Physical record stores have made a comeback in recent years, but there's one in Boston that never went away. At Skippy White's CDs & Records in the Egleston Square section of Roxbury, owner / radio DJ / record label owner / concert promoter Skippy White continues to serve his faithful customers, just like he has for well over a half century.

Since 1961, Skippy has owned and operated multiple record stores (and a distribution company) in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In 2018, he’s got one left. A visit to his Egleston location, at 1971 Columbus Avenue, is a true trip back in time. The walls behind the counter are decked with cassettes, including lesser-seen blank ones (remember 46 minute Maxells? He stocks em!). Skippy logs orders into a tattered college ruled notebook. His decade-old computer on the crowded counter is used to look up titles he orders for customers on layaway – half down, half when they pick it up, sometimes 1-2 weeks later.

And although he has been around the block, he’s not an out-of-touch old timer. His Discogs.com online retail site is chock full of in-demand singles, many he himself produced and put out on labels like Silver Cross, Bluestown, Wild Records and Stop in the ‘60s. Prices for select rarities there reach upwards of $250, with customers that span the globe.

At Skippy's store on any given day, his regulars – many who listen to his weekly gospel and R & B oldies radio shows – often come in looking for a particular soul, R & B or gospel song that they heard years ago. They might not know the artist or even the title, but Skippy’s longtime slogan promises it will be found: "Just Hum It." Skippy’s mission is to help them connect with the music they love.

This 21-minute audio feature is a loving look at a Boston music and retail legend, and the dedicated customers he loves and serves.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Brian Coleman is a Boston-based author, record collector and former radio DJ who has published three acclaimed nonfiction music books since 2005: Rakim Told Me and Check the Technique Vols 1-2. For more information: www.BrianColemanBooks.com and www.Good-Road.net.

Noah Schaffer is a longtime, Boston-based freelance journalist and music fanatic who currently contributes regularly to The Arts Fuse and also produces radio features for Afropop Worldwide. A recent feature, on Barbadian Spouge music, can be found here: http://www.afropop.org/33950/barbados-at-50-spouge-to-soca/.

Michael Garth is a broadcast engineer and producer based in Boston, MA.  His mixes for NPR reporters via WBUR have won numerous awards for use of sound in a reported news story. Michael has also produced five hip-hop albums since 2001. His skills in digital audio and storytelling make podcasting a natural fit.