"I started taking violin lessons when I was 6 years old, from Professor Russell Weber at Jenkins Music Company in downtown Kansas City. Every Saturday, we drove to Jenkins at 12th and Walnut. I practiced one hour a day for years. That was a ritual; it was part of the deal. I became fairly good at violin for my age, and I was on the 'Kansas City Kiddie's Review,' a radio program that aired every Saturday morning with kids that were taking lessons at Jenkins. They recorded the show on the top floor of Jenkins. All around that top floor were rooms where kids would take lessons on various instruments. They had all kinds of instruments, and they sold sheet music. They even had a piano player who played to entertain and to sell sheet music. It was kind of a fascinating place!"

Bill Charlton