“One of Tower Records’ slogans was “No music, No life.” For me, this statement could not be more truthful. Growing up, music was how I found my identity. As a 15-year-old kid, music helped me become who I wanted to be. Music was how I related to people. “You like [insert band name here]? I like [insert band name here], too! Let’s be friends!” It’s simplistic, but it’s how I continue to make friends this very day.
Many people think Tower Records was started in Los Angeles, some assume it started in New York City. Others are positive it was San Francisco. What if I told you there were Tower Records stores in Japan before there was even one open in NYC? It’s true. While these bustling metropolitan cities were critical hubs of the Tower Records empire, as well as the most iconic locations, the company’s roots actually started in Sacramento, California. Growing up I always had an immense sense of pride that not only did Tower start in my hometown but that the headquarters were still based there.
As I thought about Tower Records closing its doors for the final time, I wondered how it had started. The fact that Russ Solomon, the founder of Tower Records, had started selling records out of his father’s drugstore was extremely interesting to me. That’s how Tower started? How did something that started on such a small-scale end up being the predominant music retailer in the world? And that’s how the idea to make this documentary came about…”
Please visit the All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records at their Kickstarter page to aid in the funding of what we think is a very important documentary. But hurry—there are only hours to go!
The balance of Colin’s guest blog at Kickstarter and a handful of his favorite vinyl records can be found right here.
