Russ Solomon, founder of Tower Records, the chain of record stores that at its peak operated at nearly 200 locations (one of them at Richmond’s Willow Lawn), has died at 92.
Tower’s massive inventory, spanning all styles of music, made it a favorite destination for record collectors and musical grazers – and a bonanza for specialty artists and boutique labels whose recordings weren’t stocked at other record stores.
Burdened by high debt and unable to fend off competition from online retailers and digital-file services, Tower closed down in 2006. Only one store carrying its name survives, in Tokyo.
An obituary by Harrison Smith in The Washington Post:
Letter V 