PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SPOTLIGHT AWARD … Pictured left to right: Misty King and Derek Schultz of Bryan Development, Steve Miller, Jane Miller and Ryan Miller.
PRESS RELEASE – To recognize local investments in buildings, landscaping, events and other accomplishments, Bryan Development has created a “Spotlight Award.” February’s Spotlight Award goes to Steve Miller, owner of Tri-State Music, upon his retirement.
Steve was born and raised in Cincinnati. His parents were not musically inclined, but he remembers his grandmother playing the piano. His father saw a demonstration of a Hammond organ so he bought it for their home.
It came with six free lessons. Steve was 10 years old. He started playing organ for his church’s youth groups and at age 12 he was playing for the regular services.
He was in the high school band mainly playing the sousaphone. He attended University of Cincinnati majoring in Business.
Steve also took private organ lessons at the Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. He had a part-time job demonstrating organs.
While in college, he played keyboards in a band for campus events and in bars. In 1967, he was asked to play the organ for the band The Casinos to record the hit song “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye.”
It reached number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Steve always knew he wanted to open his own music store.
He worked in the business sector for over 10 years saving his money. He moved to Bryan in 1975. In 1979, he married Jane Meckstroth.
They had two sons, Ryan and Derek. Steve opened his first store in Bryan in 1983. Throughout his career, he opened Tri State Music stores in Bryan, Defiance, Angola and Ft. Wayne.
The stores provided organs, pianos, keyboards, drums, band instruments, music, records and various accessories. Tri State Music provided pianos for local high school music contests.
The Bryan store had piano and guitar instructors, including piano recitals. Steve’s grandsons took weekly piano lessons at Tri State Music and always had fun visiting grandpa’s store.
At age 78, Steve closed Tri State Music in December 2025 after 42 years in the music business.
The last few months of being open, there was a steady stream of past and present customers in the store to tell Steve how much they had appreciated him and his business. Steve was organist at Trinity Lutheran church for 20 years.
He also played organ and piano at Wesley Methodist Church. In his younger days, he loved to play tennis and golf. At one time, he was President of Jaycees, Rotary and Orchard Hills Country Club.
He started the Rotary Reads program at Bryan Elementary School. His main love is baseball. Steve enjoys being a spectator at his grandsons’ sporting events, especially baseball.
Steve was the announcer for Bryan’s high school baseball games at Sumpter field for over 700 games and 21 years.
He donated sound equipment and his signature voice could be heard throughout the neighborhood. Upon retirement, Steve donated a Clavinova (digital piano) to Bryan City Schools. Bryan Development’s mission is to enrich the community by encouraging economic activity, preservation and community pride.
Spotlight Awards go to a Bryan resident, business, industry, or institution that has invested in new construction, preservation, beautification efforts, or those with milestone events.
Recipients are recognized by Bryan Development with a plaque, and through social media and local news outlets.
The community is encouraged to submit Spotlight Award nominations at developbryan@gmail.com.