A ‘Kozy’ time

By JESSICA LUTGENS

Staff Writer

Jim Kozan is a name that most Wasecans are quite familiar with. Having lived in this town for about 60 of his 73 years, Kozan has been an important part of the community via his small business, Waseca Music Co., as well as his many music endeavors. 

This year, Waseca Music marks its 70th year of business, having first been acquired by Kozan’s parents in 1952. That’s not the only way music was central in the Kozan household.

“My mother and dad met because they were both accordion players,” Kozan said. 

When he was three years old, Kozan’s parents took over the current Waseca Music Company after the owners of the business previously housed in the building decided to sell out their store. The Kozans approached the owners, Perrin and Brisbane, and offered to take any inventory that they didn’t sell - and thus, the Waseca Music Company began.

“Dad did repairs at night, and Ruth ran the store during the day - she did that for 52 years,” Kozan said.

Kozan first started working for his parents’ shop when he was 10. “My mom gave me 30 cents,” he said, “and I thought, ‘oh, my God’ - we had no tax back then - with 30 cents, I could get six candy bars!”

Since then, Kozan has remained involved with the store, officially taking ownership in 2006.  In the 1970s, during some of his earlier days performing music with various groups, he met his wife of 44 years, Judy. Judy ran the office for a company that put bands together at the time, and Kozan happened to be in one of those bands. The band chose Kozan, then 28, to be its business manager, so to speak, which meant a lot of communication with Judy.

The relationship continued from there, with the two eventually marrying and having three children: Amber, now 43 with four children of her own; Clint, 38; and Clayton, 35.

In the 1990s, Judy was notably elected the first female mayor of Waseca, 

“She was a tough cookie,” Kozan said. “I can only compare her to [New Richland’s] Margaret [Engesser] - she’s right up that alley.”

During that time, being female and being elected mayor was no easy feat, though Judy’s nine years of experience on the Waseca City Council helped pave the way. She also served as acting mayor while she was on the council when the mayor at the time was unavailable

“You had to have a lot of friends in order to sway [the public],” Kozan said. “In the history of my life, women have to do more than expected just to be considered to be doing the job.”

When she was elected mayor, Kozan’s father - who also served as acting mayor for a period of time - was particularly happy.

Following his wife’s passing in the fall of 2021, Kozan continues to own and operate Waseca Music Company and perform with various musical groups. Over the years, the biggest change for the store has been the evolution of the internet.

“My folks have no idea how nice it was for them when they didn’t have any internet,” Kozan said. “The internet [has caused] lower profits for all small businesses. Luckily, there are a lot of people whose price is close enough or cheaper than the internet: There’s a local loyalty [aspect], too.”

Some of the inventory in the shop comes from locals who find items they don’t want to hold onto, but are too good to throw away - instruments, vinyls, etc. Some of these can be fixed up and resold at Waseca Music. Kozan feels that his company’s strongest asset,  though, is the community trust the business has built over the years.

“As any other small business owner knows in any small town, it’s your reputation,” he said. “Don’t ever try to get too smart; if you think you can pull one off on somebody, you’ll be gone in a week,”

Laughing, he added, “A small town will know everything. We [at Waseca Music] haven’t had any problems with honesty or anything - my folks were good with that, and I continue by [that philosophy].”

Not only has its reputation helped Waseca Music within the community of Waseca, but it has garnered support from surrounding communities, as well - New Richland and Janesville, to name a couple. Kozan’s favorite part of owning the shop, though, is the personal aspect.

“For me, [the best part is] seeing people end up making a vocation in music,” he said. “Or even people that have other jobs but still play in a band on the weekend.”

Over the years, Kozan has been involved in about a dozen different musical groups - from duos and trios to ten-piece horn bands.

“The most difficult band I was ever in for music was in 1974: the Zero Ted Band,” he said. During the band’s five years, about a dozen different musicians played in it, including two other Wasecans - Keith Dieke and Steve McLoone. In 2015, the band was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.

