Thursday, May 1, 2014

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC "OFFICIAL SITE:" - CHAPTER 128- SYRACUSE RECORD & MUSIC STORES THOUGH THE YEARS - UPDATED 1/25/ 2017

The follow are Syracuse Record & Music stores that have dotted the Central New York area though the years.  We have listed names (a-z), locations, owner & managers and products carried. We know all employees and product lines can never be complete..so if you have any knowledge of other please pass along.....instrument mfg'ers etc. Many Thanks

NOTE THIS IS A VERY LARGE CHAPTER, STILL IN PROGRESS...Updated 1/25/ 2017


ALLEGRO MUSIC CO.

Located at 5663 W. Taft Road in North Syracuse

BEAT STREET MUSIC

Located at 219 E. Seneca Turnpike in Manlius
Instruments, sheet music, lessons. accessories

BE-BOP SHOP

Located on Old Liverpool Road across from Liverpool Drive In Theater
Mickey McMenamin, Terry Vickery
Equipment sales, lessons,
Repairs by- Dave Pasternack


BIG APPLE MUSIC

Location- Old Liverpool Road- Liverpool, NY

BONNE MUSIC    (updated)

Locations- 1421 So, Salina Street just south of Sears Roebuck, later to
3455 Erie Blvd, East
Owners- Bela & Clare Sternberg retired in1987
Note- Company (on Erie Blvd ) later purchased my DeSantis & Sons Music
Products- Fender, DynaCord, Echocord, Vox, Rickenbacker, Maestro, Moserite,
Sennheiser, drum lines, Shure microphones products and many others popular lines.
Provide musical lessons

BRUCE'S MUSIC BOX

Owner Ohlmstead family. Mgr-  Bruce Ohmstred (Univsersity Music Box)
Location- Northern Lights Shopping Plaza- Rt 11 in North Syracuse.
Products- vinyl, 45, 33 , EPs, Albums mono & stereo, Phonographs, needles, tapes &
accessories. Bought first Lp there- "Buddy Holly Story" then "Ritchie Valens Live at Pacoima"

BUSY BEE

Location- 105 No. Salina Street
Products-  New and used vinyl, Top hits etc.


CAMELOT MUSIC

Many CNY locations including Fayetteville Mall


CAMILLI MUSIC CENTER- '(So Salina St Music Ctr)

Owner by Anthony Camilli & family
Location- J.M. Field Plaza-3518 Brewerton Rd, No Syracuse.
Lessons, Fender, Danelectro


CARISEO'S RECORD & APPLIANCE STORE

Owner- Bob Cariseo
Location- 205 E. Genesee Street- State Tower Bldg.
Downtown Syracuse
All major record label and brand name appliances


CARM'S RECORDS

Owned by Carm & Fred Iaconis and later their son.
First opened Aug 13, 1959 in Auburn, NY, Closed-Sept 1982
69 1/2 Genesee St and later 110 Genesee St in Auburn, NY
Full line record vinyl, cassettes & 8-track store, recording tapes & accessories.
Where I bought- Ronnie Dio and the Prophets LP "Dio at Domino's".
Also TICKET location for all great concert that played in CNY.
A Key CNY Music location...

CASE-SMITH PIANO & ORGAN

Location-  338 So. Salina Street
Lines- Piano, organ, sheet music, lessons


CAVAGES 


Purchased Gerber Music locations- Shoppingtown, Penn Can, Fayetteville Malls etc.
Key Employees- Rob Robbins, Gary Podsiedlik, Karen Michaels


CHAPPELLE'S DEPT STORE

Although they had  many store in CNY. The one location that carried vinyl was in
Northern Light Shopping Center, Top Hits & budget Lp's.


CHARLIE'S CD & #39's

Located on Genesee Street and later State Street in Auburn, NY (1994-2001)
Owned by Jane Stebbins
Employees- Jim Watts, Terry Quill, Michele Prego, Cliff Dyke, Devon Deliostritto


CLARK MUSIC CO.

