Herzog Music in downtown Cincinnati is a music lover's staple. Called “hallowed ground” by Cincinnati Citybeat, Herzog Music sits in a historically marked spot in the heart of downtown where Cincinnati’s first R&B record was recorded for King Records and Hank Williams Sr. recorded songs like “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”
Not only does Herzog boast an impressive vinyl collection and rich history—they also offer music lessons/clinics, monthly free kid’s events, repairs, and an extensive selection of vintage gear and guitars.
Record Store Day is tomorrow! At Herzog Music you can catch The Turbos with special guest Ryan Newkirk for an in-store performance at 1pm on Saturday as well as an in-person Preorder Exclusive of CRAIG FOX & SHANEL HARRIS 7"! Engineered by Zach Gabbard (Buffalo Killers/Thee Shams) at the Herzog studio spotand mixed by Mike Montgomery at Candyland. QCA is plating the record and Gotta Groove is pressing the release. Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation is producing the record, a follow-up to an All-Seeing Eyes 7".
Courtney caught up with Bill Furbee in honor of Record Store Day.
Tell us about the evolution of Herzog Music…
Herzog Music is a labor of love for many of us who met as volunteers for the Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation, headquartered just above Herzog Music, where the E.T. Herzog studio operated from 1945-55. We're always exploring new ways to connect with residents of the central downtown business district, and the community at large. We sell used records, repair amps, and sell guitars - but really the heart of our mission is in hosting a monthly kid’s event, free and open to the public - in addition to art shows, historical presentations, special live performances, and book signings. Since opening in July of 2017, we've learned a lot about what visitors to our space are looking for, and continue to do so.
What does it mean to be in such a historic location?
The historic legacy of our space - where early King Records artists would record, where the city's first R&B was recorded under the direction of Henry Glover, where non-King artists like Hank Williams would record - means absolutely everything to us. We consider ourselves caretakers of that legacy, and our duty to welcome visitors and oversee new recordings in the space. To that point, new music has been made by Lauren Eylise, The Harmed Brothers, Sarah Mann, Tigerlilies, All Seeing Eyes, and more. We've opened the space to rehearsals by Patti Smith and Sufjan Stevens.
What is happening at Herzog for Record Store Day this year?
We'll have a special in-store performance by The Turbos from Columbus, with special guest Ryan Newkirk. While we aren't official participants of RSD, we do enjoy the excitement and an opportunity to highlight a recently-expanded selection of used vinyl. Additionally, we'll offer 10% off any used titles with a local connection - which we already spotlight separately from the rest of our LPs.
What is on the horizon at Herzog?
We look forward to continuing our mission of educational outreach and connecting with an amazing local music scene. We also routinely welcome visiting acts (notable recent visitors include Pokey LaFarge, Marty Stuart and Steve Earle). We look forward to sharing with even more people the story of the Herzog studio, King Records, and other significant musical and cultural events taking place in our region that continue to make waves around the world. We look forward welcoming the next generation of music-makers with our kids programming and staff of devoted instructors. We look forward to being part of a continually evolving downtown business community, and we look forward to working in unison with other community groups, local independent businesses, and like-minded music supporters around the world to celebrate not only where we've been, but where we're going next.
