You may roll your eyes and shrug your shoulders at the news of another record store closing or you may be young and naive and shrug your shoulders and ask what the heck is a record store? Billing itself as "The World's Largest Jazz and Blues Record Store," many have voiced their despair about the closure of the landmark that has helped to keep pieces of our musical heritage alive and vibrant.
Bob Koestler bought a small record store in the 1950s that he would turn into the Jazz Record Mart. Koestler, 83, would be the only owner of the store. He holds another distinction. Bob is also in the Blues Hall of Fame. He founded Delmar,later Delmark Records because of a copywright issue, while still living in St.Louis before coming to Chicago. According to Wikipedia Koestler recorded 20's and 30's blues musicians such as Spreckled Red, Big Joe Williams and James Crutchfield along with others. Delmark is the oldest independent jazz and blues label in the country.
Music fans crowded the store on Saturday, it's last day, and bought everything that they could get their hands . The following comments are taken from the Chicago Tribune online and it's worth noting the sense of loss involved with this store's passing. "'This is history,' said David Hensley who came with his 17 year old son. 'There's no other place like this'. Steve Padley noted the fun of browsing the store and deciding to give what he had found a chance. Ernest Dawkins who is a saxophone jazz player from England on is on the Delmark label noted that the closing of the store represented 'another historical institution that's gone by the wayside. I think America needs to look at itself in terms of how we invest in art.'"
