Our Family History

"The First 30 Years"

        The Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor was started by Ken and Margo Tennesen in 1976.   The music store was then located  in Tarzana, California.   Even from the beginning the Pickin' Parlor played host to some of the greats like Bill Monroe and The Country Gentlemen.  After their five year run Ken decided to take retirement seriously and sold the store to his  new son-in-law and daughter  Frank and Tammy Javorsek.  In 1980 Frank and Tammy relocated the Pickin' Parlor to Canoga Park, California where they spent the next twenty years molding The Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor into the Bluegrass icon it is today.  The turn of the new millennium brought in the next owners Ric and Alicia Griffith (still in the same family in case your keeping track-Alicia is Tammy's little sister). Ric and Alicia found the current home for the Pickin' Parlor in Old Granada Hills, California.  The location is more than twice the size of the old one hosting monthly Jams, concerts, workshops, retail sales, and music lessons for more than three hundred students a week. 

    The story of this music store is not just about the Tennesen, Javorsek, and Griffith Family.   It is about the Bluegrass community.  The people are more to us than just customers- they are neighbors and friends.  Over the years we have seen children and adults grow into musicians and performers.  There has been more than one example of  kids coming in for lessons and, years later, bringing their kids in for lessons!  We've also taught whole families to play who have eventually gone on to form bands and even tour the local festival circuit .  The Bluegrass circle is more than just a bunch of people that are into a certain type of music-we feel that it is a family of families who truly love the music from our Heartland.  We are very proud of what we have grown to become  and we invite you to grow with us musically-  listening, teaching, and learning together.

  "The Next 30 Years"

On October 1, 2006, the Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor was purchased by long time family friend and student, Judy Hersh. The transition has been very smooth as Judy has been the Blue Ridge bookkeeper since 1997.

Her main purpose for purchasing the business is to keep the family tradition going and at the same time taking it to its fullest potential. The Blue Ridge Pickin’ Parlor has been and will continue to be a service to the community and a place for families to pass down the knowledge of traditional and other types of music to their children and to share with each other the passion of the music and the community atmosphere it promotes.

The store has been upgraded with a computer system including a point of sale program. As of July 1, 2007 an additional 880 square feet have been leased two doors east of the main store at 17824 Chatsworth St. This location provides the space to offer group classes of all types and the new children’s program “Kindermusik”. We also hold an intermediate jam there on the same night as “Pickin’ Night”.

The business continues to grow and thrive due to the Pickin’ Parlor’s dedicated staff, teachers, students and long time community involvement of everyone’s love of music. Tammy remains the store manager, Frank still teaches and does repairs, Ric comes in to help with concert sound, Alicia is certified as a Kindermusik instructor and Tammy’s daughter Naomi will be certified and teaching by September 2007.

Judy’s family is involved with the operations and includes her “significant other” Russ Lancaster running sound and working festivals, her stepson Conal as a clerk & soundman, her stepdaughter Nichole who will begin training in the Fall and her children, Ashleigh 10 (loves to get up on stage) and Hunter 3  (loves Kindermusik). We are extremly proud of and look forward to the return of stepson Bryan James, who is serving our great country in the Navy. He is stationed in Norfolk, VA on the USS Carter Hall.You will also meet her cousins whose children are now students of the Blue Ridge and last but not least her Dad, Jerry, 82 years young, who loves coming to the concerts!

Check out the new class schedule update under the lesson program and our concert series under the Event Calendar. Keep your eyes open for the date our new website format and web store will be launched.