In The Record

Even though The Candyman Strings & Things has been part of the National Association of Music Merchant's (NAMM) Top 100 Dealers four times since its inception in 2011 and won seven Best Of awards in other categories from the organization (that's more than any music retailer in the world, by the way), owners Rand and Cindy Cook were utterly surprised to be named 2014's Dealer of the Year at the organization's recent annual awards banquet in Nashville.

"We were completely blown away because just being in the top 100 is a real honor in and of itself," Rand Cook says. "But to be honored at such a high level is a real nice feather in the cap."

Now the store is included in the Congressional Record. NM Rep. Ben Ray Luján read a commendation on the House floor in Washington DC on Jan. 6 about the store, then presented it again to the Cooks during a small ceremony Jan. 10 at its St. Michael's Drive.

Since 1969, the message says, The Candyman has been an exemplary musical instrument retailer not only as a business, but as a community-minded business.

"We don't exist for the sole reason of making money," Cook says. "When people shop here, they support the public and private schools, our Rock Camp program and the charities we donate to every year, and they become a part of what community stands for…by shopping local, Santa Feans provide opportunities for our kids and in other philanthropic areas."

The Candyman's Rock Camp program takes place in June, July and August, though official dates have yet to be announced for the 2015 sessions.

"We promote similar programs in the schools and anybody can have access to the information and tools we've developed," Cook tells SFR. "The more kids that make music, the better."

Santa Fe Reporter