About The Maine Piano Man

Frank Baxter, also known as Your Maine Piano Man, is a talented piano tuner, pianist, composer, and recording artist. With over 50 years of piano playing experience and more than 40 years as a happy piano tuner, he provides his services for weddings, inns, restaurants, events, parties, and hotels. Frank is also the founder of Piano World, the world’s most popular site for all things piano and the home of the renowned piano forums (which he sold in September 2022). 

Throughout his career, Frank has tuned pianos for professional pianists, churches, schools, venues, recording artists, and countless individuals. His expertise has allowed him to tour prestigious piano manufacturers including Mason & Hamlin, Steinway NY, Steinway Hamburg, Bosendorfer, Bluthner, Steingraeber, and Estonia Piano Company. 

Frank has had the pleasure of performing at piano parties across Italy, Germany, Austria, Estonia, and of course, the U.S., all organized through his pianoworld website. His performances include weddings, restaurants, events, and even a large Halloween Haunted House fundraiser. He plays a versatile mix of music, including standards, American Songbook, pop, rock, musicals, Broadway, a bit of ragtime, classical, and original compositions. 

His first professionally recorded original piece is titled 'Ours is a Special Kind of Love,' which is available on BandCamp at https://frankbaxtermrpianoworld.bandcamp.com/track/ours-is-a-special-kind-of-love. You can also catch Frank in action at the NAMM (Music Trade) show, where he showcases his skills as a man playing a piano in the Estonia piano booth, performing his own compositions, Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, and Billy Joel's Root Beer Rag. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc1beIfo_Ic. 

For more examples of Frank playing, please visit https://mainepianoman.com/videos. 

Frank reflects on his journey with Piano World, which began as All About Pianos! hosted on a now-defunct service. As the site attracted more visitors, he expanded the content and areas, turning it into the successful platform it is today. Frank expresses gratitude to everyone who has been part of this journey, from long-time supporters to newcomers, and those yet to discover the site. What began as a hobby has now become his livelihood. 

Here are some memories from his musical journey: 

- Born November 26, 1951. 

- In the 1950s, he discovered his father's exceptional piano skills despite him being an iron worker by trade. 

- In the late 1950s to early 1960s, Frank developed a fondness for the 45s his sister played and couldn't sleep at night due to a local rock band practicing in their living room. 

- In the 1960s, he learned that girls liked musicians and started learning the piano/keyboard, forming a local band with a talented friend, Joey Doringer. 

- His first real band in 1969/1970 was a tribute to The Allman Brothers. 

- He began working for Curtis Music Stores in 1968/1969, where he learned about pianos from Raymond Curtis and George Cole. 

- Throughout the 1970s, he played in rock and blues bands while managing music stores, eventually opening his own music store in the 1980s. 

- The 1990s saw him continuing to play music, tune pianos, and work as a web developer and SEO expert for McGraw-Hill, during which time he started Piano World. 

- In the 2000s, he further developed Piano World, tuned pianos, and played gigs. 

- In 2022, he sold Piano World but continues to tune pianos, perform, host piano parties, and contribute to the Piano Forums. 

- In 2023, he moved to Bucksport, Maine, where he is building his piano tuning client list and picking up gigs in the area. 

- In 2024, he plans to continue playing more and tuning more, always on the lookout for new gigs and tuning opportunities. 

Some local venues where Frank has performed include Crumpet in Bucksport, Performing Arts Center in Bucksport, Black Moon in Ellsworth, and many others across the region.