oUR STORY
August Biggerstaff
Our story begins when Mr. Biggerstaff left the Chickering piano factory to start the Piano Tuning Program at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University) in Kirksville, Missouri in 1922. Among his students was a talented musician and eager entrepreneur, Stanley Shaw.
Stanley Shaw
Stanley graduated from Mr. Biggerstaff's technology program in 1932. Later, he would open Shaw Music in Jefferson City which eventually expanded to 3 stores throughout Missouri. Mr. Shaw went on to train 2 piano technicians; his son-in-law Gus Schwartz, and Smokey Burd.
Smokey Burd
Allen "Smokey" Burd, a studio musician and guitar teacher at Shaw Music, was offered a piano tuner apprenticeship under Mr. Shaw. Smokey went into the piano tuning and repair business in 1964 and would go on to train his son Ronnie Burd, Terry Keeney, and his grandson Joe Kemple. In addition he taught piano tuning courses in South Korea, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Liberia.
Ron, a 2nd generation piano tuner, assisted Smokey in piano repairs part-time for many years.
Terry became Smokey's competitor and remained a life-long friend.
Joe worked alongside his grandfather Smokey for over a decade, absorbing as much knowledge as he could.
oUR STORY
Joe Kemple
Joe began working with his grandfather Smokey Burd at age 18, and is now enjoying his 37th year as a piano tuner. A certified Master Piano Technician, he has a wide range of experience, including having been on staff at Truman State University (where this story began 102 years ago), a tech for two different Steinway dealers, and as the tech for the largest music store in Norway. Joe is a lifelong musician and has performed in numerous groups -including as a trumpet player with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, as a bass player in a hard rock band, and on keys in an experimental group.
Ike
Ike, our youngest and 4th generation technician, has a background in mechanics, electronics, music composition and sound engineering. He is allergic to the internet, so you'll just have to guess his last name. Ike is an absolute natural when it comes to piano actions and all things mechanical.