NATCHEZ — Stan Smith worked as a guitar string changer and piano delivery boy for Heard Music Company on Liberty Road for nearly 30 years.

Now, the business is his.

Smith bought the store in January from Frank Heard whose parents were the original owners of the store.

“We hired Stan about 25 years ago as a part-time employee,” Heard said. “So when I was ready to retire, and because everyone loves Stan I asked him if he wanted to buy the store.”

The answer was yes and the next item on the agenda for the old music store was a new sign for its new name — Stan’s String Shop.

For Smith the happy ending is due to a lot of hard work and devotion.

“The Heards were and are more like family than they ever felt like bosses,” Smith said. “I learned a lot of what I know about music from asking theory questions while were delivering pianos.”

The Heard Music Company first opened in 1953. The store’s first location was on Franklin Street right in downtown Natchez. By the mid-1970s the store moved to its current location.

Smith started working at the store part time and eventually worked his way up to teaching guitar and bass lessons.

“My parents always told me to do something I like doing,” Smith said. “I just couldn’t find anything I liked more than playing guitar.”

Smith’s love for music is not only apparent in his profession but also in his hobbies. Smith is the lead guitarist for the local band Black Bayou.

“I love music and I love to teach music,” Smith said. “There is such a feeling accomplishment when you work so hard to play a song and then you get it, I can’t describe the feeling. Playing music is also a great escape and stress reliever.”

During an average week Smith sculpts the musical minds of 20 to 30 students and on weekends he manipulates chords and harmonies to make people dance and sing.

Smith’s life is music and his sons are proof.

“One of my sons plays the French horn and the other is a drummer,” Smith said.

“I love seeing the diversity of people who play different instruments and different music, but every musician is the same — we all do it for ourselves, and love it.”