Interview with John Timmons, November 11, 2021

Interview Summary

Originally from Evansville Indiana, John Timmons moved to Louisville in 1976 for a job at Karma Records on Bardstown Road. Stints at other local music stores followed, including Vine and Phoenix Records, then operating a mail-order record business from his Old Louisville apartment and van. He opened the first ear X-tacy store in 1985. He operated the store for 26 years until its closure in 2011. John is also the founder of the “Keep Louisville Weird” campaign, co-founder of LIBA, the Louisville Business Alliance (Buy Local First) and has been on the board of directors for The Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), The Americana Music Association, and The Association For Independent Music.

This interview with Timmons includes his thoughts on the “music scene” in Louisville, his iconic record store ear X-tacy, his insights on the challenge for independent businesses in the age of Amazon, and his observations about the direction of the community over the last several years.

Interview Keyword

Music distribution Record store ear X-tacy Karma Records The Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) Louisville Business Alliance (LIBA) Buy Local First Americana Music Association Association For Independent Music. Business Career Recording industry Record labels Bardstown Road Phoenix Records Vine Records

Interview LC Subject

Louisville (Ky.) Amazon.com (Firm)

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.