Mike Meyer's life has been deeply intertwined with the world of music. From his early days, the bus would drop him and his siblings off at their family's downtown Blue Springs music shop. Here, the Meyer clan would come together, assisting customers and doing homework before heading home. His parents, Ted and Betty Meyer, were school teachers who opened their first Meyer Music in 1966 to supplement their income. Over the years, two more locations were added - in Overland Park and the Northland. Each location is managed by a Meyer family member, truly making it a family affair.

Band of Angels: A Nonprofit Making a Difference

With their success, the Meyers established Band of Angels, a nonprofit that provides instruments to children who wish to study music but can't afford to buy them. One of their most popular fundraisers is Art That Blows, where art created from broken and unusable instruments is auctioned off.

Unique Instrument Scrap Art

There have been numerous amazing pieces in the auctions. One standout is a seven-foot-tall sculpture called Marley created by a former Hallmark artist named Robert Hurlburt. It stands in front of the Meyer Music in Overland Park. Kids who come in for lessons are constantly amazed and take selfies and pictures with it. It even resembles Jar Jar Binks from Star Wars.

Favorite Spot to Make Music

Mike plays the piano and finds his favorite place to make music is in his living room, sitting at his grand piano. It helps him relax and unwind. He started a tradition when his kids were young. He would go into the living room early in the morning and play "Happy Birthday" on their birthdays to wake them up. They loved it and still expect a video of him playing on their big days, even though they are grown now.

Inspiring KC Metro Buildings and Sculptures

Mike loves signs. Iconic signs like the Western Auto, Town Topic, and Gem Theater signs inspire him. It's a wonderful throwback to see them. Several of his recent scrap instrument art pieces recreate these signs.

Aspirations for Band of Angels

Band of Angels has been a fulfilling journey so far and has grown beyond Mike's expectations. They have already provided instruments to students and schools in 20 different states. His long-term goal is to see Band of Angels become a national charity based in KC.

Musician Dream Jam

Billy Joel has always been Mike's idol. As a young boy who loved playing the piano, Billy made playing the piano cool. Mike used to be late to football practice for piano lessons, but he wouldn't change it. Now, he can still sit down and play the piano and share it with friends. He might have even used playing Billy's songs to get a few dates along the way.