Christmas concert will be tribute to late ‘Music Man’
Brent Young, longtime owner of Young’s Music and Sound, passed away earlier this year. Young will be remembered during the upcoming Christmas concert in Millersburg on Dec. 5.
Harold Hill was a make-believe musician in the famous musical, “The Music Man,” but ask any young Holmes County student musician who played an instrument over the past several decades who the Music Man was, and they would often point to Brent Young.
Young, 74, who passed away Feb. 21, 2021, will be remembered and honored during a Christmas concert that will feature the combined bands of Orrville Community and Walhounding Rube on Dec. 5 at The Abbey Community Center in Millersburg. The concert will begin at 3 p.m., and there will be light refreshments and a social hour immediately following.
Young, who was a member of both groups playing at the concert, began his music career as a youngster, where he picked up a trumpet, turned on the smooth jazz sound of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Band, cranked on the old phonograph, and learned to play all by himself.
That began a lifelong career in the world of music, and he eventually began to work at his father Paul’s store, Young Music & Sound, in downtown Millersburg. The store originated in 1965, and in 1990 Young purchased the store from his father and owned it until his passing. During that time he learned a great deal about musical instruments, and according to his wife Phyllis, he could pick up just about anything and quickly learn to play it.
Not only that, but he also could repair everything.
“There wasn’t much Brent couldn’t play or fix when it came to musical instruments,” Phyllis said. “He loved music, he loved playing and he loved helping young people learn how to enjoy music. He played for a long time by ear, and it kind of came naturally to him.”
As the owner of Young’s Music & Sound, Brent Young endeared himself to area school band directors and became an integral part of the growth of band programs. While he could play just about any instrument, his passion was the trumpet, and he participated in several different bands in Wayne County, Tuscarawas County, Coshocton County and in his hometown community in Holmes County.
If Holmes County had a Music Man, Young certainly fit that description.
Young and Phyllis met at a Lamplighters singles dance years ago and immediately hit it off, and she quickly realized music was his passion.
“You could tell it was such a big part of his life and who he was,” said Phyllis, who will speak at the concert in remembering her husband.
Jann Hershberger invited Young to play at several of her Share-A-Christmas Night of Music concerts, and she said he never hesitated when asked to perform.
“Brent was one of those people who would do anything to help someone out,” Hershberger said. “He was so generous with his gift of music.”
The upcoming concert will have a freewill offering with all proceeds going to Holmes County Share-A-Christmas.
An evening of music and fellowship is certainly a perfect way to remember a man whose gift for music touched the lives of so many people.
The Abbey Community Center is located at 164 N. Washington St. in Millersburg.