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Tower Records founder Russ Solomon dies
By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 6 March 2018
Tower Records founder Russ Solomon has died, aged 92, his son has confirmed.
Michael Solomon told the Sacramento Bee that his father died of an apparent heart attack while watching the Oscars on Sunday night. “He was giving his opinion of what someone was wearing that he thought was ugly, then asked [his wife] Patti to refill his whiskey”, he said. By the time she returned with the drink, Solomon was dead.
Solomon founded Tower Records in Sacramento in 1960, seeing it grow into one of the best known music retailers worldwide – operating almost 200 stores in fifteen countries at its peak. It was also one of the first retailers to begin selling online, launching its website in 1995. However, the growth of internet shopping and online piracy were among the factors blamed for the company’s later collapse.
The formula for the stores was large spaces with vast stocks – some stores stocking almost all CD titles on the market at any one time. This business model worked well, particularly during the 90s music retail boom. However, it also made it susceptible to any downturn. Mounting debts and falling sales sent the company into liquidation in 2006.
Although now defunct in the US, the brand lives on in various countries around the world, including Ireland and Japan. For a time its website was also revived, but this has now ceased trading again.
Commenting on Solomon’s death, president of the US Music Business Association – formerly the National Association of Recording Merchandisers – James Donio, said: “As the founder and CEO of Tower Records, Russ was one of the primary architects of NARM in its formative years. His and Tower’s presence and influence loomed large in our association for many decades. You always felt the love when Tower was in the room”.
“Russ was quite outspoken and having a conversation with him about the music business was always a priceless education”, he continued. “He never ceased to amaze me with his unique wit and wisdom”.
Donio concluded: “I had actually just spoken with Russ a few days ago about a special tribute we’re planning for him at our 60th Anniversary Conference in May, and he planned to be there. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Russ’ beloved Patti, his family, friends, colleagues, and all of the music fans around the world who have a special memory of what Tower Records meant to them”.
