Big (but not new) news!
Melody’s and Afghan Press Music are under new ownership as of April 1, 2024—and we’re thriving!
Hundreds of new products – Harps re-strung & repaired – New music & artists in the Afghan Press library – Melody Makers Podcast
Monday Melodies is still chugging along (most Mondays 😉)
🎶 Spotlight on Nick: A Musical Journey Rooted in Family and Talent
Born in Padova, Italy, Nick is the third of six children. His grandfather affectionately called him “the mouse” for his quiet and focused nature—a nickname that stuck as he diligently explored the world around him.
At age 3, his family moved to Hawaii, where Nick could already read and understand basic math before starting kindergarten. The family later relocated to Texas to be closer to his maternal great-grandmother. Nick was homeschooled until his junior year of high school. When he transitioned into public school, he was tested in every core subject and given final exams for each. He earned straight A’s, including a 99 in Trigonometry, excelling in everything from English and Biology to U.S. History and Geometry—clearly gifted in mathematics.
One of his earliest jobs was right here at Melody’s, working alongside Mary and John. While still homeschooling, he learned the art of harp repair, restringing, tuning, and even helped with packing and shipping. His love for music and craftsmanship grew from there.
At 17, Nick graduated high school and began his studies at Texas A&M University as part of the Corps of Cadets. He also completed his Eagle Scout project and celebrated his achievement with a ceremony at the Corps facility in Austin.
Today, Nick plays guitar, mandolin, and hand drums, and has performed with the band Sia (Celtic and Originals). He’s now adding harp to his growing list of instruments. Mary and John have known Sia (Nick’s mom) for over 30 years. She lives in Cypress, and together they’ve shared many stages at Celtic festivals throughout the years.
🎼 A Rich Musical Heritage
Nick’s deep musical roots span generations:
His great-grandfather was a lifelong gospel fiddler and singer
His grandfather (Nick Nastos or Nick Masters) played lead guitar for Bill Haley’s Comets for 20 years—his guitar work featured in Happy Days and American Graffiti
His mother is a veteran singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with over 50 years of experience across Celtic, Country, Gospel, Americana, and World music. In the 1970s, she led an all-girl country band and later toured with her father in a 1950s revue show Sia’s YouTube Channel.
Nick is a proud continuation of this rich musical lineage—and we’re thrilled to have him as part of the Melody’s family!
Below: Sia with her dad, Nick Masters (Nastos) and new logos created by Nick
