Chris Jensen deserves a star on State Street, should there ever be such a hall of local fame. Or at least it should be planted on De la Vina Street, where his independently owned-and-operated Jensen Music perched for 52 years. It’s hard to imagine Santa Barbara without this funky music temple, which finally reached its last coda, after struggling with the poltergeists of online shopping, the COVID monster, and shifting musical tastes.
A mayoral proclamation is in order, along with a crescendo of thanks from thousands of musicians — and budding musicians — who passed through Jensen Guitar & Music Co. over its half-century run. That list of musicians is vast, from locals and famous passers-through. Ben Harper was a major fan, who related not only to the grassroots-y goodness of the establishment but recognized the kinship to his parent’s music store Claremont Folk Music Center (in Claremont).
In an interview years ago, Harper told me, “I’ve been coming to Santa Barbara since I was a kid, actually. We used to come every weekend. We have family friends there, so we’d come and hang out quite often. Jensen’s was our satellite music store hang in Santa Barbara.”…