Village Music

Village Music

Company type	Music retailer
Founded	1940s
Headquarters	Mill Valley United States
Owner	John Goddard
Website	www.villagemusic.com

Village Music was a renowned record store situated in Mill Valley, California, under the ownership of John Goddard. It gained national acclaim for its vast assortment of vintage, rare, and specialty vinyl records. The store was also celebrated for hosting live performances inside the shop and organizing anniversary celebrations at the nearby Sweetwater Saloon, featuring prominent musicians who were also customers of Village Music. A 2012 documentary titled Village Music: Last of the Great Record Stores chronicles the store’s legacy and the local music scene. The business ceased operations in 2007.

History

Village Music began as a family-owned music retailer during the 1960s, initially located within the Sequoia Theater building. The following year, it relocated to 9 East Blithedale Avenue, where it operated until its closure. John Goddard, a native of Mill Valley, began his career at the store’s predecessor—a branch of San Rafael’s Marin Music Center—when he was 13 years old in 1957. He acquired Village Music in 1968.

The shop was distinguished by its comprehensive inventory of vintage, hard-to-find, and niche records, with memorabilia densely covering almost every surface including walls and ceiling. Among these were notable artifacts such as Robert Johnson's gold record award, Janis Joplin's police mug shot, and Howlin' Wolf's initial royalty check.

In September 2007, Goddard issued an open letter announcing Village Music’s closure.

Live music events

Twice annually, Goddard organized exclusive gatherings at the nearby Sweetwater Saloon, inviting his preferred blues and R&B artists to perform before select audiences.

Performers and attendees of note included:

• Guitarist James Burton from Elvis Presley’s band performing alongside Jerry Garcia and Elvis Costello.
• Legendary musicians such as Carlos Santana, John Lee Hooker, blues guitarist Albert Collins, slide guitarist Ry Cooder, and blues artist Robert Ward.
• Artists like Steve Miller, Bonnie Raitt, and Huey Lewis attending performances by 1960s soul vocalists Howard Tate and Bettye LaVette.
• Blues vocalist Charles Brown, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, jazz singer Jimmy Scott, gospel ensemble The Fairfield Four, Pop Staples, along with soul performers Otis Clay and Ann Peebles.
• The inaugural collaborative performance between Jerry Garcia and David Grisman.

Documentary

Village Music: Last of the Great Record Stores, a documentary directed by Gillian Grisman and Monroe Grisman—children of San Francisco Bay Area musician David Grisman—premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival in October 2012. This concert documentary chronicles the origins of Village Music alongside the final chapter of the store's closure under owner John Goddard. It captures the essence of Sweetwater Music Hall and the vibrant Mill Valley music scene from the late 1960s through Village Music's shutdown in 2007. Featured performances include those by Elvis Costello, Bob Weir, Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe, John Sebastian, Dan Hicks, Huey Lewis, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, Pop Staples, Jerry Garcia, and Carlos Santana.

Notable quotes

"Some of my most remarkable finds have come from what may be the finest record collector’s shop globally: Village Music in Mill Valley. Any establishment that presents its own evolving 'Hall of Fame' (which might showcase a Lester Young, The Fairfield Four, selections from Bill Monroe, and the outstanding Otis Rush Anthologies) along with a rack titled 'Sometimes a Cover Is Enough,' featuring gems like 'Music for Sleepwalkers,' is undoubtedly excelling."

—Elvis Costello, liner notes for his 1995 album Kojak Variety

External links

• Official website
• Template:IMDb title
• Village Music: Last of The Great Record Stores – Official Movie Trailer on YouTube