Chad Kassem receives LAOCAS Founders Award

puroagave

puroagave

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Nice roast by Michael Fremer. Most of it is based in fact but twisted:snicker::lol:. I've known Chad for as long as Mikey has, we'd sometimes chat for two hours over the phone, usually after hours on his own time. We're close in age and in those days shared similar life experiences. The recognition is much deserved, congrats Chad!

Chad Kassem Receives 2014 LAOCAS Founders Award on Vimeo
 
Personally, I couldn't think of anyone more deserving of the award!

Yes analog probably wouldn't have survived without Chad (and Mike Hobson)! Remember the dark, dark days in the '80s and '90s when it was an event when there was a turntable sighting at a show? Now you don't give it two thoughts as there are always a ton of tables at shows today. I counted over 25 different turntable manufacturers displaying their wares at RMAF.

And there are so many sides to Chad now! Selling equipment. Distributing audio equipment. Rereleasing classic music gems from so many different musical genres. Recording new music. His blues festival and dedication to preserving the legacy of the blues. Employing people in Salinas and probably owning half the town! Last but not least being a family man. :)

But not only that. Chad has pushed the manufacturing quality of records to the limit. Last weekend Sid Marks and I were sitting and listening to the new QRP/Analogue Productions release of Bartok Concerto for Orchestra and he turned to me and remarked that there wasn't one pop or other extraneous noise on Chad's pressing.

Finally, Chad has unearthed so many lost musical gems--from labels many of us had never heard of-- that I've lost count! He's also not afraid on occasion to take a flyer on an obscure recording? Not to mention, Chad is always willing to listen to suggestions for titles. One of those instances when you look back to when Chad first started his mail order LP business and who would have thunk he would have come so far?

Now I am waiting for some of those hand pressed, UHQR titles that Chad's been promising to release for two or three years now!

PS For all you digital people, can't forget Chad's being on the forefront of releasing music in the DSD and other hi-Rez digital formats!
 
If anybody is pressing better records in the world than Chad is right now, I want to know who it is. Chad is taking LPs to a place they have never been before in terms of quality of pressings and sound.
 
That was a great video, Rob, thanks for sharing! Chad's prices aren't inexpensive, but you do get what you pay for!

Congrats Chad!
 
Myles B. Astor said:
Personally, I couldn't think of anyone more deserving of the award!

Yes analog probably wouldn't have survived without Chad (and Mike Hobson)! Remember the dark, dark days in the '80s and '90s when it was an event when there was a turntable sighting at a show? Now you don't give it two thoughts as there are always a ton of tables at shows today. I counted over 25 different turntable manufacturers displaying their wares at RMAF.

And there are so many sides to Chad now! Selling equipment. Distributing audio equipment. Rereleasing classic music gems from so many different musical genres. Recording new music. His blues festival and dedication to preserving the legacy of the blues. Employing people in Salinas and probably owning half the town! Last but not least being a family man. :)

But not only that. Chad has pushed the manufacturing quality of records to the limit. Last weekend Sid Marks and I were sitting and listening to the new QRP/Analogue Productions release of Bartok Concerto for Orchestra and he turned to me and remarked that there wasn't one pop or other extraneous noise on Chad's pressing.

Finally, Chad has unearthed so many lost musical gems--from labels many of us had never heard of-- that I've lost count! He's also not afraid on occasion to take a flyer on an obscure recording? Not to mention, Chad is always willing to listen to suggestions for titles. One of those instances when you look back to when Chad first started his mail order LP business and who would have thunk he would have come so far?

Now I am waiting for some of those hand pressed, UHQR titles that Chad's been promising to release for two or three years now!

PS For all you digital people, can't forget Chad's being on the forefront of releasing music in the DSD and other hi-Rez digital formats!
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when Chads business took off he rewarded himself with a new sports car, the gossip around Salina about how he got it was hilarious. I received an advance copy of his EMI/Klavier massenet Le Cid reissue that was about to come out, he called me seeking my opinion on the mastering. we where both discovering and collecting LSCs and Mercs at the same time. he always sought the advice of others about what to release next. his greatest strength is not pretending to know everything and asking a lot of questions. He'd stop me mid-sentence to rephrase what I just said or ask what a word meant.

his 1st wife was Malaysian, as Chad put it they didn't look kindly upon the "round eye" marrying their women. the custom was to offer the family a cow for her hand... "where the f*** am i going to get a cow?" he still loves the f-word and its his charm point, but you hear it less frequently. in the early 90s he became the go to guy for the rarest of the superdisc list LPs. he'd get calls from doctors in between surgery placing orders and grinding him for a discount. Chad's standard come back was the same: "I never seen a sign in a doctors office offering a 20% discount on services." the phone would go silent for a few secs and then they would both bust out laughing. He has long-lasting friendships with many of his early customers and will tell you most of this wouldn't be possible without their input and support.
 
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