Charlemagne Record Exchange: Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
mNo edit summary
(rewrite (reduced quoting, rearranged some stuff, purged dead link))
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Charlemagne Record Exchange''' is a used record store in the [[Five Points South]] neighborhood of [[Birmingham]].  Located at 1924 1/2 [[11th Avenue South]], Charlemagne is owned by [[Gary Bourgeois]], [[Marian McKay]] and [[Mike McCay]].  [[Jimmy Griffin]], a fixture in the store and a Charlemagne coprorate officer, is locally known for his vast knowledge of music.  Charlemagne specializes in new and out of print Rock, Jazz and Blues LP's, CD's, cassettes and DVD's.  
'''Charlemagne Record Exchange''' is a used record store in the [[Five Points South]] neighborhood of [[Birmingham]].  Located at 1924½ [[11th Avenue South]], Charlemagne is owned by [[Marian McKay]] and [[Mike McCay]].


== History ==
[[Jimmy Griffin]], a fixture in the store and a Charlemagne corporate officer, is locally known for his vast knowledge of music.
In 1977 Bourgeois and Griffin were English majors in college, and on their way to becoming professors. Then Bourgeois and Marian McKay went to Europe.  “We saw this little dress shop in Paris and it gave us the idea. The owner’s cat lived under the ironing board, and you could see Notre Dame Cathedral out the window –we thought that was the life. Neither one of us wanted to work in an office building. Also, I had seen Rasputin Record Exchange in Berkeley.”  So the three agreed to open a record exchange and named it while listening to “Kid Charlemagne” by Steely Dan. The partners rented a shop at [[the Garages]] and started trading records and selling used records. At first they were only paying themselves $30, which then turned into $50 a week, then $75. Within the first year, they were clearing a $100 each and “feeling rich.” [http://www.stevenfordbrown.com/History.htm 1]
 
== History ==  
Charlemagne was founded by the McKays and [[Gary Bourgeois]] in the summer of [[1977]], renting space at [[the Garages]] on [[10th Terrace South]]. The business was envisioned not only as a used record shop, but as a place to freely exchange recordings. The atmosphere was inspired by Rasputin Records in Berkeley, California and an informally-run dress shop in the shadow of Notre-Dame in Paris. The name came from Steely Dan's "Kid Charlemagne", which was playing while the three discussed the new venture.
 
The three partners originally allowed themselves $30 a week salary, but the business was successful and soon allowed each of them to take home $100 a week. Before long the shop moved to its present upstairs location on [[11th Avenue South]]. Record trades now only account for a tenth of Charlemagne's business as sales of new and collectible rock, jazz and blues LPs, CDs, cassettes and DVDs have taken front stage.
 
Bourgeois left Charlemagne in [[2001]] to teach English at [[Miles College]]. After two years he returned to the record business with [[Renaissance Records]] a block away.


== References ==
== References ==
# Duval, Lynn.  Excerpt from "Historical Hangouts", 1994 Black and White Magazine [http://www.stevenfordbrown.com/History.htm History of Southside, stevenfordbrown.com]
* Duval, Lynn (1994) "Historical Hangouts". ''Black and White''
* Haden, Courtney (July 15, 2009) "Charlemagne and Renaissance Records celebrate mid-summer & other anniversaries." ''Birmingham Weekly''


== External Links ==
== External Links ==

Revision as of 14:22, 24 July 2009

Charlemagne Record Exchange is a used record store in the Five Points South neighborhood of Birmingham. Located at 1924½ 11th Avenue South, Charlemagne is owned by Marian McKay and Mike McCay.

Jimmy Griffin, a fixture in the store and a Charlemagne corporate officer, is locally known for his vast knowledge of music.

History

Charlemagne was founded by the McKays and Gary Bourgeois in the summer of 1977, renting space at the Garages on 10th Terrace South. The business was envisioned not only as a used record shop, but as a place to freely exchange recordings. The atmosphere was inspired by Rasputin Records in Berkeley, California and an informally-run dress shop in the shadow of Notre-Dame in Paris. The name came from Steely Dan's "Kid Charlemagne", which was playing while the three discussed the new venture.

The three partners originally allowed themselves $30 a week salary, but the business was successful and soon allowed each of them to take home $100 a week. Before long the shop moved to its present upstairs location on 11th Avenue South. Record trades now only account for a tenth of Charlemagne's business as sales of new and collectible rock, jazz and blues LPs, CDs, cassettes and DVDs have taken front stage.

Bourgeois left Charlemagne in 2001 to teach English at Miles College. After two years he returned to the record business with Renaissance Records a block away.

References

  • Duval, Lynn (1994) "Historical Hangouts". Black and White
  • Haden, Courtney (July 15, 2009) "Charlemagne and Renaissance Records celebrate mid-summer & other anniversaries." Birmingham Weekly

External Links

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Charlemagne_Record_Exchange&oldid=48783"