The Story of Amazing Grace and Associated Projects
A Short History of Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace was founded by noted folk/country/blues musician Steve Young and his wife Terry Newark in the dark of the new moon, May 5th, 1970.
After finding that retail business, even one as loose as Amazing Grace, didn't suit them, they sold the business to David and Judy Crummey. Judy ran the shop while David played bluegrass with bands like High Country. In 1976, Judy convinced Master Luthier John Pedersen to quit his repair job at a well known shop in San Francisco, forego the commute and take over the repair duties at Amazing Grace. The die was cast.
In 1982, Judy Crummey decided that she was ready to let the musicians of Marin County fend for themselves and she offered the shop to John and his wife, Judy Kaufman. As they say, the rest is history.
Forty years of Being the Bosses
On July 19th, 1982, the deal was completed and we have been serving professional and amateur musicians from all over the world ever since.
The shop was formerly located in a building that once was part of the Highland Railroad stop and is located between two roads that were once railroad tracks.
In 2004 the owner of that building decided that she had hung onto it long enough and it was put up for sale. The store was in danger of ceasing to exist when local film legend George Lucas bought the property, partly so that we could continue to exist - we are very thankful to him.
On February 12th, 2012, we moved next door to our new home at 91 Redhill Ave with the help of many of our friends and loyal customers. Our old site is now a grove of Redwood and other native trees.
We consider ourselves to the exact opposite of chain or mall music stores. We pride ourselves on knowing how to set-up, maintain and repair virtually every instrument and accessory in our shop. We look forward to helping our friends and customers, old and new, for years to come.
The Roadoilers
The Roadoilers are John's Old Time String band that has been playing together in one form or another for over twenty five years. Fiddle tunes and Old Time songs along with jigs, cakewalks, rags and reels make up an exciting and varied repertoire.
Scroll & Curl and The Shaking Reeds
Musical Mysteries written by John Pedersen. A case of art imitating life, both novels explore the colorful world of Old Time musicians and the trouble they get up to.