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DEARBORN, Mich. (WJBK) - Dearborn’s Wonderland Music will be closing its doors after more than 50 years of business.
From R&B musicians to hair-metal rockers, just about anyone who has played an instrument in more than a casual capacity in Metro Detroit over the past 50 years knows about Wonderland Music.
Some may even remember Wonderland Music from the 1980s local television commercials that featured co-owner Clarence Wayne as “Crazy Clarence.”
Fox 2 reporter: How in the world do you say goodbye?
“Well that’s a good question, saying good-bye to our customers is difficult. They come in here they’re crying, kissing us. We had the best customers in the world,” Clarence said.
Clarence and his brother Larry Wayne opened Wonderland Music back in the early 60s supplying music equipment for some of the biggest names in music history.
“Stevie Wonder was one of my favorites. He called us his friend. To me that means a lot,” Clarence said.
The brothers could tell you stories about your favorite musicians and bands for hours but that is something you would expect for guys who have been in business for over a century.
“Earth, Wind and Fire, The Isley Brothers, so many groups that came through the door. We did Ronald Reagans sound, John F Kennedy’s sound, we did Bush, we did lot of people’s sound,” Larry said
They worked with the Jackson 5 and delivered musical equipment to a show in the '70s at Pine Knob, now DTE Energy Music Theatre, in Clarkston. Bob Seger was a regular customer. They supplied equipment to Led Zeppelin on one of their stateside tours.
"We rented equipment throughout the whole (city). We had Joe Louis tied up, we had Cobo Hall tied up in rentals, you name it, Fisher Theatre - and they came to us - recording studios, United Artists came to us," Clarence said.
Everything in the store - drum sets, school band instruments, lesson books, guitars, amps, keyboards and more - is priced to move.
"We've got some great deals," Clarence said.
The Wayne brothers don’t have and exact date set on when they will close but say Wonderland will be open at least through the end of the month.