Minnesotan To Meet: Singer, Songwriter Pete Ford
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- We were all there, right? We grow up and have no idea what to do?
One Minnetonka man was at that point and decided to run away to Buenos Aires, Argentina. He perfected his Spanish and started playing guitar. When he was ready to head back to school, he changed majors from business to music.
After teaching in California, it was time to come home. Now at just 24 years old, his new business venture is hitting all the right notes. It's what makes Pete Ford this week's Minnesotan to Meet.
At first glance, it might look like two dudes just jamming in the hallway of Ridgedale Mall. But, it's a way to attract business to the "Serenade Store," a business that personalizes songs.
"It's not like we'll insert your name and our song here," said Ford. "We'll actually write you a song from scratch."
Ford thought up the concept while teaching in California.
"I wrote a song for my girlfriend out there and it went well," said Ford. "Pretty soon after I had people asking for songs for anniversaries, weddings."
He wrote one for us when we told him we were coming.
"Jamie where would I be, without you filming my story," sings Ford.
Pete says he wrote it in 20 minutes. The Serenade Store is often a last-minute gift option, he can put together an entire CD in 15 minutes. We tested him by giving him information about my husband John.
Within 12 minutes, he had a song with our dogs names and shared interests written into it. It's not that surprising Pete combined his love for music into a business, but the road getting here was a long one.
"I started at a business school in Ohio, Miami Business School, and quickly had an epiphany to not do business anymore," said Ford. "I wanted to do music."
He dropped out, moved to Argentina, then Chicago for music school and onto California where he played and taught music. Then it was back to Minnesota, where the business was born. When he can't man the kiosk, he gets help from high school buddy, Joey Olson, and locals stop by Ridgedale to give him support.
It's an idea that's keeping this starving artist's dreams of making it in music alive. Now, Pete says he does like to have more time. He has three different packages, from $49 for a mall production up to $99 plus travel expenses if you want the song sung in person.