Robert Siciliano and George Rigney, who met through Sam Ash Music, recently opened Garden State Drums and Percussion. With a vision to create New Jersey’s premier drum and percussion experience, Garden State Drums aims to become a place for musicians to learn, connect and share their love for drumming. The Beat Makers BY KIMBERLY KAPELA George Rigney and Robert Siciliano
W hen Sam Ash Music closed its doors last year, it be- came a catalyst to forge something new — some- thing deeply rooted in the values Sam Ash employees cultivated over years of work at the music chain. A shining example of this is Garden State Drums and Percussion, a new drum store founded by two percussionists, Robert Siciliano and George Rigney. The duo met through Sam Ash, where Rigney was working at the time, and quickly bonded over their shared passion for helping drummers of all levels find the right tools and resources to grow. Their vision is to create a premier drum and percussion experience in New Jersey,
built on expertise, passion and a dedication to customer service. For Rigney, the journey to Garden State Drums and Percussion has been decades in the making. His career at Sam Ash began in 1994 as part-time Christmas help, and over the years, he worked in various roles — including running the drum and stock departments — before eventually becoming the general manager of the Springfield, New Jersey, location, a position he held for 15 years. “Working at Sam Ash was an incredible experience,” Rigney said. “It prepared me for learning the right ways to sell — learning the customer always comes first, actively listening to your customers, delivering top- tier service and being able to solve problems.
When Sam Ash did it right, there was no one better. You always felt like you were dealing with a family-owned-and-operated company. Our customers felt like they dealt with a small business as opposed to a big business. It had the vibe that if you did it right, your favorite job you ever had was working in Sam Ash.” In February 2024, a conference call with Sam Ash managers took place, where they announced plans to close 18 stores while keeping 26 open. “They reassured us, saying, ‘You guys are the top-performing stores. We’ll close these locations, generate some capital, meet the financial targets the bank requires, and then reinvest in the company. Everything
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