In a retail world of disappearing independents and Mom & Pop’s under the crush of online competition and music stores thriving in some places and cases whilst iconic stores are closing in many others from the onslaught of escalating real estate values, Horizon Records celebrates 50 years against these odds in a southern, non-college, non-touring oriented, non-hipster secondary market.
Our Current Staff
Our current Hi-Fidelity all-stars here to serve your collecting needs
Gene
“The Dubmaster”
Owner, founder, resident Mahler fanatic since 1975. Loves jazz, bluegrass, worldbeat, and old geezer blues rock like Canned Heat or Johnny Winter. Obsessed with 60s and 70s era John Lee Hooker and cheap pre-owned classical CDS. Yes he’s still crazy after all these years so don’t ask him about the Eagles.
JB
“The Indicator”
He’s our main buyer and self-proclaimed bush league graphic designer. You will find him in the back room of Horizon most mornings listening to Gene’s endless supply of piano music and staring at spreadsheets. He’s also drummer in the rock band formally known as Excons.
Chuck
Record Store veteran, musician, vinyl enthusiast! Bringing 10 years of prior record store experience and knowledge. Interested in all things from Jazz to Reggae to Power Pop with a dash of Mod/Pysch to Post Punk!
Will
Signed on as Horizon Records next chapter team member in 2019. Super positive, obsessive record collector, beat maker, musician and father of three. A recording/live sound engineer, passionate about helping people find the next record that will change their lives forever! From bluegrass to boom bap, Will loves it all!!!
Drew
The second Drew M to join the Horizon Crew, he’s a graphic designer by day, rocker by night. Heavy into 90s Britpop, shoegaze, and pop punk, he’s always rockin’ a band tee and some killer kicks! Catch him live around town with indie/power pop project KICK.SNARE.CRASH!
Josh
Horizon’s resident Sabbath nut! When he’s not selling records, you can probably find Josh scouring antique malls for rare Motörhead imports or writing riffs for his own stoner/doom project. Josh is proud to be Horizon’s “metal guy”, so feel free to talk his head off about the many eras of Iron Maiden or why Type O Negative is the greatest band in the world! 😉 “You can only trust yourself and the first six Black Sabbath records”
Shelley
We are stoked to have Shelley back… She likes music & people! Besides bringing a great vibe to the shop, she’s got a passion for 90s hip-hop, the Merle Haggard catalog, Fugazi and keeping our t-shirts, hats and tote bags all restocked. Ask her about the TRUE king of Rock & Roll.
Ellis
Part of the “vault team” Ellis knows a ton about new and used, old and new and helps the vibe in the store with his chill nature and passion for modern trancey electronic jams.
Esko
You are unlikely to run into our special teams Classical CD curator unless you’re in the back hall on the right weekday morning. It takes a special person to do what Esko does, and we are grateful!
Marlon
Resident certified crate digger and full time aficionado of Hip-Hop, RnB, Funk, And Jazz; a vinyl hound deluxe (will slow for monster cassette tapes) and yes, he’s just a super people person. Conspiring with Gene constantly for more Crusaders, Bobby Hutcherson and Madlib projects and related type type stuff.
Emeritus Staff
They’ve served their term and have been honorably discharged
Martin
Clint Eastwood aficionado. Owner of largest jazz CD collection in Southeast. He kept the system consistent for over thirty years at Horizon. Martin is known to some as Coach K. Walks to work from North Main Street neighborhood.
Lewis
Lewis an affable local music guy stopped in Horizon one day to cop the new Rolling Stones LP Tattoo You and stayed for 26 years. Fittingly departed his tenure in May of 2007 after a Charlie Louvin in-store. Gene always called him “the rock” due to his steady unflappable style and mellow metabolism in the face of the crazy world of record store culture.
Brad
Guitar player DELUXE and early music road trip runnin’ partner to Gene (no details are publicly available at this time). Known to many inner circle old-timers as Borkum Riff from his decades long work with a slew of killer rockin local bands. Worked briefly with Gene at BJ Music at Bell Tower Mall and then at Horizon circa 1977-88. Still chasin concerts and catch him around live with The Substitutes.
Drew
Rockin’ guitar player who loves ringing tunes at Horizon, this animal lover, history buff and 90’s alt aficionado always plays Built To Spill, Low, Murder By Death + all incarnations of Mac McCaughan. He’s cool, calm and steady as she goes…
Aaron
Previously often seen inhaling black coffee and dreaming of the next song while gazing at dusty album jackets and forgotten gems. Our rambling songsmith is now embedded in Nashville the land of Grimey’s pursuing music things and the elusive cultural epiphany of a large Southern music town. Aaron continues to release original songs and written content as Aaron Berg and hip-hop as mountainwalker. Now working outta East Nashville as a bass player for hire.
Angie
Angie’s been around the store since late 70s/early 80s. Got lost along the way for about 15 years in Los Angeles in the smog — we will refer to that era as “THE MISSING YEARS”. Currently here very rarely, mostly in-stores, special events or to bring Gene M&Ms. Fanatical about anything to do with The Church and/or Steve Kilbey and most things 80’s. Notably, made Gene talk in unknown tongue once when she played an Elton John CD in-store.
Katie
Worships at the Allman Bros. altar and believes that Duane Allman is up above controlling the weather for outdoor gigs. If you ask her nicely, she’ll put in a word if it looks like rain at your show. Will passionately advocate Ryan Adams & The Cardinals & U2. A voracious music lover who will ask you what you’re listening to. Has been to more concerts than you.
Russ
Worked at Horizon back in the day (whenever that was) left our store to pursue the magic of working in wood, carving, turning, building furniture and eventually resorted to luthier activities. Global renowned Ukulele craftsman is born! In last few years has been our esteemed and beloved retail carpenter deluxe on covert missions to make us the awesome-est fixtured indie store in the land. Says, “A ukulele can sound giddy, saucy and melancholic. They are easy to play. They are not toys.” Sadly to us here and so many followers in Greenville and beyond we lost our beloved Russ September 2015 after a near 2 year cancer experience.
Visit Friends Of Russ
