| 4433 TAMIAMI TRAIL EAST NAPLES, FLORIDA 34112 (239) 403.4191 |
| THE BEST MUSIC STORE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA |
| Morningstar Music is Naples' largest retail music outlet with over 8,500 square feet of musical gear! Morningstar came to Naples on November 1, 1994, purchasing Stan’s Music Stand from Mary Ciciora. The Morningstar story starts many years before this in Mooresville, Indiana. With a background in touring, Roger and Karen began to transform Morningstar into more of a pro-audio store and less of a band and orchestral store. With several moves since 1994, Morningstar has grown from its original location of 2,300 square feet of rented space to now over two acres with an over 8,500 square foot building that they own! The building was purchased in 2003, gutted to the floors and reborn as a full service music facility built with music in mind. As educators, the Raymonds incorporated music lessons into the store with eight private lesson rooms. The store has over 500 lessons per week with 10 instructors on site. A private acoustic guitar room is a major part of the new property housing over 30-40 guitars including Taylor, Fender, Yamaha, and Paul Reed Smith. This room is used often and helps eliminate distractions from the other areas of the store. With over 250 guitars in the store at all times, Morningstar has all tastes and needs covered. An on- site repair facility is also available for most repairs. Morningstar also houses keyboards, band and orchestral instruments, recording gear, guitar amplifiers and a wide array of accessories! Korg, Roland, Peavey, QSC, Akg, Shure, Fender, Taylor, and PRS are just a few of the fine manufacturers that Morningstar represents. It is truly a great place to learn or advance your musical skills. In a short phrase, it is “a great place to have fun in music!" ________________________________________________________________________ |
In 1976, Roger and Karen were just graduating from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Roger was a
physical education major while Karen studied music education and performance. In the summer of 1976, along
with 5 other Ball State students, a summer gig at Schuss Mountain in Northern Michigan took place, and since
all the performers were not out of school, it seemed only natural to form a group to play during the winter and
spring in Indiana on the weekends. Nothing happened until the fall of 1977, when we again returned from
Michigan. This time, a group was formed and was scheduled to play its first job at Culver Military Academy in
Indiana. The band needed a name and Roger and Karen had to pick it out! The newlyweds lived on the corner of
Sunbury and Morningstar in Mooresville and both thought the street name might work. Sunbury did not seem as
neat as Morningstar and so that was it...Morningstar Show Band! The group played at Culver with nearly 3,500
gigs to follow over the next 25 years or so. This included jobs in over 30 states and three countries.
In 1980, Jennifer Raymond was born and over the next 20 years became the leading entertainer for the group.
Jennifer fronted the band at the age of eight and when she left for college in 1998, had recorded over 40 songs
on five albums. In 1987, Jessica Raymond was born and performed with Morningstar until she was 12 years old.
Jessica became a star cross country runner at Lely High School and was part of the 2003 state runner-up team!
Jennifer is a graduate of UCF in musical theater and works as a full time entertainer at Walt Disney World.
Jessica is a junior at FIU majoring in elementary education. These young ladies are the reason the Raymonds
bought Stan’s Music.
They both felt in 1994 that Jennifer should start school in one state and stay there the entire school year.
Jessica was starting school as well and the time for touring was over! The band continued to play often until
2003. Since then, New Year’s Eve has been the extent of their performance schedule.
physical education major while Karen studied music education and performance. In the summer of 1976, along
with 5 other Ball State students, a summer gig at Schuss Mountain in Northern Michigan took place, and since
all the performers were not out of school, it seemed only natural to form a group to play during the winter and
spring in Indiana on the weekends. Nothing happened until the fall of 1977, when we again returned from
Michigan. This time, a group was formed and was scheduled to play its first job at Culver Military Academy in
Indiana. The band needed a name and Roger and Karen had to pick it out! The newlyweds lived on the corner of
Sunbury and Morningstar in Mooresville and both thought the street name might work. Sunbury did not seem as
neat as Morningstar and so that was it...Morningstar Show Band! The group played at Culver with nearly 3,500
gigs to follow over the next 25 years or so. This included jobs in over 30 states and three countries.
In 1980, Jennifer Raymond was born and over the next 20 years became the leading entertainer for the group.
Jennifer fronted the band at the age of eight and when she left for college in 1998, had recorded over 40 songs
on five albums. In 1987, Jessica Raymond was born and performed with Morningstar until she was 12 years old.
Jessica became a star cross country runner at Lely High School and was part of the 2003 state runner-up team!
Jennifer is a graduate of UCF in musical theater and works as a full time entertainer at Walt Disney World.
Jessica is a junior at FIU majoring in elementary education. These young ladies are the reason the Raymonds
bought Stan’s Music.
They both felt in 1994 that Jennifer should start school in one state and stay there the entire school year.
Jessica was starting school as well and the time for touring was over! The band continued to play often until
2003. Since then, New Year’s Eve has been the extent of their performance schedule.
| HISTORY OF THE MORNINGSTAR SHOWBAND |
| Morningstar Music is grateful to all their family members that helped establish Morningstar Music, especially Roger’s father, Charles C. Raymond, Karen’s mother, Ann Garriott, and the current Boss of Morningstar, Roger’s mother Doris Raymond-Parker. Many people helped, but these three gave the vision, the dream, the finances as well as the blood, sweat, and tears. Ann and “Charlie” live on in our dreams and “The Boss” is still the backbone of our lives on a daily basis! |
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
| IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD |
Roger Raymond
Karen Raymond
Don Tegeler
Ray Nesbit
Rich Rahlf
Mike Sumen
Boz Johnston
Mike Mills
Dan Fortlander
Jenn Raymond
Karen Raymond
Don Tegeler
Ray Nesbit
Rich Rahlf
Mike Sumen
Boz Johnston
Mike Mills
Dan Fortlander
Jenn Raymond
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3,495
3,491
2,007
1,564
1,481
1,179
825
713
684
640
3,491
2,007
1,564
1,481
1,179
825
713
684
640
| TOP TEN MORNINGSTAR SHOWBAND MEMBERS (IN SHOWS PERFORMED) |