Family, integrity, authenticity. Our legacy since 1929.
Caruso Family Milestones
Over the decades, the Caruso family adapted to the ever-changing music industry: Expanding into retail, pioneering mail-order sales, and ultimately finding their niche in the present day.
Over the decades, the Caruso family adapted to the ever-changing music industry: Expanding into retail, pioneering mail-order sales, and ultimately finding their niche in the present day.
From Coal Country to New York
10-year-old John Caruso and his six siblings live in a small, dirt-floor home in the coal-mining town of Heilwood, PA. After the tragic death of John’s uncle in a mining accident, his mother, Maria, becomes determined to secure a safer future for her sons. When her husband refuses to leave Heilwood, she takes matters into her own hands, gathering her seven children and moving to New York City.
Prohibition Sparks a Passion
During Prohibition, Maria and her children operate a distillery from the basement of their home in Corona, Queens, NY. One of John's responsibilities is monitoring the steam levels in the tank—a tedious but crucial task. To pass the time, he teaches himself how to read and write music.
Building a Business
John develops an interest in the accordion, dedicating every spare moment to studying and mastering the instrument. At just 17 years old and still a student himself, he begins receiving requests for lessons. Inspired by this demand, he opens a lesson studio, the Caruso Music Center.
New Beginnings in Connecticut
As the music school continues to grow, John, now recently married, begins to reconsider whether city life is the best fit for his growing family. He and his wife, Dolly, decide to move to the quiet town of Bozrah in eastern Connecticut. Despite the relocation, John remains dedicated to his students, commuting to NYC before eventually moving his studio to Norwich, CT.
Expanding and Evolving
Caruso Music Center is thriving in its new location, successfully operating as one of the largest music schools in the country, with numerous studios throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island. Over time, it evolves beyond just a place for music lessons, becoming a full-service retail store as well.
Topping the Charts
Alongside teaching and managing the schools, John also makes his mark as a composer and recording artist, producing a series of successful recordings, arrangements of popular songs, and lesson books, some of which are still in print today.
New London’s Music Hub
Caruso Music moves its main storefront to 20 Bank Street in New London. This iconic location quickly becomes the cornerstone of the Caruso Music legacy. More than just a retail store, it serves as a vibrant hub for music and community.
A New Direction
After watching The Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan show, John realizes that the guitar will replace the accordion as the instrument of choice for young musicians. He quickly re-focuses his business to meet the demands of the changing music scene.
The Second Generation
After six years under John's leadership, his two youngest sons, Larry and Richard, step in to carry the family business forward. Though retired, John remains a source of guidance and a frequent, familiar presence in the store.
Building a Worldwide Reach
Beyond in-person sales, Larry and Richard build a thriving mail-order business, serving customers around the world. They become particularly well-known in the rapidly emerging world of electronic keyboards, winning Music & Sound Retailer's "Keyboard Dealer of the Year" award seven years in a row.
A New Home on State Street
Having outgrown their historic Bank Street storefront, Larry and Richard move Caruso Music to its current location at 94 State Street, an impressive 22,000-square-foot facility in the center of downtown New London. The extra space allows them to vastly expand their piano inventory to complement their robust keyboard collection. Eventually the piano showroom grows to occupy more than half of the store.
Forging Global Connections
Impressed by the quality and longevity of Yamaha pianos, Larry decides to make them a focal point of the family's piano business. He visits Japan, tours the Yamaha factory, and builds relationships with retired Yamaha craftsmen. This lays the groundwork for what would become the Four Star Reconditioned Yamaha piano collection.
Finding Our Niche
Larry and Richard recognize that sales of guitars, keyboards, and other small, easy-to-ship musical instruments would soon become dominated by a handful of large big-box and online retailers. Leveraging their experience in mail-order logistics, they decide to direct their energy toward a specific niche: Collecting high-quality preowned pianos from the Northeast (where they are more abundant) and selling them online to a nationwide audience. They rebrand as Caruso Piano Gallery to reflect this singular focus.
Elevating Our Craft
Caruso Piano Gallery greatly expands their piano restoration capacity, now offering an extensive inventory of Restored Heirloom Steinway instruments. They become particularly known for their Coloratura Series of restored pianos in colorful custom designer finishes.
Reimagining the Market
Expanding beyond preowned and restored pianos, Caruso Piano Gallery launches Sonnova, a direct-to-consumer brand of new pianos specializing in bold and unique finishes sold entirely online.
A Lasting Legacy
Larry and Richard's daughters (Brittany and Scarlet) become the third generation to carry on the Caruso family business. Although it has evolved over the years, its foundation — family, integrity, and a commitment to exceptional customer service — remain the same. The mural Songs of Our City by Mark McKee and Qimin Liu, painted on the side of its downtown New London showroom, incorporates a portrait of John Caruso, recalling his significance to both the local music community and the family who continues his legacy.
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