NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
Many people love music in Nashville, and the evidence can be found in places like Music Row, Lower Broadway and the Grand Ole Opry.
But what about the person who, perhaps, loves music the most in Music City?
Mike Grimes is a Nashville music mogul. But, in this case, he is a mogul in a very different kind of way.
"Grimey," as he's known by friends is not the richest musical man in town - not even the most successful - but when it comes to pure passion for rhythm and lyrics and sound, that's a song he's living every day of his life.
"I started listening to music when I was 3 years old," Grimes said. "My mother was frightened to death that I might get electrocuted, because the record player was in the crib."
Now, it's some 45 years later and his new crib is the Nashville record store he calls home: Grimey's New and Pre-Loved Music.
"'Pre-Loved' means someone gave it a home for awhile, and now it's time to give a home to someone else," Grimes said.
Rolling Stone recently put Grimey's on its short list of the "Best Record Stores in the USA." And the store certainly has a wide collection, with nearly 300,000 albums in stock.
Those facts are fine, but it was always the feel that Grimes said he wanted in his store.
"The mission statement of Grimey's was we wanted to be the 'Floyd's Barber Shop of Nashville.' We wanted to create that sense of community via a record store that was missing," Grimes said.
That vibe is alive in every aisle.
"Being able to come in, have a conversation and meet like-minded music geeks. And I use word 'geeks' in a positive way," Grimes said.
Under the record store is more business for Grimes, where he buys the beer, books the bands and sometimes even runs the audio board for his venue, The Basement.
Not to be outdone, Grimes still makes music, too, with his popular Nashville band the Guilty Pleasures.
"If I never had to sleep, it would probably be a good thing," Grimes said.
Every genre of music is part of his busy life, from morning to night.
"Actually, the nicest thing anyone said to me is I'm just a person music likes to be around," Grimes said.
Grimey's New and Pre-Loved Music is located along 8th Avenue South near 16th Street.
If you are one who still likes to actually touch and see the records before the music gets to your ears, Grimes and his music-loving staff will be happy to help you out.
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