East Bay cultural epicenter in danger of losing its home in El Cerrito
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 did, he wrote into his will that another tenant of the building would have right of first refusal to purchase the building.
That tenant, Harrod Blank, is the son of famed documentary filmmaker Les Blank. He is spearheading the effort to raise those funds. The building is also the site of Les Blank Films, which flourished making critically acclaimed movies that frequently focused on traditional forms of American music.
"It's just a very special collection. An archive of materials that capture special musicians and characters. It's a cultural cathedral," said Blank.
David Silberberg works side by side with Blank.
"There's a lot of tradition in this place, and a lot of people know where it is. It's a hive of that kind of thing, and we're one small part of that upstairs," said Silberberg.
Downstairs is Down Home Music, a store that carries a wide array of music released by Arhoolie Records, but also used records and CDs from outside the label's traditional focus.
It's still a haven for customers after nearly 50 years.
"When I shop here I feel like I'm part of the legacy and its history," said El Cerrito resident Dylan.
"There's every kind of music, art and food that you can imagine in these films and...on these records," said Duffy.
There's a shared goal to preserve the past, including selling records the old way, and discovering newfound gems along the way.
"It's just our legacy. We're trying to save it," said Duffy.
Blank is still looking for potential investors and is hopeful their offer will be accepted.
