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About Our Team

My Empire Store is the main sales arm of Danville Empire, which was created by Deeper Blues, a Blues band based in east-central Illinois. Founding members Lane Baldwin (bass/vocals) and Gary Jones (guitars) wanted to tap Lane's extensive business experience to help promote and support their musical efforts, gathering the various business arms into a single company. Working with Creative Partner Mike Harper, they established an apparel company (EmpireWear), a management company (MidWest Management), a video production company (Empire Productions), a web store (MyEmpireStore.com, where you are now) and more.

As time progessed, the trio looked for ways to include their friends in the industry. That way, everyone could benefit from cross-promotion, and the customers (that's you, we hope) enjoy a greater selection of products and learn about new independent music. Let's face it, we're all trying to make a living doing what we love, namely playing our music for appreciative listeners. We hope that our store will help every partner (bands, artisans, etc.) reach a larger audience and successfully realize their dream.

As we selected manufacturers and other vendors as suppliers, we looked for independently-owned businesses. In this way, we hope to achieve maximum economic benefit to the communities our vendors serve. We also hope this will help these enterpreneurs realize their dreams.

So...we're all about supporting independent artists and independent businesses. At the same time, we're all about our customers, too. We offer quality products for a reasonable price, and back it with the same kind of service we'd give our grandmothers. (And, yes, we all LOVE our grandmothers, and would want them to be treated really, really well, OK?) If we made a mistake, we'll fix it at our expense. If you changed your mind, we'll exchange or replace your product or offer you a refund (minus a 6% re-stocking fee to cover the expense of the transactions).

We hope you like what you see, and that you'll tell your friends about us. Below are short bios on the folks in the Danville Empire family. For information on Deeper Blues, visit their web site and MySpace page.

Lane Baldwin - President and CEO
When Lane stepped out to begin his musical career full-time almost thirty years ago, he accidentally built a business career as well. A salesman since childhood, he had a natural interest in all aspects of running a succesful band, especially promotion. Over the years, Lane began to consult - first to other bands, then to businesses. He has worked with hundreds of companies of all sizes, from local mom-and-pop stores to billion-dollar behemoths, such as Men's Wearhouse, an incubator of humanistic management, servant-leadership and outstanding customer service.

Today, Lane is a recognized authority in humanistic management and servant-leader principles, and in ethics-based sales and customer service. Lane's work has been published in newspapers and magazines around the world, as well as on numerous web sites. His essay A Gift of Spirit was included in Chicken Soup to Inspire the Body & Soul®, part of one of the best-selling series of all time. His latest essay on teaching servant-leadership will be included in the upcoming release Servant Leadership: Heart, Mind Spirit, the fifth volume in a series edited by preeminent servant-leader Larry Spears.

Jill Jones, VP, Operations (and Exec. VP, MidWest Management)
We call Jill our "mommager" - our way of acknowledging both her management duties and the fact that she is wife to Gary and mother to James. (Lane says she's his manager, mother and sister all wrapped up into one.) As primary Office Person, Jill oversees all business operations, including making sure the rest of us are doing our jobs properly. In addition, she oversees MWM in its entirety, and co-produces our charity events.

Mike Harper, VP, Creative (and Exec VP of Empire Productions)
If it's visual, it's Mike's job to bring it to life. Whether it be video production, T-shirt designs, graphic art, or anything else you'll ever see from us, Mike did it. A painter and film school graduate, Mike's experience runs a wide gammut, and we do all we can to give him opportunities to bring it all to bear on his work. By the way, you can also purchase original paintings by Mike on this site.

Gary Jones, VP, Audio and Hippy Logistics
Gary began his music career twnety-five years ago. And since the beginning, he's spent many an afternoon in his home recording studios, building his knowledge and perfecting his skills. Gary oversees all audio production, and also works with son James to handle the logistics of operating various Danville Empire Divisions and Deeper Blues.

James Jones, Logistics
To us, James is actually a member of the Second Generation. Son of Gary and Jill, he's already living his dream by playing in an internationally-acclaimed Blues band with his father. As the years go by, James will gain experience and wisdom needed to assume greater responsibilities within the business structure. He already assists with the maintenance of our multitude of web sites and MySpace pages. He also assists Gary in the studio, and Jill with office duties.

Bob Stevens, Shipping and Fulfillment, Head of Research, Historian/Archivist
Bob is a childhood friend of Gary's and has decades of experience in several areas that dovetail perfectly with our activities. His primary duties are the management of Shipping and Fulfillment. See, he's the one who makes sure you get your order on time, and that it contains everything you ordered! He also handles a myriad of research projects in support of our various endeavors, and the archiving of all Deeper Blues material. Bob is also our General Contractor, responsible for designing and building everything from stages and risers to warehouse shelving and work benches. If we need it built, we give Bob a hammer and let him go.