Rock ‘N Ruhl: Why We Play Series

His three-year-old son sings Kiss all day long.

That's what happens when your dad picks up a guitar for Battle of the Businesses and starts practicing "Rock and Roll All Nite" in the living room.

Chris Beason doesn't usually have time to play anymore. He's the president of Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors and Ruhl Commercial. His schedule doesn't leave room for guitar solos. But every year for the past three years, he's made an exception.

"This gives me an excuse to get out the guitar and rock out a little bit," he says.

His kids didn't even know he could play. Now his youngest can't stop singing. And Chris? He's realizing he's not just teaching his son lyrics. He's teaching him that music matters.

That might be the most important lesson of all.

What Battle of the Businesses Unlocks

Battle of the Businesses is Ruhl & Ruhl's third year on the Redstone Room stage. Not because they're looking for publicity. Because they believe in what Common Chord is building.

"Music was a big part of my upbringing," Chris says. "I grew up coming to shows down here. I absolutely loved music growing up. This is a way to give back to the community and support an amazing cause."

For Chris, Common Chord represents something essential. Access. Not just to instruments or lessons—but to identity. To belonging. To the kind of experiences that stick with you into adulthood.

"The core pillars that The Cultural Trust supports are a big part of what creates a thriving community in the Quad Cities," he says. "Common Chord is such an integral part of that. We're known for our music. The music scene in the Quad Cities has really put us on the map."

He's not exaggerating. The Quad Cities has a reputation. And it didn't happen by accident.

It happened because organizations like Common Chord teach kids to appreciate music, learn together, and find their voice. It happened because The Cultural Trust invests in this work as a Legacy Partner, providing unrestricted funding that gives Common Chord the freedom to lead, create, and serve at the highest level. And it happened because businesses like Ruhl & Ruhl stepped up to say: We see the value. We're in.

Why Realtors Care About Culture

Chris sees something most people don't: culture isn't just nice to have. It's economic infrastructure.

"When we're helping people relocate to the area, we get to show off some of our cultural amenities," he says. "People are blown away. They've never heard of our area before. Then we start to show them what the Quad Cities has to offer, and it helps us sell the community."

This isn't abstract. It's dollars and decisions.

When families are choosing where to live, they're not just choosing a house. They're choosing schools. Experiences. Opportunities for their kids.

A thriving arts scene signals investment. It signals community. It signals that this place values the things that make life worth living.

"A lot of other areas offer cultural experiences in bigger towns," Chris says. "It's refreshing when somebody moves to a smaller town and sees that we have everything the larger cities have to offer right here in the Quad Cities."

That's the return. Not just for Common Chord or The Cultural Trust. For the entire region.

Building It Together

For Chris, Battle of the Businesses is more than a fundraiser. It's team building. It's pride. It's a chance to show his employees—and his family—that culture matters enough to step on stage for.

"It's a lot of fun to get together with coworkers," he says. "We've had a different set of employees each year join us on stage. It's been fun for us as a company to bring in people from all aspects and get up and rock out a little bit."

And his three-year-old? He thinks it's the coolest thing ever.

"He sings 'Rock and Roll All Nite' constantly throughout the day," Chris says. "He thinks it's the coolest thing ever. So that's kind of fun to watch."

That spark—the one his son is feeling right now—is what Common Chord creates for kids across the region. Not just the ones whose parents can afford lessons. All of them.

That's the system The Cultural Trust is building.

Unrestricted funding flows to Common Chord. Common Chord removes barriers and creates access. Culture Bright amplifies the work through moments like Battle of the Businesses. And businesses like Ruhl & Ruhl step in as participants, not just donors. And Chris Beason? He has been at the center of evolution. Chris served as a Campaign Chair when The Cultural Trust embarked on a campaign to raise their corpus to $32 Mil so up to 5% could be distributed annually to Legacy Partners. He’s is a true Culture Champion. And with any luck, his son will be too.

This Is Why We Play

Chris isn't on that stage because he's a performer. He's there because he knows what music gave him. And he wants to make sure the next generation gets the same chance.

His son is already singing along. In a few years, he might be on stage himself at Common Chord's Rock Camp.

"He will be running the rock camp, I'm sure, in about ten years," Chris says.

That's not a joke. That's the goal.

Individual participation becomes generational access.
Not spotlight. Investment.
Not performance. Building infrastructure that lasts.

This is why we play — because Culture Matters Here, and it always will.

Battle of the Businesses | April 11 | Redstone Room | Tickets: https://www.commonchordqc.org/event/botb26/