First opened for business in 1859.
First located at 416 So. Salina Street in downtown Syracuse (100+ years)
Moved in 1967 to 2922 Erie Blvd, East
Note also had a location in Auburn, NY in 1960's
Key employees- Jim Smith (1966-76), Frank DeFonda (1984-2012).
Sold top names in piano & keyboards for over 100 years
Lines carried- Acoustic, Yamaha, Schmer, Baldwin, Steinway, Fender,
Sun Amps, Ampeg Amps, Top names in audio & video products & systems.
Music lessons


CLEAR LIGHT BOUTIQUE'

Another Auburn, NY music store (1970s).

COLE'S MUSIC WORLD

Owned by "Sugar Bear" Cole located on East Fayette Street in late 1970's


DAW DRUG STORES

CNY largest drug store chain in 1950's & early 60's with many area locations.
Carried- Top 45's many with picture sleeves. Visited Mattydale Shopping Plaza store
many tines. Manager- Don Miller (former member of 1927 New York Yankees).

DE SANTIS & SONS MUSIC

Location- 1317 So. Salina Street
Owners- Mario DeSantis Family, Maria DeSantis
Lines- Gretsch, Gibson, Fender guitar,
Lessons-

DE SANTIS SCHOOLHOUSE

Location- 128 West Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY
Maria & Mario  DeSantis


DESERTSHORE RECORDS

Location- 730 So. Crouse Ave on University Hill
Alan Baum
Owner Tom Payne
Manager Charlie Robbins

DEY BROTHERS DEPT STORE

400 So. Salina Street in downtown Syracuse

DISCOUNT RECORDS

EASY BARGAIN CENTER


Located on Gifford Street just off Onondaga St. Budget big store discounter in 1960's.
Owned by Debbie Reynolds husband.

E.W. EDWARDS & SONS

Located at 200 So. Salina Street in downtown Syracuse
Note- also had annex behind on Clinton Street.
Products- New vinyl, 45, 33, cassettes, & accessories.

FALSO MUSIC

Owned by the legendary Al Falso
Location- 150 Port Watson Street in Cortland, NY
Gibson guitars
Favorite shop of Ronnie James Dio, Dick Bottoff, Rock Feinstein,
Gary Driscoll, Mickey Lee Soule,  Don Barber, Dave Porter etc.


FINGER LAKE MUSIC (MALL STORE)

Location- Auburn, NY


GEHERIN'S

Location- Auburn, NY

GENESEE TV

Location- Westvalle, Shopping Plaza
Manager- Frank Spinelli
Products- vinyl, Top Hits, Oldies, Albums, phone needles, tapes & accessories


GERBER MUSIC


Owners- Gerber Family (William Gerber II, Jean Gerber, Bill Gerber III,
Terri Gerber, Leonard Gerber). First mini location super store.

Lines- vinyl record, cassette tapes,8-tracks, sheet music, phonograph needles,  posters,
 recording tape, music lessons &  purchase concert tickets- example- WOODSTOCK.
A total full line music store with Fender, Yamaha, Takamine, Peavey, Martin, Gibson,
Drums lines- Ludwig, Pearl, Somar and others, Professional microphones, also
had a complete instrument repair department (DiShaw & Pasternack)

Locations- Shoppington-Dewitt, Fairmount Fair, Northern Light Shopping Ctr (1966)
Penn Cann Mall-Cicero (in 1976) and in Auburn

Music Employees- Dave Novak, Gary Frenay, Dave Pasternack, Terry Vickery
Tom Carr, Gary Podsiedlik, Bob Canastraro,  Tommy Allen, Oz, Dan Dishaw,
 Jimmy Johns, Mark Copani, Gary Jenkins, Phil Owens, Mickey Sage, Gary Zamory,
Peter Heitzman, Arty Lenin, Justin Root, Bruce Tetley, Tom Prowda, Tom Corradino,
Jerry Sorn, Joe Jewel, Mark Hoffmann, Mark Gibson and many many more,

Gerber Music was inducted into the Syracuse Area Music Hall of Fame- Feb 2014
They were later sold to Cavages in 1982.

