Jack Kulp just might be considered Tamaqua's version of Professor Harold Hill from "The Music Man."

The Allentown native came to town and made a difference through music.Kulp, a Vietnam veteran, moved to Schuylkill County more than 10 years ago to be closer to family.The former vice president of Ludgate Engineering was familiar with Tamaqua through his career in civil engineering.Tamaqua was a perfect fit, he says, because he enjoys an atmosphere where residents care about each other."I love Tamaqua. I love the people here," he says. "I like that fact they're close-knit."For that reason, Kulp, a gifted musician, didn't hesitate when asked if he'd be interested in helping to launch a community arts center.That, too, was a perfect fit.Kulp had experience in the field. He was active with the development of the Sovereign Majestic Theatre in Pottsville and had developed a network of contacts.So he devoted himself to similar efforts in Tamaqua, becoming chairman of the board of the Tamaqua Community Arts Center.He immersed himself in the community in many other ways, too.He serves on the water authority, municipal authority and CRIZ authority. He's also second vice commander of the Tamaqua American Legion and still finds time to be local radio's Dutch Trader, a show where callers buy, sell and trade.His passion, though, is music."All my life I was a musician," he says. "I was in a band since age 15."Kulp began his musical career on vocals. He recalls early days singing in the Rosemont Lutheran Church Choir before taking lessons on instruments."Then I took up violin," he says. After that, bass guitar, then drums. Music was in his blood.But an even bigger surprise was in store for the Music Man.One day he learned a song that required a harmonica.Kulp picked up the small instrument and it was a match made in heaven. It was the start of something very special.Kulp and the harmonica are like Da Vinci and the paint brush. He quickly became acclaimed for his talent."I play blues harp, that's the style," he says. "I play harmonica like Eric Clapton plays guitar."He plays in a few bands, an acoustic trio called 3 A.M. ("It stands for Aging Musicians," he says), Justus, which is a five-piece, electric act that performs classic rock, and the Sterling Koch Trio, a three-piece acoustic blues act.Retired after a 50-year career in engineering, Kulp is totally immersed in music and arts, much to Tamaqua's benefit."At this stage of my life, music has become my full-time profession and obsession," he admits.At the arts center, he books talent, markets and promotes the site as one of the area's primary venues for the performing arts."We have a glut of talent in the Tamaqua area and Schuylkill County," he says.But he also looks outside of the region to showcase the unusual and the spectacular."I try to bring in exceptional talent," he says. He particularly revels in presenting unique talent to which local folks might not otherwise be exposed.Plus, he emcees the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce Summer Concert Series.Like Professor Harold Hill, Kulp makes sure there's music in the air around Tamaqua.He has no plans to stop."I want to do this until I can't do it anymore," he says.The people of Tamaqua are counting on it.