Funny how a space can be completely empty, but as soon as live music starts, people arrive from everywhere.
That’s the power of music. That’s an occurrence that happens often at Sun City’s Prairie Lodge. Sun City resident Jim Sura plays the grand piano in the lodge while residents walk, play cards, or meet near the Fountain View area. He even plays when no one is around.
Sura said, “The piano is tuned, and I enjoy sitting down and playing songs. It’s nice to see residents sit back, relax, and enjoy the music when I am playing at the lodge.”
How long has he been playing the piano?
“I took piano lessons in the 5th, 6th, and 7th grades.
But then I turned my efforts into studying engineering at Morton High and junior college. I enjoyed doing architectural drawings so much that I built my own home eventually. My music was slowed down during my career. I worked for Western Electric and Hess Company, and I served in the army. A series of events led me to work at the rank of spec four for a general.”
What happened after the army?
“I completed college and graduated with an engineering degree under the G.I. Bill. I started my career working for a corn products plant, eventually as a plant manager, and then building plants and developing time-saving processes. I didn’t play for a number of years.”
What brought Sura back to music?
“I got interested in the reconditioning of a Barton organ at the Coronado Theatre. The organ had at the time about fifty years of daily use. It was completely renovated and restored to its original condition.”
Then, Sura invested in his own musical equipment.
“After looking around, I decided on a Baldwin piano that was delivered in 2008. It’s the centerpiece in my living area, with a chandelier over it.”
Sura plays other venues besides Prairie Lodge and his home.
“I play for many Sun City Clubs, various events, card groups, retirement homes, and senior centers, and often in Hawaii on my trips there,” he said. “Some residents have asked me to play at their Sun City homes for events.”
