Editor’s note: The After the Beat column periodically spotlights the unsung heroes of the live music scene in Harrisburg, who operate out of the spotlight. On a separate note: Congratulations are in order for columnist Amy Simpson, who was inducted into the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame (CPMHoF) this year as top female vocalist for her work with The Groove Rebels.
Woodshed Guitar Works
Chris DellaPorta, owner of Woodshed Guitar Works in Carlisle, specializes in guitar repair and sales. His 40-year passion for playing guitar began at a young age, influenced by his mother’s collection of ’70s AM, classic rock and Motown records. His inspirations include artists like Tom Petty, Warren Haynes, The Allman Brothers and Prince. From 2004 to 2016, Dellaporta was a guitarist with the Southern rock band Smokin’ Gunnz and has been with his current band, Road Case, since 2018, while also freelancing with the Colt Wilbur Band.
For 12 years, he honed his craft under the mentorship of the late Randel Ray Robertson at Triple R Guitar in Lemoyne. In 2011, DellaPorta established Woodshed Guitar Works in the shed behind his home, shortly after Triple R closed its doors. The business later moved to Carlisle and settled into its current location in 2015. He gained invaluable knowledge from his late friend and honors his memory through his shop. 
Together with his employee, Dylan Boyd, DellaPorta emphasizes customer relationships and quality service.
Customers are greeted by his shop dog, Rasta. The store offers repair services for stringed and fretted instruments and sells pre-owned electric and acoustic gear. With 25 years of experience, DellaPorta won Harrisburg Magazine’s “Simply the Best” in 2018 and was nominated for Best Music Shop by the local music hall of fame in 2025. His shop is located at 147 N. Hanover St., Carlisle. Contact him at Woodshedgw@gmail.com or (717) 422-5794.
Progressive Enterprise Sound Studios
Joe Trojcak, a vibrant native of Middletown, is the owner of Progressive Enterprise Sound Studios, which offers recording, tracking and video mixing located on Basler Drive in Elizabethtown. He began his musical journey at just 8 years old with piano lessons, quickly mastering the pipe organ by age 10. His passion for sound engineering flourished through influences like church music, radio shows and iconic bands such as Emerson, Lake & Palmer. In 1985, he founded Progressive Enterprises, named after the progressive rock genre, and played 40 years in various groups, including Rosie and the Naturals and The Aristocrats, as well as his jazz trio, Fresh, which became a staple at Harrisburg International Airport after 9/11. Trojcak has played pipe organ for several churches since 1980. He currently serves as organist and music 
director for Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Middletown. He teaches music business classes at HACC, focusing on the internet as a tool for musicians and how to compose music on computers.
This year, the studio celebrates its 40th anniversary with a concert and party at Champions Sports Bar in Highspire on Sunday, June 29, from 2 to 6 p.m. Also on hand will be his staff: Jay Kirssin, Marshall Deasey, Fred Pellegrini Jr., Ryan Frantz, Drew Zimmerman, Dan Snyder, Chase Bartholomew and JT Swartentruber. All are invited. For more details, contact Trojcak at Joet@progressivestudios.com or (717) 648-5552.
Chris Rider Photography
In the heart of Liverpool, Perry County, Chris Rider discovered his passion for photography, driven by a desire to capture the fleeting moments of his son’s childhood. Influenced by his parents’ love for the arts and surrounded by classic rock sounds from The Allman Brothers to Led Zeppelin, Rider began his self-taught journey around 2011.
He started with local music shows, tackling the challenges of ever-changing lighting, which pushed him to embrace more sophisticated techniques and go digital. A pivotal moment came 
when he snuck his camera into a New York music festival and came away with amazing shots. In 2018, he joined Pennsylvania Musician magazine, where he refined his unique style, capturing the raw emotion of live performances. Committed to supporting local musicians, he structured affordable rates for bands seeking professional promo stills and live band shots. Rider’s dedication paid off: He has been nominated six times for Best Photographer through the local music hall of fame and has won three times – in 2021, 2022 and 2025. You can reach him at ChrisRiderPhotography@gmail.com or on Facebook at @ChrisRiderPhotography.
Players Exchange
Accomplished bassist Scott Frange is the visionary behind Players Exchange, located in Lemoyne. In 1994, a significant opportunity arose when his friend Dan Miller decided to sell his business. Frange seized the chance, acquiring it and founding the shop, which has been supplying musicians with gear for 31 years and counting.
Known in the Harrisburg music community, he specializes in buying and selling highly sought-after vintage equipment – from Marshall amps to rare guitars. Embracing an old-school approach, he said he relies on word of mouth to curate his eclectic collection. His legacy in the music scene is renowned: Professionals in the music industry seek out his shop, eager to buy or sell vintage treasures, like R.E.M.’s Peter Buck and celebrity Steve Martin, to name a few.
For 59 years, Frange has performed in bands like New Found Freedom and The Middleton Bros. He currently plays with The Band Who Sold the World, which he co-founded with Shea Quinn. They are nominees for Best Tribute Band for CPMHoF this year. Frange, Charlie Middleton and drummer Logan Bedard released a CD in 2024 for the New Found Freedom project “Unfinished Business,” available on most music platforms. The shop is located at 225 S. Third St., Lemoyne. Contact Frange (717) 975-2385.