Music collecting a lifelong passion
“My wife, Raquel, says that I’m a hoarder. I tell her there’s a fine line, but I haven’t crossed it yet.
“I got into record collecting seriously about 20 years ago. I was at a retail shop in Highlands. This lady had maybe 2,000 albums and 45s for sale. I gave her $50 for them all. I had a ’65 Impala, so I loaded up the trunk and the back seat.
“Once I started, friends and relatives would say, ‘Hey, I have a bunch of records. Come pick them up.’ I’ve gotten them at estate sales, garage sales, and from people that I know. I just have a real passion for collecting and listening to music.
“Albums and 45s together, I have probably 15,000 to 20,000. I’ve alphabetized the albums. I have binders where I keep track of them. I’ve got a little bit of everything.
“Rock and roll is definitely my favorite type of music. But I like all kinds. I love CCR [Credence Clearwater Revival]. I love Chicago. I like [John] Coltrane, and Al Green, too. Being bilingual, I’m also able to enjoy a lot of Hispanic music. Whatever mood I’m in that day, I can find something to listen to in my collection.
“I haven’t listened to every single album all the way through. But I try to listen to some of each one. I might find something new that I like.
“I got my daughter a turntable, and she took like 150 of my albums. I got turntables for my two granddaughters, and they got records also. They come out here once in a while and start going through my albums. I say, ‘Make sure they’re doubles.’
“I’ve also got some cassettes, 8-tracks, and a jukebox that holds 80 records. I’m always looking for anything music related, like signs or little instruments.
“I hold on to most of what I’ve collected. But we set up at events sometimes, and sell a few things there. Down the road, we may look at opening a place on Texas Avenue, where I could sell a lot of my albums.
“I’ve been collecting music and other things for about 50 years. I’m 71 now. I think it helps keep me young.”
— Fred Aguilar
Another favorite pastime is collecting sports trading cards. Fred estimates he has more than 1 million baseball cards.
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