A part of music and film history preserved by a group of Bay Area artists is in limbo, as building that has housed Arhoolie Records, Les Blank Films and Down Home Music for nearly half a century could soon be sold. Fans, musicians, and supporters of the important cultural headquarters in El Cerrito are hoping the legacy of the artistic pioneers whose work is kept there will live on. Emily Duffy walks into rooms stacked with countless pieces of music and film history.
"There's hundreds of 78's in here," said Duffy, who works for Les Blank Films. The work to digitize and archive original recordings of mid-century hidden gems, discovered in rural America, continues. That effort is in jeopardy as the trust representing the deceased owner of the building recently put it up for sale.
"Someone needs to save this place, because what happened here and what's still going on, is preserving who we are," said Duffy. More than 60 years ago, producer and founder of independent label Arhoolie Records Chris Strachwitz began searching and recording folk and roots music. In an interview from 2012 , he described his life-long passion.
"Here was this extraordinary [music], I heard hillbilly music and blues. I simply fell in love with recording," said Strachwitz. Royalties from recording Country Joe and the Fish's "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die" helped Strachwitz solidify Arhoolie Records and move into the building on San Pablo Avenue.
Strachwitz passed away in 2023 at the age of 91, but before he.
