What started out in our garages, eventually evolved into Cucamonga Music Co., a family owned and operated Piano Dealership established by Kathleen Gilkey R.P.T., and John Gilkey, in January 2004.

Unfortunately the timing  was bad to go into the Piano Sales Business. Due to the Recession we, along with many other Piano Dealerships in the U.S. decided to close our doors late in 2009.

Since then we have returned to our roots in the Piano Service business, with the addition of Piano Moving, to our list of services.

After the closing of Cucamonga Music Co. Inc. we decided to change our name back to Gilkey Piano Service.

Former location at  9223 Archibald Ave., Suite C, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
 

Kathleen Gilkey is a Registered Member of the Piano Technicians Guild. She was the first woman to achieve the distinction of Registered Piano Technician (R.P.T.) in the Pomona Valley Chapter. She was also the first woman President of that chapter of the Guild. With over 35 years of experience, she has achieved much respect in her field.

She has served as the Piano Technician for the University of Redlands, as well as the official Technician for the Redlands Symphony and  Riverside Community College. Some of her Clients include; Mt. San Antonio College, Pomona College, Chaffey College, Alta Loma and Central School Districts. She also services The City of Rancho Cucamonga, The Ontario Convention Center, many churches, music teachers, and private musicians. She has tuned for many Notable Artists including, but not limited to; Tony Bennett, Victor Borge, Dave Brubeck, Christopher Cross, Bernadette Peters, The Oakridge Boys, Roy Clark, Joanne Castle, and Ricky Skaggs to name a few. She is experienced in all aspects of the piano business, including piano sales, piano tuning, repair, regulation and rebuilding, and also in the importing of fine pianos.


Kathleen Gilkey pictured with LaRoy  Edwards of

 Yamaha Piano Corporation in 1978.

John Gilkey received some of his training at Western Iowa Tech School of Piano Tuning and Rebuilding. He also is a Steinway Factory Trained Technician who has worked with one of the finest Steinway dealerships in the U.S. for over 10 years. Prior to completing his formal training, he was fortunate to apprentice with 4 of Southern California's best Techs. Initially with his mother, Kathleen Gilkey R.P.T. , followed by Francis Mahaffey R.P.T. (A legend in the Piano Technicians Guild) , John Tonyan R.P.T. and Michael Jackson (Steinway Technician). Starting out his training as a teenager, he now has over 20 years of experience. John has also worked as a Sales/Service Rep. for Welkin Sound, the Exclusive Distributor of Falcone, George Steck, and H.M. Cable Pianos in the U.S.

John  is one of the few factory trained  Steinway Technicians in  California, and he is the official Steinway Technician for the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center in Rancho Cucamonga. He also tunes occasionally  for U.C.L.A. He works closely with Kathleen on most of her larger accounts such as; Mt. San Antonio College, Chaffey College, and the L.D.S. Churches. John also services the pianos for The City of Rancho Cucamonga, The Ontario Convention Center, many churches, music teachers, and private musicians. He has done Concert Tunings for many notable artists as well, including but not limited to; Josh Grobin, Willie Nelson, Jars of Clay, Melissa Manchester, David Benoit, McCoy Tyner, Art Garfunkle, Earth Wind and Fire, The Glen Miller Orchestra, Bernadette Peters, Rich Little, and John Legend. He is experienced in all aspects of the piano business, including Piano Moving, Sales, Piano Tuning, Repair, Regulation and Rebuilding, and also in the importing of fine pianos.

           John and Daniel Gilkey

     in the family workshop in 1980.

Daniel Gilkey has worked closely with John at the Steinway and Yamaha dealership for several years as a Piano Tuner -Technician. He also works closely with John and Kathleen on a regular basis on the larger Piano Tuning accounts.

 He and John occasionally help the staff Tech. for U.C.L.A. when needed. He tunes regularly for  Mt. San Antonio College, Chaffey College, and the L.D.S. Churches . Daniel services many churches, music teachers, and private musicians. He has tuned for notable artists as well, including but not limited to; Guns N' Roses. He is experienced in all aspects of the piano business, including Piano sales, Piano Tuning, Repair, Moving, Regulation and Rebuilding, and also in the importing of fine pianos. He has been working as a Piano Tuner - Technician since the mid 1990's and travels all over tuning Piano's in the Inland Empire as well as in Orange County. Pictured above with John in the family workshop as a child, Daniel is very knowledgeable about the piano business, and is often hired as a Private Consultant by people looking to purchase a piano.


Daniel Gilkey tuning a piano.

Paul Gilkey has been working on pianos for over 20 years.  His expertise is in Piano Moving, Rebuilding, Restringing, and Action Restoration. He takes care of all of our Piano Moving Services, from everyday moves to complicated moves involving the use of a crane. Having a background in Piano Technology is a very uncommon and strong asset to have when dealing with the proper moving of a piano! Prior to the closing of Cucamonga Music, Paul decided to buy us out, and completely take over the Piano Moving part of the business, but he is still keeping up his Restoration skills in the family workshop, restoring a Pre - 1900's Steinway with John in his free time.


Paul Gilkey restringing a grand piano.
 

E-mail: john@cucamongamusic.com