_{By Abi Falin Horspool}

When I step into Danny Jewkes’ workshop, it’s hard to know where to look first. “What makes me stand out as a piano technician,” Danny says, “is that I do crazy stuff like this.” He gestures towards the many pianos in the room, painted every color from seafoam green to deep wine red. He’s especially proud of a purple piano painted to look like graffiti.

The bright colors are the first sign that Pimp My Piano is the workshop of someone who treats pianos as both instruments and canvases.

Danny grew up with a piano technician father, so the craft of piano repair was always around him. He never thought he’d follow that same path until he was looking for a new gig in 2020. Since piano repair was the thing he “knew the most about already,” he decided to take off with it.

All the techniques, tools, and tips he’d ignored as a kid suddenly became useful. Once he learned the basics from his father, he advertised his services. Thomas Zimmerman, the owner of Utah Pianos, called Danny and asked how he’d like to tune all the pianos in his shop. This led to more hands-on training from Tom himself.

But Danny didn’t just want to tune pianos. He wanted to transform them, just like his father did. Back in 2008, his father realized that the recession meant pianos needed to demand attention if they were going to sell at all. Combining that realization with his wife’s artistic skills, he gave every piano a unique look.

Now, Danny continues that legacy. The name of the business—Pimp My Piano—is a nod to the TV show Pimp My Ride, where beat-up cars became show stopping masterpieces. “That’s what I’m doing,” Danny says. “You get to see something transform from junk into art,” whether it’s a piano’s musical capabilities or its paint job. 

While some clients choose a classic walnut stain or black lacquer, many customers come to Danny because they want their piano to become a statement piece. 

Under the paint job, the musical resurrection always comes first. Danny loves taking an instrument that barely plays and returning it to quality. “I might have a piece of junk concert-ready in like five hours,” he says. “This is art in itself. Then someone plays on it… and you’re able to make more art with it.”

At its heart, Pimp My Piano is a family affair. As Danny spent time learning from his dad, it brought the two much closer, and eventually, Danny’s own son, Tae, joined the business. Working side by side with his son became something Danny truly appreciated. “He could be running this whole business by himself if he wanted to,” he says proudly. 

And that business is booming. “I feel like a dude with eight arms,” Danny says. “It’s nonstop.” But he’s grateful. What started as an unexpected career change has become something that has transformed his family relationships and hundreds of pianos for the better.

You can find Danny Jewkes’ work on his website, or on his socials, including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.