Second Chance Stories: An In-store Concert
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Kevin Wymer took a turn at the keyboard, engrossed in his own jazz compositions. Wymer, of Giddings, had helped purchase another piano earlier in the week for an assisted-living facility where he plays on occasion. He decided to pass on the 1948 Kurtzmann at Second Chance. -
Darryl Leonard of Yoakum perched at an old piano for sale at Second Chance Emporium in La Grange last Saturday and treated customers to some rousing gospel music before heading off to shop for a suit. Photos by Julie Ardery
One-of-a-kind merchandise and whopper bargains keep shoppers coming to Second Chance, La Grange’s charity thrift store. And last Saturday, March 2, two impromptu piano players kept those customers entertained as well.
Darryl Leonard of Yoakum sat down at an old upright piano for sale next to the walking canes. He rolled out “Amazing Grace,” then “This Little Light of Mine” as a crowd gathered around.
Admirers clapped and begged for encores, and Leonard kindly obliged, singing along with more gospel favorites. Leonard plays an electronic keyboard and Hammond organ on weekends at Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Cuero. He said the 1948 C. Kurtzman & Co. piano was in surprisingly good shape. “And that’s a good price too,” he added -- marked down to $100.
As soon as Leonard stood up to do some shopping, another fellow sat down. Strains of boogie-woogie filled the air, and several customers began snapping their fingers.
Kevin Wymer of Giddings said he composes a lot of his own music and “gravitates” toward jazz. On Saturday he “gravitated” beautifully for about 20 minutes. He said the piano needed “a little bit of attention. I’d call this a jalopy.” But as he launched into a piece by jazz wizard Thelonious Monk, it cruised along like a Be-Bop Bentley.
Second Chance, 841 S. Reynolds St., La Grange, ac-cepts donations 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On sales days, Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., there’s no telling who you’ll see or what you’ll hear. All the store’s profits are turned back to local charities. As of press time, the Kurtzmann piano was still available.