By ANN ESCAMILLA, Staff Reporter.
Things that fall out of fashion always seem to make their way back around, and that has proven to be true with vinyl records.
Record enthusiasts crowded the small room of the Amvets Post 22, 520 N Pine Rd. Feb. 14 as a mix of music and vinyl lovers searched for beloved records and hidden gems to take home. Ray Pounds, event organizer from Bay City, mentioned that the job “kind of fell into my lap” after former mentor and friend, Tim Taylor (the original organizer), passed away. Ray has been organizing the event in his honor ever since.
Record vendors came from cities all over the state such as Traverse City, Detroit and Frankenmuth to share their collection. A variety of vinyl was on display and for sale such as Bruce Springsteen, Eminem and Ayn Rand lectures
Vendor Doug Lambert from Bay City owns over 5,000 records and has been coming back for the past three years. “The interaction with music fans is why I keep coming back,” said Lambert.
The annual record convention took Pounds six months to put together, from collecting vendors to organizing the space.
The question on many a mind at the event was, why is vinyl making such a fast comeback? Vendors, Debby Chaltraw and her husband Ran Chaltraw from Frankenmuth have been collecting records for 35 years and have some idea why. “The sound. People are listening and realizing the depth,” said Debby.
The sound may play a huge part but Pounds has a different reason. “I think it’s music. The music now sucks. People love music,” said Pounds who also expressed that, “kids have made it cool and popular.” Other reasons appear to be parents passing down their collection to their children, the cool artwork as well as a nostalgic factor.
“I like the collectability. The sorted, organized, physical library unlike iTunes,” said Delta student Jordan Roberts.
Many vinyl enthusiasts hope that vinyl doesn’t fade out again. To make sure that happens, Pounds said, “I think vinyl will last as long as we hand it down. As long as we keep it going it won’t die.”