A 'Blues Heaven' , Salina, Ks

[Mikado463]

Twenty years ago while being involved with the Martin Logan owners group we made a pilgrimage to Lawerence, Ks for a 2 day convention. We also made a side trip to Salina, Ks to experience Chad Kassem's little gem that he has built there. Here's a fairly recent CBS ( Michelle Miller) interview that all vinyl and 'Blues' lovers will enjoy............

 

[Mr Peabody]

I met Chad once at Axpona. One of the cool perks of attending shows, you never know who you might meet or run into.

I used to do business with another store in Salina called House of Sight & Sound. When I worked in the business, mostly wholesale I used to try to sell to them. I ended up buying music from them and selling LP's to them. We did business for more than 20 years before they closed and never met face to face. This was mostly before the internet, we just talked on the phone all the time. So I knew the owner Tom who Chad also got to know when he established his company there. Tom sold new and used LP's and CD's. He told me Chad came into his store and bought all the Mobile Fidelity he had.

To clarify my business with Tom was 99% personal. The company I worked for went out of business but Tom and I kept buying and selling music with each other. I'd send him LP's to sell, he kept track of the credit and I'd use it on buying other music. We both loved music and got to be great friends through those phonecalls. He eventually closed his store and retired. We pretty much lost touch.

 

[puroagave]

I have hand written receipts from Chad dating back to '87. We've had calls that went 2-hrs, it was very personal in the early days as we're both about the same age. I watched his growth from the front row, as it were. He bought collections from me but I bought way more from him. I witnessed his first ever reissues on his own label to how he met his wife. If there ever was a poster boy for how to succeed against all odds, and moreover, finding your purpose--its Chad. He's having a big shindig this Oct for his cos. 40th anniv, I guess I'm going.