A Visit to a Survivor: Claremont's Rhino Records Celebrates its 40th

Back in the 1990s I used to frequent the Rhino Records store in Westwood, particularly for its regular parking lot sales (in which CDs were just $1 each). The store was owned by Richard Foos, who also had founded the Rhino label -- although the two were completely separate. (Warner Music eventually bought Rhino, but Foos still owned the store.)

But that wasn't the only Rhino Records around. Foos had also owned a store in Claremont, but sold it off way back in 1976. That store kept the "Rhino" name though -- so when Foos decided to shut down the Westwood store in 2006, it didn't impact the Claremont store, which still exists.

We happened to be in the Pomona area a few weeks ago and decided to visit the Claremont Village area, where Rhino Records store is located. I couldn't resist. So I brought the kids and Maria -- who, as you know, worked for several years at the Rhino label as a designer -- and we finally checked it out. I wound up buying several 45s at $1 each.



Support your local independent music store this holiday season! They are a dying breed. Here's a bit more history about Rhino Claremont, which just hit its 40th anniversary. David Allen writes:

Mark Leviton, a friend of Rhino founder Richard Foos, opened the Claremont store in October 1974 under Foos’ ownership.

Foos sold the Claremont store in 1976 and it continues as an independent operation today, with no connection to the record label of the same name, which was also founded by Foos. It remains there today, thriving as the only full-service indie music store in the Inland Valley.

R.I.P. Wild Man Fischer, the 'Spiritual Godfather' of Rhino Records

In early 1990s Chicago, we had Wesley Willis: A schizophrenic musician who lived on the streets and recorded odd CDs to pay the bills.

But back in 1960s and 1970s Los Angeles, it was Larry "Wild Man" Fischer who became a cult figure for his similar bout with schizophrenia and how it translated into music. Frank Zappa first brought wider attention to Wild Man, who eventually became a "spiritual godfather" to Rhino Records, having recorded the store-turned-record-label's first-ever release.

Rhino founder Richard Foos sent this note out today on the passing of Fischer:

I wanted to let everyone know that this morning the spiritual godfather of Rhino "Wild Man Fischer" passed away.

Wild Man used to hang out at the Rhino store, So when we wanted to record a theme song for the store and press it on a 45 we had him make one up.

When we decided to record our first album the only fitting artist was Wild Man. Somehow we managed to sell five thousand records which gave us enough money to release the next album.

Wild Man's creativity, passion and chutzpah to become as he would say "bigger than the Beatles" despite having a total lack of musical training, ability to keep a tune, and being schizophrenia symbolized the can do spirit we had in the early days of Rhino and fueled us on to never give up.

Wild Man never achieved his goal of being bigger than the Beatles but his passion sparked a little label that has brought joy to millions...

Read more about Wild Man on his Wikipedia page. Here's Wild Man's self-titled "Wild Man Fischer Story":



And here's a 15-minute clip from a documentary all about Fischer:

Retro Rhino: Nirvana Performs, 1989

As the Rhino Records pop-up store prepares to temporarily open for charity (more here), here's video that someone has posted on YouTube of Nirvana's 1989 visit to the store.

Then unknowns, Nirvana hooks the equipment up themselves, and rock out in a tiny corner of Rhino's original Westwood store, to a small crowd.

It took another year or so, but Nirvana did, indeed, become the next great thing.

Rhino Records Retail Store Returns -- At Least for a Bit

The record store gods have giveth and taketh in Los Angeles -- as Amoeba opened up in 2001, Aron's and Rhino shut down just a few years later.

I used to regularly attend Rhino's parking lot sale in the 1990s -- and discovered a lot of cool music while getting a sunburn behind Rhino's Westwood store. Now, Richard Foos -- who continued to own the store long after he sold the Rhino label to Warner Music -- is bringing the store back.

Sorta. The Rhino store, which closed in January 2006, will re-open for a few weeks next month as a "pop-up" store to benefit charity. Chris Morris writes:

Store founder Richard Foos, now chief executive officer at catalog label Shout! Factory, is reopening Rhino at 1740 Westwood Blvd., three doors down from its original location. One of the store's former managers, Sam Epstein, will oversee the temporary outlet.

Several special events, including an old-timers day, are planned. Foos said singer-songwriter Emitt Rhodes' 60s band the Merry-Go-Round will reunite for an in-store performance.

"It should be like the old Rhino," Foos said. "We're bringing back the spirit of the old store."

Proceeds from the pop-up shop will be donated to Chrysalis Enterprises, a local non-profit that provides employment for the homeless and economically disadvantaged, street maintenance and recycling services.

A Rhino Records store still exists in Claremont, but that one has operated independently since Foos sold it in 1981.