Khalid Mahmoud - Brass / Woodwind / Pro Audio 

Instruments: Trumpet / Flugel Horn / Bass Guitar

Khalid’s musical journey began during his freshman year of high school when he picked up the saxophone. Despite having never played an instrument before—and admittedly choosing band class because he thought it would be easy—he quickly excelled. His natural talent didn't go unnoticed. Seeing how fast Khalid was progressing, his band director made a sudden pivot: "We don't need any more sax players. I need a trumpet player, so here."

That hand-off changed everything. The moment Khalid picked up the trumpet, he fell in love with its brilliant sound and its commanding presence as the loudest instrument in the room. His passion for the trumpet carried him all the way through high school and college bands. Never one to limit his musical horizons, he later picked up the bass guitar to groove with local classic rock bands. Today, Khalid remains deeply active in the local music scene, playing trumpet with the Clovis Big Band and both the Fresno and Clovis Community Bands.

"It’s been my lifelong dream to own my own business. Combining that dream with my love for music and community is what inspired me to step into the music industry. While sharing my goal of opening a local music shop, the opportunity arose to purchase the American Music Company—and I took the leap."

— Khalid

Brad Lewis - Lead Repair Technician

Instruments: If he can fix it, he can play it (He can fix anything) 

Brad’s obsession with music began at just ten years old when he first picked up a guitar—and he hasn’t put it down since. Over the years, his passion only grew, driving him to become a versatile multi-instrumentalist.

When Brad decided to channel his love for music into instrument repair and maintenance, he set a unique goal for himself: to be able to play almost every instrument he worked on. Today, he is fluent across strings, percussion, woodwinds, and brass, giving him a rare, firsthand understanding of how each instrument should feel and sound for the musician playing it.

To round out his technical expertise, Brad studied Audio Engineering and holds an Associate Degree in Recording & Production. Here at the shop, Brad is our go-to expert, handling everything from meticulous instrument repair work to complex audio installations and everything in between. Whether your instrument needs a tune-up or your venue needs a sound system install, Brad has you covered.

Miles Hernandez - Lesson Program Lead & Marketing

Instruments: Drums & Percussion (The hardest instrument to play btw)

Miles’s drumming journey started around age ten in an unexpected way:  Guitar Hero, who says video games are bad for you? The moment he picked up the  drumsticks, he was hooked. He quickly graduated from the screen to a real drum set, learning everything he could—and today, well, drumming is pretty much his life!

When Miles decided to take his passion to the next level, he threw himself into his musical education. He studied everything from drumline and jazz bands to classical concert percussion, doing whatever it took to grow into a versatile, working professional. Today, Miles is a highly active member of the local music community, playing with the band Perception (@perceptionwestcoast) and directing the Firebaugh High School Drumline.

Here at the shop, Miles wears many hats. He is a cornerstone of our lesson program, teaching and mentoring over 20 students every week, His students range from 5 yrs to 60 yrs old. When he’s not behind the kit, he’s behind the camera and the screen, managing our social media, capturing product photography, and driving our graphic design.

Damian Mendoza - Store Clerk/Guitar Repairs / Guitar player