Josh Kafka, above, recently purchased Blue Earth’s Bumper to Bumper Music from Scott Nemanic, renaming the store Everlong Music.

A passion for music he says he got from his father inspired Josh Kafka to take a big step in his life and become the owner of a music store.

“I have purchased Bumper to Bumper Music from Scott Nemanic,” Kafka reveals. “I am renaming it Everlong Music, but the location of the business will remain here inside of the Parts City Auto Parts store.”

According to Kafka, his father Paul had an old entertainment center setup when they lived in Texas.

“He would always have music on,” the younger Kafka comments. “I was probably in kindergarten and just loved listening to his CDs and vinyl records.”

Kafka shares you can count him in as one of those ‘audiophiles’ who believes the sound from a vinyl album is better than what a CD produces.

“It is a fuller, richer sound that an album produces,” Kafka claims. “I will listen to almost anything under the sun.”

His statement is evidenced by an old Nancy Sinatra album sitting next to a turntable on his work counter.

Though he may be willing to listen to almost any genre of music, there is no question he is partial to one particular type.

“I tend to like what most people would call heavy metal,” he says. “Avenged Sevenfold is probably my current favorite band.”

For someone who is so passionate about music, it may seem odd he really did not pick up an instrument until he was in his 20s.

“Regrettably, I was not involved in music when I was in school,” Kafka, a 2011 Blue Earth Area graduate, admits. “I think I was one of those kids who thought he was too cool for that.”

Kafka finally decided to learn to play guitar.

“I really had hesitated to think about playing until I saw guitarist Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters,” Kafka explains. “Grohl’s advice was ‘Just do it.'”

And that is what Kafka did.

“I picked up a guitar when I was 23 and for the most part taught myself to play,” he says. “I would also watch YouTube and study how people played.”

Now, he shares, he just plays for his own enjoyment.

“I would love to be able to play in a band or just jam with a group of guys in a garage,” Kafka comments.

He notes he was probably into more mainstream music when he was 16-18 years old. But, as someone who is so passionate about music, he has a list of favorite groups who were playing before he was born.

“My favorite band from the 1970s would probably have to be Led Zeppelin. My 80s band would be Megadeth and Foo Fighters would be my pick for the 90s,” Kafka shares.

Another favorite of Kafka’s was Casey Kasem.

“You could learn so much music history from listening to his show,” he says. “He had a great voice and was the voice of Scooby Doo, who is one of my favorite cartoon characters.”

Just as Kasem put his voice to work on the radio airwaves, Kafka soon will be using his smooth baritone voice when he begins working at the KBEW radio station in a few weeks.

“I have been hired as the news director,” he comments. “I have always loved speaking and performing in front of people and feel very comfortable doing so.”

He feels there are many people with talent to share and he is hoping to provide an outlet for them to do so.

“I would like to bring karaoke to some area establishments and have some open-mic nights,” Kafka says. “I have been to some karaoke nights and have witnessed 50-year old farmers who probably never performed in front of a crowd just totally blow away the audience. Often, people just need an outlet. It is part of what I want to do to bring music to the community.”

But, giving lessons himself is not in the picture.

“The 10 Talents Art Center is doing an amazing job in that area,” Kafka remarks. “But I can provide the instruments for the people to use.”

And, it is important to note, guitars are not the only music-related item Everlong Music has available for sale.

“I have clarinets, cornets, trumpets and I can get whatever a person wants,” he says. “Plus, I carry reeds, guitar strings, violin strings, drum sticks, amplifiers and all the cords to hook everything up.”

Of course, Kafka has a wide variety of guitars for sale which are displayed in his store.

“I buy some used guitars and clean them up and put new strings in them and perform any other task necessary so they look and sound like new,” he explains. “The only ones not for sale are the ones Scott or I own.”

Kafka shares being located in Blue Earth helps to fill a void in the music store topography.

“I believe I am the only music store in a 40-mile radius,” he comments. “People needing a reed for their saxophone or a string for their guitar do not have to drive to Mankato to get one.”

Becoming an owner of a new store and starting a new job at the radio station are not the only changes Kafka is making in his life.

“I am getting married in a little more than a year from now,” Kafka shares.

His fiancée, Shannon Christianson, is originally from Fairmont but has been working in Clarion, Iowa.

“She is a graphic designer for Sports Graphics,” Kafka says. “She is able to work from home so that works out well for us.”

With everything going on, Kafka still tries to find time to play guitar.

“I play my electric guitar 90 percent of the time,” he comments. “If I am singing songs around a campfire I will get out an acoustic guitar.”

Kafka shares he is thankful for the opportunity Nemanic has given him.

“I started working for him in January of this year and then ended up being able to buy the music business from him,” he says. “Scott has been wonderful to me and allowing me to keep the business in his building has really helped.”

Everlong Music will be open when Parts City Auto Parts is open which is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“Even if I am not here, if an item has a price tag, anybody can ring it up,” Kafka explains. “Otherwise, people can call me at 507-525-6495.

His passion is hard to contain as he talks about his dreams.

“Music is something everyone can relate to,” Kafka says. “It is fun to see the enjoyment people get from music.”