Central Music is a Florida corporation that began in 1958. It was founded by Les Trubey and its first location was opened on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida. The late 1950s through the early 1980s represent the peak of the home organ industry in the United States. In its beginning, Central Music represented the Wurlitzer brand of home organs and pianos for the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Shortly after its founding, Central Music also became the dealer for Rodgers Instruments to serve the musical needs of the area's churches. One of the most popular organs found in churches and homes alike is the Rodgers organ. Central Music enjoyed great success with Wurlitzer. Due to this early success, Central Music was faced with a need for a larger location. It was also at this time that Les Trubey and Nelson Newby of Illinois became acquainted. In 1973, Trubey built a new home for Central Music—a building at 5175 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, Florida 33760. At the time, there were cow pastures on either side of the building. However, the area has grown up around Central Music with an international airport within and a new eight lane road in front of the building. In 1977, due to health issues, Les Trubey decided to retire. Having developed a friendship over the years due to their mutual experience with Wurlitzer, Trubey approached Nelson Newby and offered him the company. In November 1977, Nelson Newby with his wife Sharon and son Timothy moved to Florida and became Central Music's new owners. At that time, Central Music had three locations throughout the Tampa Bay area. These locations not only offered new and used instruments for sale but were also locations where private lessons and group lessons were available. Around 1980, due to challenges from competition, a worsening economy and what was the beginning of a decline to the home organ industry, Wurlitzer began to struggle. To compensate, Central Music took on a new brand in the musical instrument field, Yamaha. Yamaha, quickly rose to prominence in both the piano and home organ industries. In recognition for Central Music's sales and service, company president Nelson Newby was nominated to the National Association of Music MerchantsBoard of Directors in 1984. The highlight of his tenure was as co-chairman of the committee that created NAMM University and as a workshop presenter in its inaugural season. Over the years, Central Music's church organ division steadily became a larger and larger portion of the company's revenues. In the mid-1980s, Central Music began to shift its attention away from home products, and moved toward the churches outside Tampa Bay. Today Central Music serves Florida, Georgia and the Caribbean.
Brands represented
Liturgical worship styles: Rodgers Instruments, LLC. of Hillsboro, Oregon Fratelli Ruffatti, pipe organ builders of Padua, Italy Contemporary and Gospel worship styles: Rodgers Instruments, LLC. of Hillsboro, Oregon Roland Corporation U.S. Hammond organ & Leslie speaker Concert pianos: Blüthner Piano Company – Leipzig, Germany Kawai Brand Pianos
Notable organ installations
First Presbyterian Church, Naples, Florida , Fratelli Ruffatti organ V-manuals 108-ranks + 12 digital stops
Epiphany Catholic Church, Miami FL , Fratelli Ruffatti organ with twin III-manual consoles, 61-ranks
John's Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta GA , Fratelli Ruffatti organ V-manuals 103-ranks + digital stops
St. Mary Cathedral, Miami FL , Rodgers Custom IV-manual pipe organ console + 90 digital stops
The Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg FL , Rodgers Custom IV-manual organ + 10-ranks of Fratelli Ruffatti pipes & Rodgers III-manual organ
The Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola, Palm Beach FL , Rodgers Custom IV-manual organ
St Peter's Cathedral St. Petersburg FL , Rodgers Custom IV-manual pipe organ console + digital stops
First United Methodist Church, Clearwater FL , Rodgers Custom IV-manual pipe organ console + digital stops
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Ft. Myers FL, Rodgers Custom IV-manual organ
First Presbyterian Church, Boca Raton FL , Rodgers III-manual organ + 23-ranks of Fratelli Ruffatti pipes
First Baptist Church, St. Petersburg FL , Rodgers Custom IV-manual organ + 4-ranks of Fratelli Ruffatti pipes
First United Methodist Church, Tavares FL , Rodgers III-manual organ + 4-ranks
Suntree United Methodist Church, Melbourne FL , Rodgers III-manual organ
Anona United Methodist Church, Largo FL , Rodgers III-manual organ + 4-ranks of Ruffatti pipes
St. Catherine Catholic Church, Clearwater FL , Rodgers Custom III-manual organ + 4-ranks of Fratelli Ruffatti pipes
St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Longwood FL , Rodgers III-manual organ + 4-ranks of Fratelli Ruffatti pipes
St. Paul's Lutheran Church Lakeland, Florida , Rodgers III-manual organ + 12-ranks of Fratelli Ruffatti pipes
St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Tampa FL , Rodgers III-manual organ + 12-ranks of pipes
St. Frances Xavier Cathedral, Nassau Bahamas , Rodgers III-manual organ + 6-ranks of Fratelli Ruffatti pipes
