Russ Solomon, Founder of Tower Records, dies at 92 while drinking whiskey and watching the Oscars

[Miles Archer]

Founder of Tower Records dies at 92 while drinking whiskey and watching the Oscars

Russ Solomon, the music-loving visionary who built a global retailing empire and the most famous company in Sacramento history, died Sunday night. He was 92.

Solomon was watching the Academy Awards ceremony Sunday night when he apparently had a heart attack, said his son, Michael Solomon.

"Ironically, he was giving his opinion of what someone was wearing that he thought was ugly, then asked (his wife) Patti to to refill his whisky," Solomon said. When she returned, he had died.

Russ Solomon was the founder and guiding force behind Tower Records, the chain that revolutionized music retailing until it was swamped by iPods, big-box stores and other dramatic changes in the industry. Tower went out of business in December 2006 after a second stint in bankruptcy.

http://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article203542104.html

[Loki Liesmith]

1. Worse ways to go

[exboyfil]

2. No trip to the hospital

No living tied to a machine hearing your loved ones cry.

I think that is the way I would like to go out (not that I drink or care about the Oscars).

Wishing comfort for his family.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. I realize it would have been unpleasant for those with him,

but gosh, what a good way to go.

[Zoonart]

4. R.I.P.

Tower Records was one of my haunts.
ps: If anyone is listening...I'll have what he had.
Not a bad way to go out.

[Control-Z]

5. Great way to go. eom

[Eliot Rosewater]

6. Amazing store, I was at the original in the 70's, buying.

Not sure which one it was now that I think of it, was in Sacramento.

[Miles Archer]

13. One opened up in Mountain View in the 70s (closer to me than S.F.)

Holy CRAP.

IMPORTS!!!

I bought all of John Cale's solo albums on my first trip.

I was there every Tuesday of my life (as well as the Campbell location) until they shut it all down.

R.I.P. Russ.

[Eliot Rosewater]

14. Ahh yes, Tuesday was the day new releases came out. Who can forget this Tuesday

September 12, 1975

Which was a Friday it seems, I thought they came out on Tuesday...

Any guess what was released this day?













Wish
You
Were
Here

[hlthe2b]

7. What a way to go... Admittedly I STILL miss the big Tower Records in Denver

at North Cherry Creek. It was open 365 days each year, including Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter--all the holidays. It was enormous, with several back store areas to listen to different genres of music.

I went there on many a major holiday after getting bored with the whole routine--usually after guests had left though I admit taking a couple with me one time...LOL


Ahh, some things didn't need to change IMO, though like everyone else I do love the convenience of digital music. Still there is nothing like looking at the artwork on a CD or vinyl as you listen.


And the old Tower Records store? It's been a Container Store the past 15 years or so.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

8. What a tragedy! He was cut down in his prime.

Maybe not. I can think of worse ways to go.

I bought my copy of Blondie's Autoamerican at the Tower Records across the street from George Washington University just after it opened. I mean, just after that location of Tower Records opened, not....

LP, of course.

[Freedomofspeech]

9. Lucky bum...

[TygrBright]

10. Go gentle, Russ. And thanks for many shining hours at Tower Annapolis. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. A pretty good way to check out, I think.

[shenmue]

12. I loved Tower Records

[Doc_Technical]

15. Columbus and Bay in San Francisco

I remember buying albums there for $1.99 circa 1970.

[PufPuf23]

17. My 1st of many trips to the Columbus and Bay Tower Records

was 1968.

A childhood friend had just gotten his DL and we drove there from Danville in his Mom's Volvo

Bought Cream's Disraeli Gears for $2.33 and the Stones' Satanic Majesties Request for under $2.00.

Also went to International Imports (think that was name) for the 1st time that day which was to figure much in my teenage décor.

Became a regular 1968 at Fillmore West and sometimes Winterland and Tower Records was heaven.

[msongs]

16. hundreds of hours in tower on sunset in LA. watching celebs buy stuff too nt

[Upthevibe]

18. Me too at that same Tower Records on Sunset..

I really miss hangin' out there..R.I.P. There's a good documentary called "All Things Must Pass" about the story that I recommend.