The Man behind the Earfood

Meet the man behind the Earfood: Chris Wilson aka Fat Daddy.  When Chris and Roxie started The Zoo Gallery in 1979 they had two true loves--  Roxie loved art and Chris loved music.  Growing up in the stores, I always heard two things from our customers, "I have never seen a store like this" and "Who is that playing?"  Music has alway been as much of a part of The Zoo Gallery as the art.  

A couple of weeks ago, I sat down in The Cave (his office) and talked music with the man who has been feeding The Zoo's sound for 35 years. 

Me:

 Why do you feel that music is so important in the store?  What does it add?

Chris:

 Becasuse it is stale without the music.  I feel the music should not be offensive but only add to the experience.  We want you to feel like you are coming into a home.  Personally, my favorite thing about music is how it can bring you back to an exact place, time, smell, etc...

 Me:

Top 3 favorite artist of all time?

Chris:

Well other than The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan because their longevity is impressive alone.  I would have to say... 

Lee Oscar - Before the Rain,  Ry Cooder - Bop Till You Drop, and Elvis Castalo - My Aim is True

The candle scent is Tobacco and Patchouli -- sold in the store. 

(That's me in the frame... hi)

Me:

Why the name Earfood?  How did you come up with it?

Chris:

I don't know how I came up with it.  When I first started making music for the stores, I recorded albums on to a cassette tape.  I had to sit near the record player to make sure the needle dropped just right and the transitions were smooth.  It is a much different process these days.  

Me:

Last album you bought?

Chris:

St. Paul and The Broken Bones - Half the city 

Me:

When did you fall in love with music?

Chris:

Growing up my brother and I had a silver tone radio that lived in-between our beds that was never turned off.