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Haight Ashbury Music Center's Last Dance

Sean Murdock
/
Haight Ashbury Music Center
Storefront of the Haight Ashbury Music Center.

The Haight Ashbury Music Center is selling off its gear. The store’s been around for some 40 years — it was opened by the brother of Janis Joplin’s bassist. And it’s been a centerpiece of the Haight Street experience ever since. So what happens when a place known for culture and counterculture loses its music?

The sounds in this story were gathered at a liquidation sale, at the Haight Ashbury Music Center. The store will soon shut down for good. But, you can still buy musical gear from owner Massoud Badakhshan. He has another music shop in Redwood City called “Gelb Music” and the Haight Ashbury Music Center will live on as an online marketplace for instruments.

Click the audio player above to listen to the story.

I joined KALW in 2004. As Executive News Editor and then News Director, I helped our news department win numerous regional and national awards for long- and short-form journalism. I've also helped create numerous training programs — for teenagers, incarcerated people, and early-career journalists — and have taught hundreds of audio producers. I served as interim Executive Director for nearly two years. My work is currently focused on creating original live events, programming, and building partnerships with like-minded organizations.