Russell Solomon
Encyclopedia
Russell Solomon is an American entrepreneur and art collector. He is the founder of the world-wide music store empire, Tower Records
. Described as "a cross between Santa Claus and Allen Ginsberg" in appearance, Solomon has a tendency to dress casually. At one time, he actually maintained a collage of neckties collected from visitors on the wall outside his office. A high school dropout, Russell Solomon built what started as a few racks of vinyl records into a billion dollar business.
during the Great Depression
. His father owned a small, but successful, business called Tower Cut Rate Drug Store and Solomon worked there in his high school days. He had little interest in school with a record of showing up late, then leaving early. He said in a January 2011 interview for the Sacramento Bee, that he "couldn't get up in the morning" so he'd get there about an hour before lunch and go home soon afterward. Although sources disagree as to whether he dropped out of high school or got kicked out, his lack of formal education did not appear to deter him later in life.
In 1941, when only sixteen, he sold used juke box records out of his father's drug store. When war
broke out later that year, his business career was interrupted by military service. When the war was over, he returned to the drug store and his fledgling retail operation.
in 1970 and added 26 more locations in the next ten years, including the Sapporo, Japan store in April of 1980. Over the next decade, Tower Records spread across the globe selling books and videos in addition to music. In May of 1998, MTS Inc. sold $110 million worth of notes to finance more international growth. They also received a $275 million line of credit from a group of large banks and one year later the company reported its first loss. Even though it made $76 million in the previous nine months, the interest payments had resulted in the company losing money. Although they continued to expand, Tower Records never recovered and, in 2006, the company was forced to liquidate and close its doors.
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An art collector, Russell Solomon has spent years taking photos of artists he admires as well as other people with interesting faces. Solomon's wife Patti said "He's been taking pictures of artists for years, because if he has a camera, whoever is there, he's going to take a picture." Soon after his retirement, Michael Stevens and his wife Suzanne Adan, curators of Sacramento City College
's Gregory Kondos Gallery, noticed a photo Russell Solomon had done of sculptor Gerald Walburg. Stevens said, "Russ had absolutely captured the character of Gerry." They soon arranged a showing of his portraits in the City College gallery that turned out to be a great success. After more than 70 years of photography, Russell Solomon has become an artist. Even though he uses a digital camera these days, he doesn't manipulate his images. He simply loves taking pictures of faces. In fact, he says, he probably would have been a fashion photographer if he hadn't gotten involved in selling records first.
Tower Records
Tower Records was a retail music chain that was based in Sacramento, California. It currently exists as an international franchise and an online music store....
. Described as "a cross between Santa Claus and Allen Ginsberg" in appearance, Solomon has a tendency to dress casually. At one time, he actually maintained a collage of neckties collected from visitors on the wall outside his office. A high school dropout, Russell Solomon built what started as a few racks of vinyl records into a billion dollar business.
Early Life
Russell Solomon was born in 1925 and grew up in Sacramento, CaliforniaSacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. His father owned a small, but successful, business called Tower Cut Rate Drug Store and Solomon worked there in his high school days. He had little interest in school with a record of showing up late, then leaving early. He said in a January 2011 interview for the Sacramento Bee, that he "couldn't get up in the morning" so he'd get there about an hour before lunch and go home soon afterward. Although sources disagree as to whether he dropped out of high school or got kicked out, his lack of formal education did not appear to deter him later in life.
In 1941, when only sixteen, he sold used juke box records out of his father's drug store. When war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out later that year, his business career was interrupted by military service. When the war was over, he returned to the drug store and his fledgling retail operation.
Marriages and family
In 1945, Russell Solomon married his first wife, Doris, and their first son, Michael, was born three years later. They also have a second son, David, born in 1962. Solomon and Doris separated in 1973, but remained on good terms. In 2010, he married Patti Drosins after a long friendship.Early Career
In 1952, Russell Solomon took his merchandising business from a few racks in the drug store owned by his father, Clayton, to a full-fledged sales company in a building across the street. He bought stock on credit and soon found himself in financial difficulties as sales failed to keep up with expenses. By 1960, his record company creditors had moved in and forced him to close. Solomon borrowed $5,000 from his father and started MTS Inc., named for his son, Michael. A month later, he was back in business with a new store that formed the foundation for his international business.Tower Records
Eight years later, Solomon signed a lease for a 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) storefront in San Francisco. Encouraged by the immediate profitability of the second store, Russell Solomon expanded to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1970 and added 26 more locations in the next ten years, including the Sapporo, Japan store in April of 1980. Over the next decade, Tower Records spread across the globe selling books and videos in addition to music. In May of 1998, MTS Inc. sold $110 million worth of notes to finance more international growth. They also received a $275 million line of credit from a group of large banks and one year later the company reported its first loss. Even though it made $76 million in the previous nine months, the interest payments had resulted in the company losing money. Although they continued to expand, Tower Records never recovered and, in 2006, the company was forced to liquidate and close its doors.
After Bankruptcy
Even after losing his business, 81-year-old Russell Solomon continued working. He went back to his first store location in Sacramento and planned a new store opening under the name R5 Records. The new operation opened just six months after Tower Records shut down. Although he no longer had the rights to the Tower name, Solomon used the same color scheme and the new logo was created by Mick Michelson, the same designer who had done the original Tower Records logo in the sixties. Solomon was joined in the effort by several long time employees. This time Solomon provided his own financing. The new store was patterned after the Tower format because Solomon still believed that "All we need to do is the things that made Tower successful." Unfortunately, the new store never really got off the ground and after less than three years Solomon sold to it Dimple Records, a local Sacramento chain. Dimple's co-owner John Radakovits turned his grand opening into a retirement party for Russell Solomon. Radakovits included a large oil painting of the Tower Records founder in his rock 'n' roll memorabilia display and dedicated the store to his long-time competitor and friend. Many of Tower Records former employees attended the retirement party to reminisce and celebrate with Solomon.Current Plans
Russell Solomon's plan for retirement is to spend more time on his second lifelong passion, photography. As a child, a developing interest in taking photos led him to sell his stamp collection to fund a flash attachment. His only real interest in high school seems to have been his stint as yearbook photographer. He spent the six months while he was waiting to report for his military training taking photography classes at the Los Angeles Art CenterArt Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design is a private college located in Pasadena, California, and was cited by BusinessWeek as one of the 60 best design schools in the world. The college’s industrial design program is consistently ranked number one by both DesignIntelligence and U.S...
.
An art collector, Russell Solomon has spent years taking photos of artists he admires as well as other people with interesting faces. Solomon's wife Patti said "He's been taking pictures of artists for years, because if he has a camera, whoever is there, he's going to take a picture." Soon after his retirement, Michael Stevens and his wife Suzanne Adan, curators of Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College is a two-year community college located in Sacramento, California. SCC is part of the Los Rios Community College District and had an enrollment of 25,307 in 2009. Sacramento City College is officially accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges , offering...
's Gregory Kondos Gallery, noticed a photo Russell Solomon had done of sculptor Gerald Walburg. Stevens said, "Russ had absolutely captured the character of Gerry." They soon arranged a showing of his portraits in the City College gallery that turned out to be a great success. After more than 70 years of photography, Russell Solomon has become an artist. Even though he uses a digital camera these days, he doesn't manipulate his images. He simply loves taking pictures of faces. In fact, he says, he probably would have been a fashion photographer if he hadn't gotten involved in selling records first.