Saying Goodbye to Danny’s Guitar Shop

Danny’s Guitar, which had been a Narberth Pa. fixture since the spring of 2009 closed last month for good.

“It was bittersweet,” said the 72-year-old Danny’s Guitar shop founder, Danny Gold, “These were the best 17 years of my life. We gave about 80 guitar lessons a week. We were not hurting (financially).” Gold was not one of the music teachers, instead he hired them.

“It’s odd,” said Gold. “I was an English teacher; I played music since I was 10, but I never taught music to anyone.”

Asked why he decided to close Danny’s Guitar Shop, Gold said that it was a combination of factors.

The rent recently skyrocketed, but Gold emphasized that that was not the key reason for closing.

“I am 72,” said Gold. “It was time for me to start a new phase of my life.” Gold added that had the rent not increased, he might have kept his shop open until he reached age 75 - three years from now. “I’m not blaming this on the rent increase. Nothing lasts forever.”

Gold talked about his Danny’s Guitar Shop journey.Gold said:

“In 2008, two music stores in the Philadelphia area closed down.It struck me that this area could use a new guitar store.”

Word of mouth initially brought him customers.

“I also advertised in the Main Line Times,” said Gold. “This was 17 years ago when newspapers still mattered.”

Regardless of age, talent, or the lack of talent, any person who wanted to take guitar lessons were welcomed at Danny’s Guitar Shop. This invitation included people with disabilities.

“People with disabilities, like everyone else who took lessons here, enjoyed it,” said Gold. “Our teachers were very patient with all of our students (whether they had disabilities or not).”

One of the teachers Gold talked about was EJ Simpson who taught a few students with disabilities.

“Thank God for EJ,” said Gold. “He’s very patient.”

Simpson summed up his experience of teaching at Danny’s Guitar shop as, “an innumerable bonus of life lessons - musical depth.”

Simpson never shied away from teaching students with disabilities such as Duncan Haines, who has both autism and Down Syndrome. The two worked together at Danny’s Guitar Shop for several years.

“It’s great working with Duncan,” Simpson said. “He’s creative and playful. He’s always in the moment.”

Danny Gold said that playing music is about being in the moment.

“It’s like surfing,” Gold. “I don’t surf, but if I did surf, that’s what it would feel like and that’s because I’m living in the moment. There’s nothing like it.”

Sharing special Memories

Renowned music artists passed through Danny’s Guitar Shop such as Dweezil Zappa, son of the late legendary Frank Zappa (died 1993).

“Dweezil was very nice,” said Gold.

Another music artist was Timothy B. Schmit, who is well known for being the Eagles’ lead vocalist for the hit, I can’t Tell you Why, which was released on their 1979 album, The Long Run.

Gold remembered:

“One day, Tim came in and bought a Martin guitar. We were just talking, and after it while, I realized who he was. It was exciting. He was so happy that I was able to sell him a Martin Guitar that he gave me free Eagles tickets.”

Although Danny’s Guitar Shop is now closed, Gold’s former staffers are teaching at Harcum Music School at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pa. However, Gold is not with them. The retired Gold is busy playing in a few bands; this includes the Neil Young tribute band, Broken Arrow, which performs all over the U.S.

If you want to contact these former Danny’s Guitar Shop teachers, call the Harcum Music School at (610) 526-6114 or send an email to info@HarcumMusicSchool.com.