30 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 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.

MATT

“Hintorious B.I.G.”

The pride of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. Rocks out to Tom Waits, Black Keys, Talking Heads, and Hold Steady. Currently, working on a masters degree and his first novel. Can and will Polka. Drives a Chrysler convertible.

CAROLINE

Works every Saturday. Always plays Josh Ritter, The Avett Brothers, Eisley, and recently obsessed with Neutral Milk Hotel. Has been to several My Chemical Romance concerts. Aspiring journalist and resident trend setter in training.

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 and Monday nights. Walks to work from North Main Street neighborhood.

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.