Founded in 1949 by Kenneth E Stanton, Sr. with the desire to bring music to the schools of Cobb County, Ken Stanton Music has become the largest independent music retailer in the Atlanta metropolitan area. In 1949 there were only six schools in Cobb County. Mr. Stanton met with the Superintendent of Schools, Paul Sprayberry, and presented his idea on how to begin a music program in each of these schools. Mr. Stanton would provide instruction and the instruments at a cost of one dollar per student. All the School Board had to do was agree to hire instructors that would eventually replace Mr. Stanton as full time music directors. Over the next few years, Mr. Stanton started more music programs and Directors replaced him at each school one by one to allow his attention to focus full-time on the retail store.