Mister Gates: The Piano Man in Clarksdale

(Clarksdale, Mississippi)  VIDEO IN POST

Over seventy years ago, prior to the advent of World War II, Timothy Louis Gates repaired his first piano. And, Ladies and Gentlemen, he’s still making house calls. Incredible!

Born in Jonestown, Mississippi, Gates was one of eight piano-playing siblings.

“Everybody in our family played something on the piano except my father,” Gates said.

When he was fifteen years old, providence nudged him in the direction of a lifelong passion and vocation. His mother’s piano was borrowed by a school for a local function. On its way home, the piano fell out of the truck and was seriously damaged.

“I was nosy,” Gates said. “I studied it, nailed it, and glued it back together.”

His curiosity led him to find that he was gifted in repairing, tuning, and playing pianos, and it served him well during his thirty years of service teaching school.

Not only does Gates have his piano repairing and tuning business located at 327 Issaquena Ave. in the New World District in downtown Clarksdale, the heart of the Mississippi Delta, but he still plays piano in church every Sunday either in Clarksdale, Marks, or Jonestown.

The piano-tuning octogenarian, who can be reached at 662-627-1891, recommends that pianos be tuned at least once a year.

One year after tuning Magical Madge’s piano, Gates called to let her know it had been a year since the last tuning. What a beautiful, gentle reminder that an instrument Gates loves is due for some attention.

“Mister” Gates–he inspires the Mister–manifests a grace and graciousness sadly lacking in today’s collective, national culture. Besides being a gifted musician, craftsman, and genteel man, he possesses a wonderfully dry, wry sense of humor

His business card subtly announces: “Airplane Quality, Submarine Prices.”

His answer to the question regarding how long he had been married: “Long enough to know each other.” It was 55 years!

God Bless you Mister Gates and may the Tuner be with you.

Gates Piano Co.
327 Issaquena Avenue
Clarksdale, MS
662-627-1891 or 662-483-2036

WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE COMMENTS!!