Bills Music, Inc. Verified listing

This musical destination was started by William “Bill” Higgins and has been family owned and operated since 1965.

Bill’s interest in music started with the introduction of Rock n’ Roll in the 1950’s and more specifically with Elvis, the Beatles and Rolling Stones. He learned how to play their songs on guitar and then started going to people’s homes and giving them guitar lessons.

In 1965, Bill and his wife Nancy rented a small 8x8 room behind a coin shop on Frederick Road in Catonsville, MD, and started teaching music lessons there. Eventually, they took over that space, and in addition to teaching guitar lessons, began selling accessories and a few instruments.

During these early years, the store was slowly but surely obtaining dealerships for all the major lines in the music industry. It was also at this time, that Bill’s Music pioneered a young adult credit plan to help aspiring young musicians acquire the instruments and equipment that they needed.

While operating the store, Bill also was a member of a local rock band, and found time to perform the music he loved. At the same time, local musicians Ron, Jim, and Lou were also performing with their own bands. While unknown to each other at the time, the group of four would eventually meet one by one, and form a team at Bill’s Music that would last for over forty years, even up to the current day.

Over the years, Bill’s Music expanded 7 times along Frederick Road and now occupies a 36,000 sq. ft. building chock full of new, used and vintage equipment from the top name brands in the industry. Bill continues to work at the store each day alongside his wife Nancy and their three (grown) kids. Bill’s has exploded into one of the largest musical instrument retailers on the East Coast specializing in musical instrument sales, rentals, repairs, lessons, sound consultations, trade-ins, & the purchase of used gear. In addition, Bill’s serves the musical community with two on-site instrument repair facilities, band rehearsal space, and mobile bandstands.

With the addition of BillsMusic.com and an eBay storefront in the 1990’s, Bill’s Music now sells musical instruments and equipment all over the world and is recognized as one of the leading independent musical retailers in the entire country.