GIARDINELLI BAND INSTRUMENT

Location- 7845 Mactlage Drive, Liverpool, NY

W.T. GRANTS

Location- 300 Block of So. Salina Street in downtown Syracuse
At store around CNY, but downtown store best record dept.
Also carried records in Northern Light Shopping Center location
New 45's Top Hits, Lp's, Budget Lp's  Used 45's (5 for $1.00)

GRECO'S TV- 


Owners- Greco Family (Leo, Len & Tom Greco)
Location- 70 So. First Street, Fulton, later years in Oswego
Lines- record, tapes, RCA TV's and major appliances.
Instruments- Gibson, fender, others
Sold tickets to major concerts

GUITAR CENTER

Location- 3150 Erie Blvd, East, Dewitt, NY

GUITAR SHOP

Location- 100 Woodbine Ave.


GUITAR STUDIO


HARRINGTON BROS. MUSIC

Company in business since 1929 (Stephan Harrington, Thomas O'Donnell)
Located at 14 Central Ave.in  Cortland, NY
Other locations- Ithaca, Syracuse, Binghamton, Cortland, NY
Products & Services- Pro Band & Orchestra Equipment,
Home audio & video, Repair service, Piano tuning,
Guitar, Bass & Amp repairs..to name a few.



HI FI MUSIC SHOP

Location- 323 So. Salina Street', Syracuse, NY

HOSAK JEWELERS

Owner- Fred Hosak  (1960-70)
Location- So Geddes Street near Shonnard St, Westside
Lines- Jewelry, used guitars, amps and used record

TOM HOSMER VIOLINS

Tom Hosmer, 120 Julian Place
Violin instruction & repair

JOHNNY'S COLLECTABLES

Owner- John Diano
Location- 3007 James Street, Eastwood, NY
Used 45's, Lps, Cassette, magazine, yearbooks, movie posters

JUNIOR'S RECORD SHOP 

Owner- Junior Stevens
Located at the corner of So. Geddes Street & Burnet Park Dr, westside.
Carried used recorded, many 1950's collectables on 45 & Lp

KLOBBY'S RADIO & TV

Location- 300 Block of James Street near corner of State St.
Owner- Bill Klobby

KNUCKLEHEAD'S

Owner- Jack Wolak
Location- 201 So. Main Street, No. Syracuse (1989-2000)

KOSS MUSIC

Location- James Street at Marlboro Road in Eastwood

S.S. KRESEGE'S

National mass merchant located on So Salina Street acroos
from Walt's Record Shop
Top 45 RPM Hits, Albums, Budget Lps,

LIVERPOOL MUSIC & ARTS SHOPPE

Location- Carl's Shopping Plaza on Old Liverpool Road, Liverpool
Owners- Clint & Mary Barter
Lines- Fender, Premier, Haystrom, Banjo,Traynor Amps,
Wilder Amps
Key employees & lessons- Mickey Palumbo, Dave Pasternack


LOBLAW'S SUPER MARKETS

Many CNY grocers stores- Eastwood, Mattydale & others
Had rack of 45 RPM Top Hits for sale

MC NEIL MUSIC CO

Location- Ithaca, NY (5 locations),  Binghamton & Cortland, NY)
Owner- McNeil family since 1951
Locations, Tioga Street, Triphammer Mall, 110 W. Genesee St, Bing
 Lines-only drums dist in Ithaca, had pro guitars & bass, PA Amps
& systems, Repairs.Keyboards,  Lessons, many others.

MORRIS DIST CO

Owner- Morris Horowich & Family
Key Mgt- Jerry & Rich Horowitz, David & Sheldon Horowitch
Location- 1153 West Fayette St, Syracuse, NY 13204
RCA Appliances, TV and RCA Records label & One Stop
Mgr- RCA Records Division - Oscar Docks
Music- Ron Wray, Gary Podsiedlik, Mickey Palumbo, Pete Shedd,
Dan Sperato, Tom DiAmbra, Mike Ferrante, Ted Storto, Oz,
Tom Rozzano, Gerry More, Dan Elliott


MUSIC & ART CENTER'

