ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996               TAG: 9610210012
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 

NEW TO THE VALLEY

ROCKET MUSIC

Owners: Richard Jessee, Andrew Rauch, Tim Taylor

Location: 405 Draper Road, Blacksburg

Phone: 961-ROCK (961-7625)

Hours: Weekdays: 10 a.m to 8 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: noon to 5 p.m.

Products and Services: Rocket Music is Blacksburg's newest musical instrument store, providing everything an aspiring rock musician might need, including insight and conversation from the owners, who are all accomplished performers. The store stocks a variety of new and used guitars, keyboards, drum and percussion equipment and strings. And it offers lessons in guitar, bass, drums and keyboards, as well as instrument repairs, and instrument and sound system rentals.

About the Owners: Jessee, 30, has performed on guitar for 16 years and is the headliner of the Richard Jessee Project. Rauch, 37, has played guitar since 1968 and has performed with several local groups. Taylor, 33, has played drum and percussion instruments for 11 years with the Kind, Electric Woodshed and other area bands. They opened Rocket Music in part because of their desire to step away from the at times grueling performing schedule they sometimes set for themselves.

LENGTH: Short :   36 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  Lora Gordon. Richard Jessee (left), on electric guitar, 
          Tim Taylor, on Conga, and Andrew Rauch, on acoustic guitar, jam a 
          little together in Rocket Music in Blacksburg. Jessee and Taylor are
          owners of the music shop while Rauch is the store manager.