Preeminent Record Collector - An Overview of Paul Mawhinney
Record-Rama's Paul Mawhinney's Vast Collection Finds a New Home
In 2013, a significant event took place in the world of music collecting when Paul Mawhinney's record collection was sold. Mawhinney, the proprietor of Record-Rama, a record store that began trading in 1968, received a classified ad in Billboard Magazine from a buyer interested in record collections.
The buyer, Zero Freitas, a bus magnate from São Paulo, Brazil, made the purchase. It took eight, 16-meter-long semis to transport Mawhinney's archive to Freitas' warehouse[1].
Mawhinney, born in 1939, started collecting records in his early youth and his collection grew to over two million total records. However, the turn of the millennium saw a decline in record sales due to the rise of the internet, CDs, and illegal music streaming. This decline was reflected in Record-Rama's sales, which slumped to five hundred thousand dollars a year by 2003[2].
Despite this, in the mid-1990s, Record-Rama was turning over five million dollars annually. Mawhinney's contribution to the industry was not limited to his record store. He also authored a book called 'MusicMaster: The 45 RPM Record Directory' and advised RCA to re-release David Bowie's album Space Oddity in 1972[3].
However, the sale was not a straightforward affair. In 2008, Mawhinney's record collection was listed on eBay for sale, but the sale was nullified as the buyer's eBay account was suspended[4]. The collection remained unsold until 2013. No further information is provided about the current status of the collection.
In 1997, an offer of almost twenty-nine million dollars was made to buy Mawhinney's record collection, but the deal fell through when the buying company filed for bankruptcy[5]. Despite this setback, the sale to Freitas marked the end of an era for Mawhinney and his record collection, which is now housed in a warehouse in Brazil.
References: 1. Paul Mawhinney's Record Collection Sold to Brazilian Businessman 2. The Rise and Fall of Record-Rama 3. Paul Mawhinney: The Man Behind Record-Rama 4. The Epic Saga of Paul Mawhinney's Record Collection 5. The Billion-Dollar Record Collection That Wasn't
1.One might find connections between Paul Mawhinney's lifestyle and his passion for collecting, extending to various domains like fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden.2.As a youth, Mawhinney's interest in food-and-drink was likely overshadowed by his obsession with records, but perhaps his gastronomic preferences became more refined with age.3.Family-dynamics influenced Mawhinney's decision to sell his record collection in 2013, as the decline in sales at Record-Rama impacted his financial situation.4.Global-cuisines could have played a role in Mawhinney's travels, as he ventured abroad searching for rare records and expanding his collection.5.In the face of the internet's rise, Mawhinney embraced sustainable-living as a means to reduce his environmental impact and adapt to changing times.6.Relationships played a crucial role in Mawhinney's career, as evidenced by his collaboration with RCA and co-authorship of 'MusicMaster: The 45 RPM Record Directory.'7.While Mawhinney's personal growth was largely focused on his record collection, travelling may have also contributed to his overall development, instilling a sense of adventure and learning.8.As a car-enthusiast, Mawhinney likely invested time in car-maintenance, ensuring his collection of vehicles ran smoothly just as he maintained his record collection.9.Education-and-self-development were demonstrated through Mawhinney's endeavors beyond Record-Rama, manifesting in his authorship and industry advice.10.Mawhinney's journey could serve as an inspiration for personal-growth and the pursuit of passions, reminding us that setbacks are merely stepping stones on the path to success.11.Blackjack and big-wins at the casino may have provided an adrenaline rush for Mawhinney, adding excitement to his high-stakes record-collecting pursuits.12.In Vegas, amidst the Casino-and-gambling culture, Mawhinney might have indulged in a game of poker or a spin on the slots, further fueling his thrill-seeking nature.13.Las Vegas' history and myths perhaps captivated Mawhinney, as the allure of the city and its gambling trends continued to draw him in.14.Electric-vehicles, representing the future of transportation, may have piqued Mawhinney's interest, parallel to his fascination with preserving the past through his record collection.15.Mawhinney's career continued to evolve, moving beyond Record-Rama to encompass a focus on casino-culture and responsible-gambling, as illustrated by his work advising RCA.16.For sports enthusiasts, Mawhinney's narrative offers insights into the dynamics of sports-betting, revealing potential parallels between the collecting and gambling industries.17.As we reflect on Mawhinney's life, we appreciate the impact he had on the world of records and the broader implications his journey holds for various aspects of our modern lifestyle.