Location- 4106 Route 31, Clay, NY


MUSIC CENTER & DRUM STUDIO

Location- 4277 James Street, Eastwood
Former Location- 2451 James Street
Buke Babikian
Howard Gersony, Mark Copani, Mike Waite (Drum Inst)
Lines- Guitasr, Amps, Mics & Accessories
Fender, G&L, Yamaha, Ovation, Boss, MXR, Korg, Stagg,
Peavey, Ampeg, DiPinto, Takamine and many others


MUSIC CORNER

Located for many years at the corner of Burnett Ave & Teall Ave.
Peter Scott & Mickey Stage
Music lessions

MUSIC LOVERS

Location- 3218 Erie Blvd, E, Dewitt, NY

MUSIC MART

Location- East Hill, Auburn, NY (1966-67)
Music Instructors- Frank Borza, Mark Doyle, Dick Howard

MUSIC GO ROUND

Location- 3179 Erie Blvd, E..Dewitt, NY (old Hechinger Plaza)

NO. SYRACUSE MUSIC

Piano & Organ sales & lessons- Bob Popek

OLIVER'S

Location-107 Marshall Street, later East Adams St & Crouse Ave
Charlie Robbins

ONONDAGA MUSIC CO.

Business started in 1935.
Owners Dave Gersney,  Howard Gersney
Location- 119 So. Jefferson, later moved to So. Clinton Street.
Lines- Gretsch, Martin, Fender, Haystrom, Yamaha, Ampeg,
Marshall Amps, Peavey, Polytone, Korg, Crown, JBL,
Malatchi, various sax, trombone lines, Vinyl Records (45's, Lp, 78, EP's)
Recording tape & accessories, Vinyl Records (45's. Lp, EP, 78 RPM)
Musical Instrument sales & lessons, a full serve music store.
Huge selection of Jazz Recordings
Sadly our good friend Dave Gersony passed away Aug 31, 1997

ONONDAGA SUPPLY CO.

Location- West Genesee Street
Dist of Zenith Products
Music Mgr- William Gerber Jr
Records lines- London & others
Key- Dist of  45 rpm single Transylvania Twist by Baron Daemon


PAT'S RECORD SHOP

Location- No Syracuse Strip Plaza, just north of Taft Road.
Owners- Bud & Pat
Vinyl Records esp country music, 45's, EP, Lps, Cassettes, accessories

PETTA MUSIC

Located at 301 Montgomery Street.
Owner- Joe Petta
Lessons-

RECORD CITY RADIO

Location- 612 Townsend Street
Owner- Dave Wilkins

RECORD GIANT

Located in Auburn Plaza and managed by Marie Scruderi


RECORD KINGDOM

Located off of East Fayette Street in the mid-late 1970's by Arthur Lane


RECORD RUNNER

Located at 121 & 177 Marshall Street on University Hill.. Bob Mears owner
Later sold to Record Theater.

RECORD SHED

Location- Route 11, Cicero, NY
Owner- Bob Rawls

RECORD THEATER

Many locations including Marshall Street (1970's) & Erie Blvd, East
Jim Dombrowski,  Karen Michael, Dave Ridgeway, Robert Robbins
Full line record, recording tape & accessories.
Concert ticket location
Headquarters based out of Buffalo, NY

RECORD TOWN & TAPE WORLD

Both Record Town & Tape World locations were owned by Transworld Music Co.


ROWE MUSIC

Location- Auburn, NY
Owner- Paul Rowe
Note- After his death later became Speco Music for three generations
Lines- Gibson
Music Teachers- Frank Borza, Mick Howard


SACRED MELODY SHOP

Location- 3501 James Street in Eastwood
Lines- Vinyl, Cds, DVD, Cassettes, Books
Speciality- Religious Music- Rick Cua, Joe English recordings

SALINA DISCOUNT


Located 200 block of No. Salina Street at train overpass (now Rt 81)
Carried thousands of used 45's...5 for $1.00 variety


SEARS ROEBUCK

Locations- Main Store- 1300 So. Salina Street
Carried- record, instruments many purchased their Silvertone Guitars there

SHOPPERS FAIR

Mass merchant - Key location- Erie Blvd, East in Dewitt
Carried new vinyl, Top hits and budget product lines.


