Ep. 76 Jason Sumney (4th & Broadway, Regional Office, Lincoln Center)

2500 DelMonte Street: The Oral History of Tower Records

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Not many people are “One Degree of Separation” from Kevin Bacon, but this week’s guest, Jason Sumney is. Growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, the son of a rabid record collector, Jason started his retail music career while in HIgh School at National Record Mart, a locally based, national chain that at its peak had 175 stores in 30 states. Knowing all of the latest releases and the camaraderie he felt with his fellow employees made working in a record store the perfect job for Jason.

It was after meeting someone who loved Prince’s “Lovesexy” album as much as he did, that Jason made the move to Manhattan. Hired by Tim Devin, Jason got a job at the Tower Records at 4th and Broadway, which set off a ten year stint with Tower, all in Manhattan. Throughout our conversation Jason talks about many of the well known New York Tower folks; Steve Harman, Hedi Kim, Ryan Bland, Suzanne Barnett, Mark Yarabino, Arnie Lewis and many, many others.

After working in the store for a spell, Jason moved into the unique position of 4th & Broadway’s Payroll and Human Resources clerk, making sure hundreds got paid correctly every other week and assisting the managment team with the myriad of Human Resource issues that would arise. A stint in Steve Harman’s Regional Office, followed by time working at Tower Lincoln Center took place before settling back in the Regional Office again with Tim Devin.

Jason tells us about his happy, jovial Robert Smith encounter, an invite only Madonna performance, Joan Osbourne in “writing mode”, helping Shock G of Digital Underground (Humpty Hump) find records, staring at Paul Simon going down an escalator and mailing director John Waters his lost credit card to an address in Baltimore, Maryland.

Join us for a wonderful episode about Tower life in the 90’s and beyond.