Brook Mays
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (musical instruments) |
| Founded | August 1901 in Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Founder | Brook Mays |
| Defunct | August 2006 |
| Fate | Liquidated; assets acquired by Oak Point Partners in 2010; resumed operations under new organization in December 2006 |
| Successor | New organization operating under the Brook Mays name since December 2006 |
| Headquarters | Dallas , United States |
Area served | Southwestern United States, international (via mail-order and e-commerce) |
| Products | Musical instruments, sheet music, accessories, instrument rentals, instrument repair services |
| Website | brookmays |
Brook Mays Music Company, commonly referred to as Brook Mays, is a retailer headquartered in Dallas, Texas specializing in musical instruments, sheet music, and related accessories catering to individuals, ensembles, and orchestras.
History
The company was established in August 1901 by its founder, Brook Mays, who identified a market opportunity for a piano dealership in Dallas. Initially focused solely on pianos, it quickly became the largest dealership of its kind within the region. Notably, Brook Mays was the sole prominent music business in the area to endure through the Great Depression.
During the 1940s, the product range expanded to include organs, sheet music, and instruments for band ensembles. Between the end of World War II and the early 1950s, significant renovations and enlargement of the downtown Dallas location facilitated growth in its band instrument division. This development positioned Brook Mays as the leading supplier of band instruments to educational institutions throughout the southern United States. The company frequently collaborated with school districts, providing them with discounted pricing for bulk purchases.
The rise in popularity of electric instruments spurred rapid expansion, resulting in over 50 retail outlets along with mail-order and e-commerce operations serving customers internationally. Each location benefited from comprehensive instrument repair services and offered the largest rental program for musical instruments across the southwestern United States.
Brook Mays is recognized by its tagline: "Brook Mays means music".
In 2003, competitor First Act Inc., known for marketing instruments through mass retail channels, initiated legal action against Brook Mays and was awarded $16.7 million. First Act asserted that Brook Mays discouraged customers from purchasing their affordable instruments based on a flyer distributed to band directors and consumers. By 2006, a judge upheld the full claim amount in favor of First Act. Subsequently, in July 2006, Brook Mays Music Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, attributing financial difficulties to disappointing back-to-school and holiday season sales.
Following over a century in operation, Brook Mays was ordered to liquidate in August 2006. On December 1, 2010, Oak Point Partners, a private investment firm, acquired remaining assets—both known and unknown—that had not been previously administered from the Brook Mays Music Company Bankruptcy Estate.
Starting December 1, 2006, a new organization resumed operations under the Brook Mays name at some former locations. Presently, this entity manages five retail outlets—two within the Dallas/Fort Worth area including company offices and showroom—and three situated in the Greater Houston region. The business continues to provide band instrument rentals to schools.