Today we’d like to introduce you to Halston Luna
Hi Halston, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Born in Beaumont, TX to parents Hugo & Leslie Luna. Introduced to music by my grandparents when I was 5 years old. I saw this decorative Elvis plate with a bright red guitar on it somewhere when I was out with them, and I think they picked up on my curiosity and showed me some Elvis music. My grandfather also gave me my first guitar that I still have.
Dad moved us to Houston in 1997 for work, he is a designer in oil and gas. Mom is a nurse. Attended Diane Winborn Elementary in Katy, TX. Began guitar lessons at KD music & arts in 1998. My first year playing guitar I don’t think I even thought about anything else, When I started lessons it was such a big deal. Living in Beaumont as a little guy for sure made me feel like playing guitar wasn’t going to happen, I still recall the relief when I learned that we had a music shop so close to the new house.
In elementary school through my obsession with guitar my friend group also started to find their musical callings, and we started our first band in 6th grade at Katy jr high in Katy tx. Played at talent shows, at lunches, and for pep rally’s.
Because of the importance of learning to read music and play and listen to jazz and blues by my instructor at KD Music, I joined the jazz band at Morton ranch high school 2004-2008. I also played in my first musical production while in highschool, ‘suessicsl the musical’ in 2006. Mr. Dyess mentioned that musicals hire guitarists that can read and the gigs pay decent, so it would be a good idea to do any musicals I could at school. I also got to go to some Univeristy of North Texas jazz camps as well. Over all in middle school and high school I pretty much only thought about music.
2008 began taking students prictaely. Karen Diaz (owner of KDMA) wanted me to get practice teaching music, she gave me my first 3 students. I came back and taught at KD Music as an adult from 2017-2022, so she knew what she was doing when she gave me
Those first few students in 2008.
After HS I wanted to go to school for music but it wasn’t in the cards.
While working on a bachelors of science in technical design I still played music, constantly. I played in hardcore/punk bands & drifted away from studying music and traditional jazz and blues. I still loved the music but, because of the distraction of school and this sterile and mind numbing environment that is the oil/gas industry I just couldn’t focus on music study. I subsequently toured off and on for 4 or so years in hardcore punk bands while finishing school and working.
Got a degree & started working oil & gas from 2011 to 2016 all while still touring & playing live music any chance I got. Started working at a club ‘Walter’s downtown’ after it moved from its original Washington location where I found a home in the years prior. Part time I worked at Walter’s which allowed me to see how the live entertainment industry worked. That gave me my first inspiration to pursue playing music as a career bc I knew there was a way I could make money in playing music, I just didn’t know how. When I worked at Walter’s I was security. Risking your health for $50 every night gets old, and I didn’t want to permanently damage my hands before I gave playing for a living a shot.
Left oil & gas completely in 2016/2017 & made a shift to making money playing music. I knew I needed to reeducate myself so I started selling personal items and things & using every penny I had to take classes at HCC. I also knew I needed to seek out a mentor, I found one in Paul Chester who is another Houston guitar giant. I’m probably most proud of the education Clayton and Paul gave me. When he saw that I was serious I believe is when Paul put me on game, he told me everything I needed to know about the guitar and life in general. I attribute my ability to make a living teaching and playing music to Karen Diaz, Clayton dyess & paul Chester.
While playing and partying at Walters on Washington in 2009 I met Jacob Rynearson, and I think I may have been an annoying teenager that was just lurking around trying to soak up whatever knowledge I could get from him. I was interested in the same kind of music, and he knew stuff about amplifiers. I think I annoyed the hell out of him I don’t think he wanted to hang around w a teenager but there I was. When I met Jake he was a repair guy for Hawkins Amps, over the years he turned that into what is now steamboat ampworks, Robin Guitars, and Rio Grande Pickups. I
By 2017 I was making my full living from performing and teaching, and I was now relying on Jake to keep my guitars laced up and my amp working so I could eat. It was a lot of exhausting work at first, much of it for little or no money. But once the ball was rolling it got easy to do the hard work and I quickly realized the hardest gigs were still more rewarding than punishing.
