When a strum, a hum, and a 4th grade assignment turn into a calling: Nine year old Ron Ravelo collected soda bottles to earn money for his first ukulele, along with a little help from his parents who wanted to support his hard work. After learning his first song, what started out as a class requirement evolved into a thrilling connection of skill and creativity that he took ownership of and would later take with him on tour, on stage, and in the recording studio. In 2012, Ron made the leap to being a business owner and opened his very own music store on Oahu: WestSide Music, nestled in Waipahu.

"Our sole purpose in mind is to empower musicians and help them get to the next level of musicianship", says Ravelo. With 35 years of retail music experience behind him and a natural love for people, Ron truly understands and cares about his customers. At WSM, you can walk in not quite sure of what you want and leave with exactly what you need. Ron makes sure he keeps a diverse selection of guitars in the shop from Martin, Gibson, Epiphone, Fender, ESP, LTD, PRS, and Taylor. If you have been searching online for a "music store near me," you have found it!

The basic beauty of WestSide Music store is its symphony of valued traits: Brick and mortar, personal assistance, integrity, and genuine Aloha where everyone is greeted with a smile and if you're one lucky buggah...a cool riff.

Check out this video from In The Blues and see their recent visit to WestSide Music!