By VINCE REMBULAT

209 staff reporter

Bill Stevens has shared moments with a few big names in music.

The manager of The Music Box has jammed with famous Stockton native Chris Isaak on several occasions. Included was the Concert in the Park series at Victory Park with the Nick Isaak Band in 2012.

“We tried to keep that one a secret (of Chris Isaak as the special guest) but people still found out,” he said Thursday from his business at 4653 Pacific Ave. in Stockton.

Stevens is helped out by none other than Atomik Tommy McClendon, a former guitarist of the British rock band UFO. McClendon also played with Soulmotor, Souldog, Boy Wonder and Thunderwing.

He and Stevens are musicians who also teach music lessons at The Music Box.

In addition, Stevens is the guitarist for the Stephanie D. Trio. The group is inspired by the sounds of Classic Rock and Motown, and includes Stephanie Damilano on lead vocals and keyboard, Mihran Bobson on drums, and Kiah Cornelious on bass.

On Thursdays, they host a jam session at Garlic Bros in Stockton, beginning at 8 p.m., and recently performed at the Valley Brew.

“The local music scene is getting better,” said Stevens, who is a 1971 graduate of Stagg High.

He’s willing to help out musicians of any age who come through the doors of the Music Box. “Many of us started playing in garage bands,” Stevens said.

He got his start at another music store on Pacific Avenue’s Miracle Mile in 1969, moving over to The Music Box once that business went belly up.

Stevens and others continue to bring the joy of music to the community. That’s the aim of The Music Box, which has been around since 1974 and at the current location for nearly 25 years.

“We’re here to bring fun and provide a needed service to the music community of Stockton,” he said.

This standard combination store carries a wide selection of acoustic and electric guitars, basses, drums, ukuleles, speakers, sheet music and other accessories.

In addition to lessons, The Music Box handles the repair and maintenance to any product purchased at the store.

Guitars are often fixed on site. Anything that can’t be repaired here is shipped directly to the main store in Lodi, according to Stevens.

The Music Box is on Pacific Avenue just south of March Lane, and is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.

For more information, call (209) 474-8701.