'It's about the people and the music'
Allen surrounds himself with recorded music
By LESTER MURRAY news2@kilgorenewsherald.com

When an eight-year-old boy with an extensive knowledge of music wins a jukebox he must be destined to be in that business.

Jim Allen, marketing director at KTPB radio at Kilgore College, still owns that jukebox and is an avid record collector.

Allen said he has always loved music. He grew up in the late 50s and through the 60s with the likes of the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and all the music that era had to offer.

Being a collector, Allen says, is not about the money. In fact, he laughs, the business is not what it used to be. "When I go to the shows I load up my van with thousands of 45s and LPs and - yes - I hope to make a little money. But that's not what it's all about," said Allen. "It's about the people you meet, the music you hear and at every show I learn a little something more about the business."

He has been collecting records for 25 years and in his 'personal' collection he has about 2,000 45s and 1000 LPs. "If you read issues such as 'Discoveries,' which is all about the record industry, you hear stories about LPs that have sold for as much as $20,000," said Allen. "This is definitely not the norm."

He once sold a 45 for $800 and even that was a rare event. "Sometimes you have to sell for less then what a record is worth just so you have new merchandise for each show," said Allen. "Most of the dealers that come to these shows are like one big family... we all know each other so you don't want to get a reputation of having the same merchandise at every show."

Allen said there are so many different labels and artists it is hard to keep up with all of them. "You really have to do your research to make sure what you're buying is genuine, not just plain worthless," said Allen. "A lot of people out there are not just looking for big name artists, but the obscure artists that maybe only hit it big for one record."

Allen said "in the day" there were a lot of recording labels right here in East Texas, including GM out of Gladewater and other labels in Longview and the surrounding East Texas area.

Allen said rare finds are getting harder and harder, though. "I'm probably taking 6,000 records to the Austin show, which is the biggest in the country," said Allen. "The Austin show will attract buyers from around the world.

Allen said the Austin Record Convention will be held on April 1 and 2. "It is a lot of work just getting ready for this convention," said Allen. "Cataloging, setup both going and coming, I'm not as young as I used to be and these records get pretty darn heavy," said Allen.

Allen said his tastes in music run from early country, jazz to rock and roll. "Some of the artists I have for sale still live in this area," said Allen. "Some haven't recorded a record in many years."

As in any business where collecting is involved, Allen said, you have to know the signs of what makes a record collectible such as when it was actually cut. "A record still might be collectible even though it is the fourth cut, but certainly not as collectible as the first one out," said Allen.

Allen said the love for music is what keeps him going and no matter what happens in the business, he will always have his favorites on his jukebox at home. "Even now CDs are already becoming collectible and who knows where that medium will expand to in this business," said Allen.

Whether it's Elvis or the Rolling Stones, vinyl or compact disc, valuable or just sentimental, Allen says, there will always be the love of music and those who want to possess them.