By Betty Reid Soskin
The Story of Reid’s is the story of many of
the small black businesses that came into
being through the ambition and hard work
of young people all over the country at a
time when independence was the essential
ingredient in the making of a life.
The young Reid family experienced all of
the tears and triumphs that have colored
the lives of other ordinary black folks, with
the essential difference that the lows may
have been the equivalent of those suffered
by many others for reasons beyond their
control—while the highs tended to soar like
the mighty eagle! We experienced the full
range of human experience, and survived.
The Story of Reid’s is the story of many of
the small black businesses that came into
being through the ambition and hard work
of young people all over the country at a
time when independence was the essential
ingredient in the making of a life.
The young Reid family experienced all of
the tears and triumphs that have colored
the lives of other ordinary black folks, with
the essential difference that the lows may
have been the equivalent of those suffered
by many others for reasons beyond their
control—while the highs tended to soar like
the mighty eagle! We experienced the full
range of human experience, and survived.
| 3101 Sacramento Street, Berkeley, CA 94702 [510] 843-7282 |
Where Gospel Music is King
Reid's black family owned business has
served the Berkeley community since 1945.
We Specialize in traditional, and also
contemporary gospel music, accompliment
tracks for singers, ticket sales to gospel
events, church supplies, books, bibles, and
we also manufacter choir and pulpit robes.
We also carry graduation robes for
preschool, and high schools. You are
welcome to come in and take a look at our
store, and we also provide phone orders
through Fedex.
Reid's black family owned business has
served the Berkeley community since 1945.
We Specialize in traditional, and also
contemporary gospel music, accompliment
tracks for singers, ticket sales to gospel
events, church supplies, books, bibles, and
we also manufacter choir and pulpit robes.
We also carry graduation robes for
preschool, and high schools. You are
welcome to come in and take a look at our
store, and we also provide phone orders
through Fedex.
This is the story of one small
African American enterprise
that struggled to mixed reviews
in the American marketplace for
over half a century.
This piece first appeared in December of
1989 in the East Bay Express as a lead
article written by staff columnist, Lee
Hildebran. Ran across it in my files while
searching for relevant material for this
website. I read through it after many years
that have been dramatically life changing
and found it still factual and powerfully
“real.” I would not change a word, nor do I
regret having lived every minute of it.
The second generation of ownership is
now fully in effect. The information age is
in full bloom. Mel died shortly after this
story was written and our oldest son Rick
who grew up behind the counter from the
age of 3 months, has now passed on, in
1995. Our youngest son, David Allen Reid,
is the proud proprietor.
African American enterprise
that struggled to mixed reviews
in the American marketplace for
over half a century.
This piece first appeared in December of
1989 in the East Bay Express as a lead
article written by staff columnist, Lee
Hildebran. Ran across it in my files while
searching for relevant material for this
website. I read through it after many years
that have been dramatically life changing
and found it still factual and powerfully
“real.” I would not change a word, nor do I
regret having lived every minute of it.
The second generation of ownership is
now fully in effect. The information age is
in full bloom. Mel died shortly after this
story was written and our oldest son Rick
who grew up behind the counter from the
age of 3 months, has now passed on, in
1995. Our youngest son, David Allen Reid,
is the proud proprietor.
| REID'S RECORDS 3101 Sacramento Street, Berkeley, California 94702 [510] 843-7282 info@reidsrecords.com Feel free to contact us anytime during store business hours for more information ! |
To The Ones We Miss
Delores Barrett Campbell
1926-2011
1926-2011
Fred Jackson
1938-2011
1938-2011
Gene Viale
1946-2011
1946-2011
Mr. Paul Reid was born In 1913 and raised on
Sacramento street in south Berkeley. He is know for
"bringing god into the living room of thousands in the bay
area" in the early 1950's as a religious radio announcer.
Mr. Reid began his celebrity career at radio station KRE,
with a program entitled "Religious Gems" which was
started by his nephew, Melvin Reid. Melvin Reid, founder
of Reid's Records on Sacramento street,enlisted his
uncle's assistance in order to run both the radio show
and the records store successfully. Mr. Reid moved from
KRE To KDIA and hosted a program that blossomed from
a once a week 30 minute program to a daily hour long
that aired for 11 years. He was a leader in bay area
Gospel singing competitions and held a celebrity-status
throughout the area. When he died in 1964, his funeral
was held at the Oakland Auditorium to accommodate the
7,000 plus mourners who had come to pay their last
respects. His affiliation with the radio industry attracted
thousands to Reid's Records, which in still in it's original
location on Sacramento street in Berkeley. His memory is
kept alive by his seven children and numerous
grandchildren.