MADISON, Wis. — Record collectors and music lovers alike will have the chance to add to their collections this week while also picking up items with ties to Wisconsin’s recording history.
Jim Kirchstein, the founder of Wisconsin-based Cuca Records recently donated his entire collection of more than 45,000 records to Agrace to help the organization raise money.
Kirchstein created his independent record label in 1959 and is said to have “captured the sound of Wisconsin in the 1960s.” Thousands of songs and LPs by Wisconsin and Wisconsin-adjacent musicians were recorded at Kirchstein’s studio in Sauk City, Wisconsin until the early 1970s.
Officials with the organization said it took days to gather all of Kirchstein’s records.
“It took three days and many hands to collect the full donation of records and transport them to our store,” Agrace pack up and pick up manager Robert Washburn said. “We are honored that the Kirchstein family chose to give their treasured collection to Agrace and grateful we can help get their records into the hands of many other music lovers.”
Kirchstein’s personal record collection was curated over the course of years and includes thousands of rock, country, jazz, and blues albums.
Each record costs $2; all proceeds from Agrace’s sale will help fund the non-profit’s health care services throughout southern Wisconsin. The sale runs daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 10, or as long as supplies last.
“It’s a huge quantity of people – a lot of people coming through the store. Still lots of records left to sell, but similar to the last time we did a vinyl sale, it creates a lot of traffic,” Agrace retail manager Judy Kerr said. “Yesterday we had people from Milwaukee, people from Appleton, so the word is out. People in this industry have lots of connections, so lots of sharing of the fact that it’s going on. It’s a great place to come get some pieces of vinyl.”
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