My Lillo's Music Story

When I was 19 years old, I started working for my Uncles' brother at Lillo's Music in downtown Edmonton.  I was a musician at an early age and I wanted to be around other musicians and learn more about the music industry.  The owner, Vic was an Iconic man.   He was a true salesman at heart and knew is craft well.

Everyone that knew him, when they walked through that door, knew how they would be greeted....  Hey, Hey Hey!  He'd say in a loud booming voice with a big smile on his face.  He'd invite you back to his office and bring out his book.  If he'd met you before he'd know your page.  He'd flip to it and ask you about your work, family, band, hobbies, really anything you had talked about the last time you'd met.  He'd do it with me...and I worked there.

He wanted to create an atmosphere that made people feel like they belonged, A place where people could come and share in their experiences, triumphs and failures.  He knew it was a business and as such, had to keep that in mind, but he would never shy away from a conversation.  Lillo's is where I learned to repair guitars and electronics.  Its where I learned the difference between being a good salesmen and a bad one.  It was the place that launched me into the career I had for the next 20 years and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

My dream moving forward is to build a place as Iconic as Lillo's Music.  A place where everyone who comes there knows just what to expect when they walk through that door.  A place where hobbyists can gather, no matter what their form, to talk about their successes, triumphs and failures.  A place where there is always someone who takes the time for the conversation.