“All the songs we made up were all kinds of jazz rock,” Kozan recalled. “It was very difficult stuff.”

Once he and his wife had children, Kozan scaled back his performing for a while, though he continued as a one-man band for many years.

“I didn’t have time to rehearse with groups,” he said, explaining that being a one-man band back then was very different than it is today. He used electronic percussion and vocalizers to harmonize his voice, but he had to create his own background music, starting with reel-to-reel recordings that he mixed down to cassettes for his performances.

“I did that for more than a decade,” he noted. “It’s a life-saver when you have kids.”

Though his knowledge of all instruments is particularly impressive - and important for helping customers at his shop - Kozan’s favorite instrument to play is the keyboard. He loves singing, as well. His keyboard skills are unique, as he is able to play bass with his left hand and chords and melodies with his right.

“Whether it’s a duo or a trio, that really makes it easier for bands,” he said. “When you’ve got a keyboard player that can also play bass, that’s great. You do a two-for-one thing.”

In 1994, Kozan had to step away from singing and playing due to a car accident that led to a stroke, causing him to lose his speech and memory of all songs. For 14 years, he switched gears and became a DJ, which allowed him to rehabilitate his voice and practice self-therapy in order to get back to singing and performing music. 

“I’m a lucky guy,” he said. “It’s wonderful that I was able to get my speech back, but what’s amazing is the kidney that I got in 2006.”

In 2006, Kozan underwent a kidney transplant following a diagnosis of kidney disease 20 years prior. He discovered the problem with his kidney at age 37 after opting for a physical exam offered by Brown Printing, where he worked for over 18 years in HR, bindery, and as a supervisor in the paper warehouse. The exam cost $5, and Kozan decided it would be worth the cost: the results, however, took him completely by surprise. 

“The test showed too much protein,” he said. “They told me, ‘Something isn’t right, Jim - you need to go to a kidney specialist at Mayo.’”

A biopsy at Mayo clinic led to the news that, in about 20 years, he would need a kidney transplant.

“They were right on with that one,” he said, explaining that the kidney he received was from a 19-year-old whose family donated his body after he passed away. “Now I’m 73 and my kidney is 35. I really appreciate getting a second round.”

After years of being a DJ, Kozan decided to get back into playing music, receiving offers in 2013.

“I said, ‘I know I’m going to give up a lot of money, but my heart is in playing,” he said. “I didn’t just want to play, I wanted to sing. So that’s what I’ve been doing since 2013.”

Some of the groups Kozan has performed with include Sandra Lee and the Velvets, Kozy Li’l Duo, Gold Star Band, Los Tequileros (aka Los T’s), Powerhouse, and Mankato Opry Band.

“It keeps me out of trouble,” he said with a chuckle.

Over the years, many fond memories have been made, though Kozan says his favorites are when his music has brightened the day or mood of others.

“The ones that mean the most are when people come to your gigs, and they’re down in the dumps, and they leave feeling good about life,” he said. “They had a good time that night, and it’s time now to turn the corner. Whether it’s a wedding or a funeral, it gives them peacefulness, serenity, from your vocal presentation.”

Kozan also likes that his shop and his music have helped others get into music, either for the first time or after taking a break to pursue careers or other life goals. He says that the trick, however, is to never quit playing. 

“There’s a lot of talent in Southern Minnesota - it’s wonderful,” Kozan said, adding that his Los Tequileros bandmate, Jerome Broughten, has been inducted into the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame with another group, Willy Murphy and the Bees. “A lot of those people spent a lot of time right here in this store.”

As for the future, Kozan plans to continue doing what he has been: running Waseca Music Company and playing with various musical groups.

“We don’t have paychecks here [at Waseca Music] - my pay is breakfast at the Pheasant Cafe, or supper at Oscar’s, stuff like that,” he said with a laugh. “That’s kind of funny, but it’s true.”

The Waseca Music Company is open Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nearly every kind of instrument is available, from guitars, drums and keyboards to brass and marching band equipment. Also in stock are instrument accessories, vinyl records, sheet music, and more.