Music is their medium

Keon Chung and Terry Lamarche took on ownership of Just Music in February 2012

Keon Chung and Terry Lamarche are business partners in Just Music, Cranbrook, B.C. — Marie Milner photo

Over a period of about 12 years, Keon Chung and Terry Lamarche have become friends. They both worked as teachers at Just Music in Cranbrook, B.C., they played music together and they hung out together. When Just Music came up for sale, Chung and Lamarche decided to form a partnership and bought the business in February 2012.

What was your early work experience?

Chung: My first paid jobs were in restaurants, and then I did law enforcement back east—everything from security officer to armed patrols and armed transport. For a while I was a special constable for the city of Toronto’s Harbour Commission. I’ve always been involved with music, though.
Lamarche: I’ve been a technician and musician all my life. I started singing at 12, got my first guitar at 13. We had a little band and played weddings and some local bars back east in the Montreal area. We actually made $50 per night. We played backyard parties and arenas, and also went on the road when we were older teenagers.

Who were your early mentors?

Chung: I had a martial arts sensei who said, “No matter what direction you’re facing, you’re always facing forward.”
Lamarche: My stepdad was a mentor for me. He got me started on the entrepreneurial path. When I was 11 or 12 years old, I asked him for money all the time and he encouraged me to create opportunities to earn money—taking out garbage for people, caddying at the golf course, that kind of thing.

What might people be surprised to learn about you?

Chung: I like to cook, and I’m getting pretty good at it—I’m starting to get requests, especially for my soups.
Lamarche: Nothing. I have no secrets.

What inspires you now?

Chung: Family. I work to take care of my family. It’s what I want to do, to support them and leave a legacy.

What advice would you pass on to your younger self, if you could?

Lamarche:  Go to school and stick with it, even if you’re not sure about a career. I dropped out of high school, and then went back 13 years later. It was much harder to do that as an adult with responsibilities.