It was the summer of 1968 and Rolf and Patricia Winter were desperate for a night out. Like all parents, they adored their children. However, at some point, every young couple needs a night away. So, they did what any reasonable parents from that era would do—they dropped their 10-year-old son off at the Virginia Beach Dome to see the rock band The Who.
While Mr. and Mrs. Winter hit the town, their son Jim watched Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Pete Townshend and Keith Moon dominate the stage with their groundbreaking mixture of punk and hardcore rock. For Jim, it was a watershed moment—something that would solidify his love for music.
This 10-year-old boy would grow up to be Jim Winter, owner and operator of Winter Sound Music Shop at Gloucester Point. For more than four decades, this unassuming store has been a one-stop shop for professional musicians and hobbyists alike.
Its walls are lined with a wide selection of electric and acoustic guitars. Displays of picks, strings, and songb...