34 years haven’t dimmed Horizon Records’ Gene Berger’s passion for music

Posted Friday, November 18, 2005 – 6:00 am

By Mike Foley
STAFF WRITER
mfoley@greenvillenews.com

As corporate headquarters go, the stuffy room at the back of Horizon Records is more utilitarian than showplace.

Vertical rows of vinyl record albums line the floor and cover most of the available carpet, forcing visitors to snake through the accumulation like rats in a maze. Old concert posters, music company promotional photos, a rack of hundreds of CDs, and random bits of historic musical bric-a-brac cover the walls.

Ensconced behind a worn wooden desk in this haphazard amalgamation, sipping his umpteenth cup of coffee of the day from a white mug emblazoned with: “Keep Austin Weird,” is Gene Berger. Thirty-four years of the music business behind him, who knows how many to come.

Our Staff

GENE

“The Dubmaster”

Owner, founder, resident Mahler fanatic since 1975. Loves jazz, bluegrass, worldbeat, and old geezer blues rock by Canned Heat or Johnny Winter. Obsessed with 60’s and 70’s era John Lee Hooker. Don’t ask him about the Eagles.

SHELLEY

“Y'all say HELLO to Shelley”

Our latest associate escaped from her native Pickens to our internet sales dungeon and thence to front of store where she can be found sorting mountains of used cds, freaking out on vintage vinyl, new vinyl, punk bands, classic rock, yes Gene is not the only one who's playing that Yes -- Fragile CD ! An avid concert go-er and a music fanatic since childhood -- it's SHELLEY.

CAROLINE

Our fave Saturday girl is currently off at College but appears randomly and at holidays as mop up-fill in staffer emeritus.

AARON

Part-time vinyl research technician and fulltime rambling songsmith. Divides time between Brooklyn, the road, and Horizon’s elusive but cherished vinyl annex. Can be seen inhaling black coffee and dreaming of the next song while gazing at dusty album jackets and forgotten gems.

STEVE

“The Zubmaster”

Entered Horizon as auxiliary retail clerk but soon rose to the calling of veteran Scottish sound engineer and resident New Wave guru. Swears by Costello, Swimming Pool Cues, Nick Lowe, Robyn Hitchcock, and owns way too many Sparks LPs.

MARTIN

Clint Eastwood aficionado. Owner of largest jazz collection in Southeast. Keeps the system consistent Sunday afternoons. Walks to work from North Main Street neighborhood.

ANGIE

Solid roots with Horizon Records -- 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 time period as "THE MISSING YEARS". Rose from the ashes as a phoenix 2007. Fanatical about anything to do with The Church and/or Steve Kilbey. LOVES the 80s! Costello, Ramones, Depeche Mode, Clash, Echo & The Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs, Squeeze, Smiths, Roxy Music, Specials, Talking Heads, Cure, Police, Pretenders -- she can go on and on! Made Gene talk in unknown tongue once when she played an Elton John CD in-store. Certified Trainspotter -- knows more trivial facts than the average monkey.

KRISTI

Nighttime bookkeeper. Admitted movie junkie and usually has book attached to nose Knows the score and keeps all the important digits in line for the boys out front. Follows all things Lloyd Cole and Jason Ringenberg.