. BMS is also the home of the Beach Music Rock Band kids. Students ages 7 to 17 learn to play together as a band and perform shows in legendary venues like The Stone Pony. We also offer the Beach Music Scholarship, which provides a year of free music lessons and a new instrument to select students in Belmar, New Jersey.

What was the inspiration for your business?
I was touring with my band and was invited to Bloomington, Indiana, by John Mellencamp’s guitarist and co-producer, Mike Wanchic. He offered to produce some of my songs at John’s studio there. It was interesting to find that Mellencamp’s entire operation was run out of a small house he purchased after their first big hits.

John and his band recorded all their albums and rehearsed there, his management was set up in the dining room, and John’s painting workshop was in a spare bedroom. I thought, “What a great idea. I’ll find a space where my band and I can rehearse and record, I’ll ask my music teacher and musician friends if they want to teach lessons, and I can offer the space to other bands.” That space has been 808 Belmar Plaza in Belmar for the past 15 years.

What do you enjoy most about working with kids and promoting music education?
It’s very exciting to see a child find their place and their identity through music. There have been kids come in through the years who have hardly said two words, then they join our rock band, and next thing you know, they are the lead singer in the band performing in front of hundreds of people. The power of music is amazing, and I must thank the great Beach Music Studios staff for our students’ success as well. In particular, the staff that runs the Beach Music Rock Band: Drew Clelland and Mike Williams, with assistance from Matt Daniels and Kyle Donovan.

What is something most people don't know about your business?
We recently started the Beach Music A Cappella Group. While we are known for our Beach Music Rock Band, we felt we needed an outlet for our fantastic vocal students to perform live. My wife, Kerry, runs and arranges the music for the group, along with our incredibly talented voice teacher JT, who developed a touring a cappella group at Neptune High School Performing Arts Society. Anyone between the ages of 12 and 17 can audition for the group.

I want my business to be known for….
I want people to know that the Beach Music Studios door is open to everyone and that I know all the 16 teachers personally. Our students are learning from and spending time with successful, good people who will genuinely care for, and do their best for, your children.

If I was asked to describe my background in a few sentences, I would tell you that….
My background before opening BMS was touring the country with my band. I’ve been lucky enough to perform or work with, on a number of occasions, some of my rock-and-roll heroes: Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp and his band, Sting, Andy Summers of The Police, Shelly Yakus (John Lennon, Tom Petty, U2), CJ Eriksson (U2, Phish), and others.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned being in business for yourself?
There are no days off if you want to be the best at what you want to do.

Beach Music Studios
808 Belmar Plaza
Belmar, NJ 07719
732-280-1181
www.beachmusicstudios.com
www.dannywhitemusic.com

Story and photos by Patch Mayor Christine Cardellino. Reprinted with permission from the Belmar Beachcomber Blog.

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