In 2020 when Covid hit he & I both were pivoting with the pandemic & I convinced Jake to let me do lessons in the back of the shop. So he fixed up a back room at the shop and I began doing virtual and some in-person lessons out of his shop.
We moved Steamboat to Tlaquepaque market in 2021, and there was a small room across the parking lot from the shop was. He told me the next move should be to do lessons out of that room. Which at the time was a crazy proposition, i was still teaching at KD Music, and a small lesson studio in Baytown at that time, while still performing much of the week. It took some time but I finally understood he wanted me to work for myself.
East end music lessons was born.
My wife did our logo & our website & set up all of our accounts, our calendar & I had no problem filling up my week when I was teaching in that room. As we grew I enlisted the help of musicians I was playing with and friends with to be our teachers. We all have a similar ethos behind why we play music and we are all performers, John MBK Jamie Perry & Alex Erhardt. All great musicians & friends. We did quickly outgrow the one room & I asked Jake how to expand, He told me it was time to take over a 4 space facility. I would’ve never thought to do that so he encouraged me & told me we needed to have a kickstarter or go fund me campoaign to raise money for it. And it worked!
Then we opened 708 B in Tlaquepaque market bc of this growth my sister Autumn Luna now operates the admin side of the business, and I do the teaching stuff. Autumn also attended KD music & arts for piano & guitar & participated in all the same recitals & events that I did. So she understands the importance of giving all of our students the experience they deserve.
I currently do session work, play guitar/mandolin/banjo/uke in pit orchestras, serve as guitarist at a church, and can be seen performing all over Houston on any given night.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Dealing with not knowing the next move but having to make one is never easy. Following a dream is like walking in the dark, you can’t see anything but you can’t stand still. In both opening the music school and jumping into performing full time are terrifying if you don’t know how to get to the next place.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I play stringed instruments and study the guitar. I play corporate gigs, weddings, RnB gigs, I’ve played in big bands, toured and played in hardcore/punk acts, played in many musical theatre pit orchestras, and at my grandmothers retirement community! 🙂
I’m most proud of any student I’ve ever taught. I think what may set me apart is my deep passion for music and learning it and teaching it.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My wife Kathleen Luna, Karen Diaz, Clayton Dyess, Paul Chester, Jake Rynearson, and AFM local 65-699.
I met my wife before beginning my journey in self-employment through music. So she has been my biggest supporter, seen me through my darkest seasons and has never budged in her steadfast belief that I can.
Karen Diaz met me when I was 8 years old and she very literally gave me my pure heart for teaching. I would not have taken my first students without her pushing me, and I would be lost without having watched her selflessly devote herself to every student at her school.
Clayton Dyess was my first guitar teacher, and he lit a fire from the spark I already had. He saw me and taught me for 8 years. All through elementary, middle, and highschool. And I still get to see him once a month when he gigs next door to my music school 2nd Sunday of the month at Bohemeos. I got much of my guitar wisdom from him.
Paul Chester is the greatest role model for a musician to have, he taught me how to operate like a professional. Sometimes indirectly, sometimes directly. He allowed me to follow him from gig to gig, he let me watch his book for some professional theatre shows, and introduced me to some
Of the most fantastic musicians in the world. He has also held one of the longest running standing gigs in the city. He’s a big deal, but an even bigger deal to me.
When I met Jake Rynearson I thought he was just a smart funny dude that I was lucky to hang with. I didn’t realize he and I would share work ethic and general ethos and also work together well, but 11 years of friendship and a successful music school are fantastic prizes.
American Federation of Musicians Local 65-699 is my local. They have been a great resource and support system, and I have truly enjoyed the camaraderie and history of being a union member.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Eastendmusiclessons.com
- Instagram: @Eastendml
Image Credits
Jake Rynearson
Jaime Perry
Autumn Luna
John MBK
Clayton Dyess
Paul Chester
Floyd Bauler
