Mention the words “School of Rock,” and most people will conjure a singular image – that of a certain Hollywood star known for comedy-rock and cartoon panda films.
“Of course people walk in and ask where Jack Black is,” says Landon Moore, the longtime GM and new co-owner of the three School of Rock locations in the Memphis area. “But that quickly goes away when the parents and kids walk the halls on a tour of the school. The Hollywood version goes away and the Memphis version starts.”
The Memphis incarnation of the School of Rock franchise was founded in 2012 by original owner Marc Gurley, and Moore – a well-respected local bass player, recently known for his work in the instrumental “supergroup” Salo Pallini – has been there since the very beginning. In fact, he was the first music educator hired by Gurley, and has been a cornerstone of the organization ever since.
“Over the years, I’ve taught every type of student at just about every age,” says Moore. “All I look for in students is the same spark that captivated me when I was 20. Every music teacher notices it – the moment a student truly “gets it.” It’s like they’ve climbed a hill and finally see the light. It may sound corny, but it’s real.”
In 2018, when Gurley purchased the Germantown School of Rock location, Moore ascended to the administrative role of General Manager – while continuing to coach students, oversee curriculum, and stage events. Those responsibilities ballooned even further when a third location was opened a year later in Cordova.
“Because I stepped into leadership during a turbulent period, I ended up doing a bit of everything,” says Moore. “As the schools grew and we were able to promote additional staff, those responsibilities naturally shifted and became more balanced across the team.”
In early 2025, a casual conversation with his Salo Pallini bandmate John Whittemore led to an even bigger leap for Moore.
“I mentioned that I was thinking about finding a way to purchase the three schools and take them to the next level. John perked up immediately and started asking questions. A few days later, he started asking a lot of questions.”
As it turned out, the now former owner, Gurley, was also receptive to the idea.
“(He) was a bit burned out and ready to pursue other ventures,” says Whittemore, who also runs a highly successful dental practice in town. “Landon and I realized that with renewed passion, we could improve on aspects of the program in Memphis.”
The deal was just made official in November, but the new owners are already dreaming big about what the Memphis School of Rock locations can become.
“I know School of Rock is a franchise, and I’m fully aware that the name alone doesn’t exactly scream ‘Memphis.’ But to their credit, our corporate offices give each school the freedom to operate in its own way. That’s important to me, because I want us to be connected to this community in every way possible,” says Moore. “Whether it’s setting up a booth to show what we’ve built over the past 13 years, or having our house band perform at local events, I want School of Rock to show up for Memphis. Stax has done this brilliantly, and I believe there’s still room for more voices, and more music to be part of that story.”
“The vision is to continue the trend we’ve seen where many of the very best young musicians in Memphis are School of Rock graduates,” says Whittemore.
According to Whittemore, that vision feels attainable because the School of Rock experience transcends mere music education.
“I always thought School of Rock was just a place to go learn how to play guitar or whatever,” he says. “What I’ve learned is that it’s way more than that. It’s a community for kids who are interested in music and a place where they feel “cool” and accepted. It’s also a place for the kids who don’t do team sports to learn all the stuff that team sports teach – leadership, teamwork, being a part of something bigger than yourself. I’ve heard loads of stories from parents of kids who went from down in the dumps to passionate success stories with renewed interest at school. That’s the bigger picture, even beyond music.”
by J.D. Reager.
A version of this article originally appeared in the Shangri-La Records email newsletter.
See also: Salo Pallini – The Sirens of Titan: A Preemptive Scoring LP.