SIBLEY'S DEPT STORE

Location- 401 So. Salina Street, downtown Syracuse across from Dey Brothers.
Note= Property location used was former site of Paramount & Keiths Theaters

SOUND CITY CD & TAPE

Location- 37 Main Street, Cortland, NY

SOUND SHACK RECORDS

Location- on South Salina Street near Sear & Roebuck Bldg.

SPECTRUM RECORDS

Locations- University Ave, Walnut Street & Schine Student Center
Key Management- Beth Owns, Desiree Day

SPENO MUSIC

Owner Nick Speno, Mike Speno
Location- 3 East Genesee Street, Auburn, NY
Note- Three generations of Speno family own this business
2014- Celebrating their 65th Anniversary in business.
Lines- Instruments & amps, lessons, Records, Recording Tape, accessories

STAGNITTA MUSIC

Location- 754 No. Salina Street & 907 Townsend Streets
Owner- Joe Stagnitta & Family
Lines- Goya Guitars, Buescher, Saxophones, Supro guitars
Accordions, others.
Lessons- Bill Dundee, Joe Stagnitta, Stan Colella

STEBBINS MUSIC- AUBURN, NY

Loactions -  Auburn, NY  1994-2001
Owner - Jane Stebbins
Some Employees- Jim Watts, Terry Quill, Michele Prego, Devon Dellostritto, Clif Pyke
Music lessions, records & tapres, all music supplies


SYNTHESPIDER ELECTRONICS

SYRACUSE ONE STOP - WHOLESALE DIST

Locataion 333 W. Fayette Street, Syracuse, NY 13205
Employees- Ralph LaRosa, Chet Andrews, Mike Easterly,
Largest Jukebox supplier in CNY

TOPS DIST CO.

In late 1960's-70 had a record  Wholesaler One-Stop
Manager Bob Ricks
One-Stop- Gary Podsiedlik


UNIVERSITY MUSIC BOX /  OHMSTED'S / VARSITY VICTORLA
754 South Crouse Ave on University Hill for many years..
Owner- Mrs Olmsted and her family
Full line music business, records, tapes, phonographs, phone needles etc.

WALT'S RECORD SHOP

Opened March 1951, closed July 1980
Owner Walt Kandziela
Managers- Ed Grudynski
Sales- Gary Grundynski, Dave Ridgeway, Gary Podsiedlik, Larry Lieberman,
Don Bombard, Lou Everding, Dan Elliott Don Libensky, Mark Kalsuga, Guy Capone,
Kevin Adams, Steve Wasnick, others
Products- New vinyl 45's EP's, Albums, 78 rpm, Recording tape, Concert Tickets, accessories
Locations- 114 W. Jefferson Street' (as "The Record Store"), then in 1959 moved to
352 So. Salina Street, Syracuse

Many nationals recording stars visted Walt's- Johnny Caah, Gene Pitney, The Lettermen,
Jerry Vale, Al Martino, Johnny Mathis, Buck Owens, Young Rascals, Tony Bennett.
Notes- Syracuse's last great record store where customers could listen to vinyl before
buying them. These great music salesmen influenced many additional new sale.

DAVE WILKINS TV & RECORDS

Owned by Dave Wilkens
Location. So. State Street just south of Central Tech High School
Repaired Radio, TVS, Phonographs etc
Carried 45 rpm records for black community, local & national hits


WILSON JEWELERS

330 So Salina Street in downtown Syracuse
Products- 45's EP's Albums, Concert Tickets
Purchased 1965 Rolling Stones & Herman's Hermits tickets there

JACK WOLAK's RARE NECESSORIES

Owned and operated by Jack Wolak. Maybe the area's great imported of vinyl & Cds.
First opened as a mail order record business in Massena. NY in 1976.
Relocated to Syracuse. Later operated at 201 So. Main Street in No Syracuse then
shifted to Mattydale Shopping Plaza.


F.W. WOOLWORTH

Dept store located at 300 So. Salina Street in downtown Syracuse.
Products- Vinyl, 45's albums and record accessories

1 comment:

  1. Koss Music on Marlboro Road was owned and run by my father and my uncle. Warren Fields and Larry Koss.

    ReplyDelete