Lafayette Haynes often notices that first-time customers’ eyes become big and sharp when they walk into his record shop.
“They go to talking. They’ve never seen a place like this,” he said. “Most of them are from the younger generation. Because stores like this, they have faded away, and I’m still around.”
Former radio personality “Laughing” Lafayette Haynes has owned and operated his record shop, Old School Music Headquarters, for over 57 years. He opened Old School Music the first week of April 1967, the same month he started at WIBB with the “Laughing Lafayette Show.”
In the last few years, vinyl records have significantly grown in popularity in the US. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), over 43 million vinyl records were sold in the previous year. The renewed demand for vinyl records has led to a surge in new record stores opening nationwide. Old School Music Records in downtown Macon is one of the few record shops left with the dedication and passion of preserving old-school music and that old-school sound.
“There’s no sound like vinyl records,” Haynes says. “No sound, no reproduction, is going to sound like the original LP. And that’s what they want when they come in. They want the original. They want the first album. They don’t want no reprint.”
Haynes spun records for the first time in the 9th grade. He then hosted the first-ever record hop at his school, Old Ballard-Hudson High School, which led to a passion for music and invitations from around the state and country to spin records at their clubs.
“I was 16 years old, and I was in demand from around the state,” Haynes says. “Guys who would come from different cities and clubs wanted me to come and spin records at their place, so I’ve been rolling ever since.”
Haynes has been involved in and around the Macon Music scene for most of his life. Macon’s rich music history is reflected in every corner of Old School Music Headquarters, from the posters of Macon music legends covering the walls to the music spinning on the turntable.
“Well, I’ve been here all my life, 82 years,” Haynes says. “I know the music, the stars, the Allman Brothers when they started. Otis [Reddington], James Brown, Eddie Kirk, Clarence Carter, and Percy Sledge. Little Richard used to come over to our house and have something to eat before he got big.”
Haynes says he doesn’t plan on retiring or shutting down his record store until God calls him home.
“Well, most of the older guys are gone, and you have a new generation of young guys trying to keep things going, which is very good. We have some good artists here. Now, they’re younger artists, but they’ll do it,” he said with a laugh.
