Newspaper Article 1996 – No first Knight jitters for this cool cat!

No first Knight jitters for this cool cat!

When we called into Sutcliffes Music Centre to catch up with manager Owen Knight who lives in Havelock North, wonderful music was emanating from the shop floor. Tucked away in the corner was Owen playing the latest Yamaha keyboard – and what a groover he is!

With a musical background spanning more years than we can mention here, Owen is at home in Sutcliffes and is now selling musical instruments to a third generation of Hawke’s Bay folk.

Innovative

Originally called “Archie Don’s Music Centre”, the store passed into the management of James Sutcliffe in 1929 and became “Sutcliffes” in 1931. Old newspaper ads of the time show that nothing much has essentially changed in retail – ads for sales were prominent and the latest goods proudly displayed for all to see.

Sutcliffes was always an innovative store – they imported the first electronic gramophone in the Bay, bought by a Mr Ewan Campbell of Horonui Station. That was very newsworthy, as was the fact that Sutcliffes owned 2ZI, Hawke’s Bay’s first radio station. A news clipping from the early 1930’s says the station was received by someone in New York and US papers reported that “they must be very pleased that a station of their power had been heard at such a great distance”! The station was run by the Barcham brothers and eventually had to go off air because as a non-funded station, they couldn’t afford royalty payments.

Own band

Owen started working at Sutcliffes in 1957 when Jim Sutcliffe offered him the job. He left his position at Eric Rutherfurd’s grocery store (corner Frederick St and Karamu Rd) and entered the world of music retailing, having been playing the sax in “Owen Knight’s Band” for some time.

“I learnt to play with Sid Kamau, a colourful character who certainly knew his stuff. After a few months of taking up the sax, I was playing in bands around Hastings and then formed my own band. Dancing was all there was to do on a Saturday night really and I played at all the balls – the Hunt Ball, Fruitgrowers and Nurses Balls … as well as at debutante parties and weddings,” says Owen. He took great pleasure in imitating English great Freddy Gardiner and had his tunes off pat!

Home of Music

It was great to be able to work in a field that was also his hobby and now, 40 years later, Owen still thrives on the challenges that the store brings his way, and enjoys recalling some of the stories from years gone by.

“Sutcliffes was known as “the home of music” and in 1956 we moved into our new store (where they are currently situated). Opening night was a big event with everyone smartly dressed. Sutcliffes was the first store to have recessed lights and people said ‘they looked like shining stars …” says Owen.

The window displays were something else and people used to go window shopping at night, lingering for some while at the Sutcliffes display featuring the latest sheet music such as “A Room Full of Roses” and “That Certain Party of Mine”.

Grand piano

When they imported the first big Steinway piano into Hawke’s Bay, it was a grand occasion.

“One of the Bay’s top teachers Mrs Anne Morgan was our demonstrator for the evening and it was out of this world for music lovers.”

A Mr Meissner of Havelock North bought the 9ft Steinway grand and apparently he used to lend it to the Municipal Theatre on special occasions.

Years of experience

Owen has many yarns to tell about the good old days at Sutcliffes and a book full of newspaper clippings showing the way things were. They continue to be a leading music store in the Bay and have a reputation that spreads far and wide. The staff at Sutcliffes have over 200 years of service in the music field between them, so are well placed to help you out!

Meanwhile, Owen’s enjoying his new home in the Village and still tinkers on the old sax when he gets the chance…