Strings and Dreams - The Chris Lovell Interview 2004

Strings and Dreams - The Chris Lovell Interview 2004
aka Strings & Things Final Campaign.

Many Memphis musicians browsing Strings & Things music store over the past 40 years have wondered about the tall tales they occasionally heard concerning Chris Lovell's super secret private offices hidden away inside the store. Well, wonder no more! Here is exclusive footage of the former Strings And Things music store, including Chris Lovell's magic loft office.

Watch Chris sparkle with enthusiasm as he talks about taking on the big guys in the marketplace. Ultimately, however this interview documents what was to become the final efforts by Strings & Things music store to re-energize their brand names and standing in the major retail musical community. They had some bright ideas, they had the connections, they had the initial financing to get things off the ground... But what they didn't have was customers to follow through.

Despite heroic efforts, it just didn't fly. The reasons were numerous, but mostly it was because changing city demographics moved their local customer base out east while the steady encroachment of the national chains eroded their already shaky profit margins on every product line.

Within months of filming this video, Strings & Things, a Memphis institution since 1972, was no more. The partners split the blanket and gathered on separate hillsides to become another Memphis Memory.

UPDATE: Strings & Things rides again with a small store near Sun Studio at 630 Madison. The Chris & Charlie duo is still split up, but the beat goes on with two generations of the Lovell family trying to keep the flame alive.

Video produced and edited by Steve Cox for
http://www.AnotherGulliverProduction.com

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Memphis
• Music
• Store
• Strings
• And
• Things
• Interview
• Chris
• Lovell
• Charlie
• Lawing
• midtown
• Steve
• Cox
• Dana
• Pannell
• Mark
• Watkins

[Bebewhite88]

MIKE LADD RULES!!! MIKE STARTED IT GAVE KECK HIS START AND HE DESERVES A HELL OF A LOT MORE CREDIT THAN HES GOTTEN. IF NOT FOR MIKE THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE REISSUED THE LES PAUL.

[roadrocket7]

Yep, I remember the good ol days in the heyday of all the great local music stores: Melody Music Shop, Amro Music, Colie Stoltz, Berl Olswanger, and last but not least: MIKE LADD's Guitar City. I loved the

old days with Chris & Charlie on S. Cooper, and later on Union next to Danver's. Remember BIG DAVE? Chris and Charlie were great guys. Sad to hear the demise and the split.

[Craftonia]

At least we still have Yarbrough's!