South Berkeley in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Site of Reid's Records
Berkeley History
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 3, 2020
1. Site of Reid's Records Marker
Founded in 1945 by local sports hero Melvin Reid and his wife Betty Reid, Reid’s Records was one of the first Black-owned record shops in California and one of the few shops of any kind where African-American music could be purchased before the 1960s. Operating out of the record store, Mel and his uncle Paul (Cud) Reid also started and hosted the widely popular Religious Gems Radio Broadcast, which was the first of its kind in the Bay Area. Together they became two of the most successful African-American gospel promoters on the west coast during the 1950s & 60s. Generations of Reid cousins grew up behind of the counter of Reid’s. The Reid family were descendants of the pioneering Black families who first began arriving in the Bay Area before the Civil War. www.berkeleyplaques.org
2019
Berkeley Historical Plaque Project
Erected 2019 by Berkeley Historical Plaque Project.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1945.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Exxon Super Service Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rumford's Pharmacy (approx. 0.2 miles away); William Byron Rumford (February 2, 1908 - June 12, 1986) (approx. 0.2 miles away); Santa Fe Railroad Tracks (approx. 0.2 miles away); Burl Toler, Sr. (approx. 0.2 miles away); Frances Albrier (approx. 0.4 miles away); South Berkeley Bank (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lorin Theater (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berkeley.
Also see . . . Reid's Records, Berkeley Gospel Mainstay, to Close After 75 Years (KQED, Feb. 6, 2019). Reid's Records, a one-stop shop for the gospel experience, will close after 75 years of family-owned business in October, Berkeleyside reported Tuesday.
The southwest Berkeley store, reportedly the state's oldest record shop, opened on Sacramento Street in 1945 to serve the East Bay's swelling black community. Diara Reid, daughter of the founders Mel and Betty, blamed gentrification and black depopulation for Reid's diminishing clientele, adding "no one buys CDs anymore." (Submitted on July 14, 2020.)
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 3, 2020
2. Site of Reid's Records Marker - wide view
Photo courtesy of Diara Reid, May 3, 2020
3. Marker inset photo: Melvin Reid and Aretha Franklin
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 14, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
