THANK YOU
FOR 150 YEARS OF MUSIC!
1876 – A young music teacher named James Welsh Pepper opens his music store in Philadelphia,
down the block from where Thomas Paine published Common Sense a century earlier.
1895 – J.W. Pepper builds the first Sousaphone, made to John Philip Sousa's specifications. The
instrument travels the country on tour with the renowned Sousa band.
1943 – The US Navy orders 35 tons of music to meet the demand for performances during
World War II.
1955 – Pepper hosts a three-day music reading session at the University of Delaware – a first
of its kind.
1989 – The Pepper National Music Network (PNMN) is launched, paving the way for the
future of internet-based music buying.
2000 – ePrint is introduced and digital sheet music delivery becomes a reality.
2012 – My Score, a platform for independent publishers, is launched.
2025 – Pepper awards over $150,000 in music education scholarships!
So, what next? You can count on Pepper being here for you in the journey ahead – every challenge,
and every breakthrough. We are committed to serving you fast and reliably, today and always.
Without you there's no J.W. Pepper. So, thank you. It is our honor to work beside you.
J.W. Pepper's extensive library of music, resources, and equipment is rooted in generations of musical
knowledge coupled with a deep respect for what it takes to bring music to life. Here are some of the
milestones on our journey:
