A MUCH-MISSED Hereford music shop has been remembered for the hours of entertainment it provided.

George Clegg posted a photo of an old music shop in our Facebook group We Grew Up in Hereford.

The black and white picture shows Buzz Music, which was opposite the Old Harp pub in Widemarsh street until it was demolished to make way for Garrick House and the multi-storey car park in 1990.

In the mid to late 70s it was a popular shop selling an array of vinyl records, and many spent hours listening to music that was played in there aloud and on headphones.

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It later sold instruments including guitars, drums, keyboards, as well as public address sales and hire, and home and project studio recording gear.

Some fans collected posters specially made for the shop, that read Buzz Music with different illustrations.

Former employee Andy Thomas said Alan Kitchen was the director and ran the electronic instrument repairs, studio and public address, and system installation. 

Robin Collis was a director and ran the record shop sales, while Mark Thompson was managing director and ran the studio and public address system and sales hire.

Mr Thomas said: "I was offered a job at Buzz Music in the spring of 1980, as retail demonstrator of brand new and secondhand synthesisers, organs, electric pianos, and related equipment, often delivering instruments and amplifiers for recording studios such as Rockfield Studios, Monmouth, Chapel Lane Records, Hampton Bishop, and Richard Branson's Oxford mansion, The Manor.

"This was my 'training ground' leading me to synthesizer sessions for Stevie Wonder's Characters album in Los Angeles, David Bowie's The Labyrinth songs Underground and Magic Dance, Steve Winwood (a Buzz Music customer) Higher Love recorded off Broadway, NYC.

"I sing the praises of all UK music retailers as a great introduction to hobbyist and career options."

In the later years its front was painted a bright pink and orange, while it read Buzz Music on the window in orange.

Fans of the old shop have since formed a Facebook group to share their memories.

Its administrator said the group is full of former customers and friends of the long-departed store.

Members of Herefordshire bands Mott The Hoople, The Enid, The Pretenders, Karakorum, shopped, worked or dossed there, said the administrator.

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Mr Clegg said the shop gave "hours of endless entertainment."

While another We Grew Up in Hereford member Steven Harris said he remembers being there when James Honeyman Scott was behind the counter.

Once he asked a boy in Cathedral school uniform what album or artist he was looking for, he said.

"The lad said Abba. 'Better go to Woolworths then,' was the reply."

Paul Riddell said it was the best record shop he has ever known in Hereford.

"If you wanted to try out a band you had never heard they would advise you which album to listen to first," he said.

"Often used to see one of the staff there in town and he would tell me if there was an album I might like had come in the shop."