Remembering Russ Solomon: The Musical Maverick Who Turned Stores into Sound Sanctuaries
On March 6, 2018, at 4:30 am, the music world hit a sad note. Russ Solomon, the original founder of Tower Records, passed away at the age of 92. His son, Michael, announced the loss to the Sacramento Bee, telling us that the iconic man succumbed to a heart attack while watching the Oscars in his California home.
“…and then asked Patti to refill his whisky.”
In a candid, almost sitcom‑style recount, Michael said his dad was commenting on a costume choice—something he “thought looked ugly”—and then paused to ask his wife, Patti, for a whisky refill. By the time she returned, Russ had slipped away.
His Legacy in the Music Business
James Donio, president of the Music Business Association, shared his condolences, saying,
“Russ was quite outspoken and having a conversation with him about the music business was always a priceless education.”
The Birth of a Cultural Phenomenon
- In the 1960s, when vinyl and records were vending machines on store corners, Russ began his journey.
- He opened the first Tower Records in Sacramento, buying used records for pennies and flipping them for more.
- Expansion followed, with flagship stores on Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard and New York’s East Village, turning the shop into a “music lovers’ club.”
- Elton John recalls visiting the Hollywood store every Tuesday morning, chatting with employees, and taking home heavy stacks of vinyl.
From Drugstore to Vinyl Empire
Russ’s early life was rooted in his father’s Sacramento drugstore—an eclectic mix of candy, perfume, and soft drinks. The young entrepreneur saw opportunity in the burgeoning record scene, and by 1960 he was running a wholesale operation out of San Francisco before launching the first Tower Records.
The End of an Era
Despite decades of profit, the mid‑1990s brought a crisis for Tower Records:
- Mega‑retailers like Walmart cut CD prices, making luxury shopping a steep climb.
- The rise of iTunes and online retailers stole the market share that brick‑and‑mortar stores once dominated.
- Two bankruptcies followed, and the U.S. stores closed in 2006.
In contrast, Tower in Japan thrived, with massive stores persisting in places like Tokyo’s Shibuya district.
Rebirth Through Vinyl Revival
Today’s vinyl renaissance has seen the birth of several hundred record shops, echoing the romance of the past. Tower’s story is now one lesson in adaptation—and a reminder that some classics simply can’t be put in a digital file.
Though Tower’s U.S. door finally shut, its spirit lives on in the echoes of record boxes and the timeless soundtrack of a generation that remembers the shape of a vinyl record.
His tale, from humble beginnings to a global cultural icon, continues to inspire music lovers and entrepreneurs alike. The world of music may have moved on, but the rhythm of Russ Solomon’s legacy keeps slowly beating, inspiring new stories to unfold.
