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Sam Milgrom
Born
Steven Allen Milgrom

(1952-11-19) November 19, 1952 (age 72)
Detroit, Michigan
Other names
  • Steven Milgrom
  • Steve Milgrom
Websitemusichead.com

Steven Allen Milgrom, (born November 19, 1952), commonly known as Sam Milgrom, is an American gallerist, curator, concert promoter and record store entrepreneur who founded Sam's Jams record stores in Detroit, Michigan, the Magic Bag live music venue in Ferndale, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit), and Musichead Gallery in Los Angeles, the first art gallery to specialize in art related to music from the rock and roll era and beyond.

1978–mid-1990s: Sam's Jams Record Stores

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Sam Milgrom (the nickname "Sam" is an acronym of his full initials)[1] has family roots in retail, as his father was a women's sportswear manufacturer.

He started playing guitar at age six, and played in rock bands from 1968 to 1972 as a lead singer and rhythm guitarist. He studied humanities at Wayne State University.[1] After working for several Detroit area music retailers, including the record store chain Harmony House in Royal Oak, Michigan,[2] he opened the first Sam's Jams record store in a 400-square-foot former insurance office on Woodward Ave in Ferndale, Michigan. The following year he moved to a larger, 1600-square-foot space a few blocks away, and in 1985 to a 10,000-square-foot former grocery store a half block away. He also opened a second store in Livonia.[3] By October 1982 his businesses were making over half a million dollars a year in sales.[1]

In 1985, having moved the Ferndale store to that much larger space,[2] he began hosting free "Live at Sam's" jazz, rock and blues shows[4] and autograph sessions. In January 1986, Detroit Monthly named Sam's Jams "Best Record and Tape Store."[5]

1991–1996: Magic Bag Theatre Cafe

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With years of concert promotion under his belt, in 1991 he founded the 300-seat Magic Bag Theatre Cafe (today known as the Magic Bag),[6] raising the funds partly from selling his house and putting up his two Sam's Jams record stores as collateral. Frank Morgan and Cedar Walton were the featured performers on the opening weekend in May 1991.[7] The venue was known especially for presenting jazz; it also hosted other music genres as well as a "Brew & View" film series.[4] The venue booked national touring acts including El DeBarge, Sheila E., Lee Rocker, Meshell Ndegeocello, Leo Kottke, Patti Smith,[8] Joey DeFrancesco, Junior Wells, The Blasters, Jeff Buckley,[9] and (before they were big) Kid Rock and Jack White.[10]

Meanwhile, Sam's Jams remained in business until the mid-1990s.[11]

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In 1998 Milgrom opened the Mr Musichead gallery, on Melrose Avenue,[12] the first and only Los Angeles gallery devoted solely to musical subjects.[13]

In 2004 he moved the gallery to a larger space on Sunset Boulevard, and the following year to a still larger space on a revitalizing stretch of West Sunset Boulevard, on a block he dubbed "Rockin' Row."[14] In 2015 the gallery moved again, to a new space across the street. In 2018 it began hosting a "Just Jazz" live music series, run by LeRoy Downs and Frederick Smith Jr.[13] In 2022 Milgrom shortened the gallery's name to Musichead.

As of 2016 the gallery represented more than 60 photographers and artists[15] and by 2022 the roster had increased to over 80.[16]

Milgrom also owns Creative Framing Studio, next door to Musichead.

Curator

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Milgrom has curated photography and fine art exhibitions since 2005, working with music photographers as well as musicians who double as visual artists. These exhibitions include:

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Art exhibitions

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Gary Graff (28 October 1982). "Sam's jams in the record customers". Detroit Free Press.
  2. ^ a b Gary Lichtman (28 November 1985). "Sam will jam in roomier Ferndale quarters". Detroit Free Press.
  3. ^ Jeanie Wylie (1 July 1982). "Ferndale comes back with a bargain 'strip'". The Detroit News.
  4. ^ a b Gary Graff (17 May 1991). "Milgrom's magic brings new life to Ferndale theater". Detroit Free Press.
  5. ^ "The Ultimate Guide to the Best of Detroit". Detroit Monthly. 1 January 1986.
  6. ^ Susan Whitall (18 May 1991). "Ferndale's brand-new Bag". The Detroit News.
  7. ^ Stewart Francke (15 May 1991). "Out of the Bag". MetroTimes.
  8. ^ Eric Kiska (30 December 2019), Happy Birthday Patti Smith!, The Perlich Post, retrieved 9 November 2022
  9. ^ Eric Kiska (1 January 2015), Top 10 venues to explore Detroit's vibrant music culture in 2015, Motor City Muckraker, retrieved 9 November 2022
  10. ^ Brian McCollum (5 December 2014), Jeremy Haberman, former Magic Bag owner, dies at 42, Detroit Free Press, retrieved 9 November 2022
  11. ^ Michael Wilmington (13 April 2016), Making His Day, Detroit Free Press, retrieved 29 October 2022
  12. ^ Michael Wilmington (10 February 2010), Jay Blakesberg Photography Exhibit Opening, Glide Magazine, retrieved 29 October 2022
  13. ^ a b Michael Jortner (24 June 2019), The Scene: Art Music, L.A. Style at Mr Musichead Gallery, Jazz Times, retrieved 29 October 2022
  14. ^ Robin Abcarian (3 December 2005), "Sunrise on Sunset?", The Los Angeles Times, retrieved 29 October 2022
  15. ^ Sam's Jams, Magic Bag founder returns to Detroit for exhibit, Detroit MetroTimes, 30 March 2016, retrieved 29 October 2022
  16. ^ Music Verses Art – work by collage master Hayato Takano at Mr Musichead beginning July 14, The Hollywood Times, 17 June 2022, retrieved 29 October 2022
  17. ^ Robin Abcarian (3 December 2005), "Sunrise on Sunset?", The Los Angeles Times, retrieved 23 March 2023
  18. ^ Tony Pierce (11 May 2007), VH-1 Honors LA with a Week of Rock, LAist, retrieved 23 March 2023
  19. ^ Keith Herron (14 October 2008), Karl Ferris: The Psychedelic Experience, Al Borde, retrieved 23 March 2023
  20. ^ JAMMIN' & WAILIN': A BOB MARLEY CELEBRATION AT MR. MUSICHEAD GALLERY, L.A. Weekly, 8 February 2010, retrieved 3 April 2023
  21. ^ B. ReadJunk (18 February 2010), 'Traveling On A High Frequency: The Photography Of Jay Blakesberg Exhibit Opening March 4th, ReadJunk, retrieved 3 April 2023
  22. ^ "An Event at Mr. Music Head Gallery to commemorate the 41st Anniversary of Woodstock" (Press release). Newswire. Carol Leffler. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  23. ^ Chris Murray (6 February 2012), Happy Birthday Bob Marley, Govinda Gallery, retrieved 23 March 2023
  24. ^ MAY 2012 - Duffy: Risk Taker, Mischief Maker, Photographic Maverick - MR MUSICHEAD - LOS ANGELES, Duffy Archive, retrieved 23 March 2023
  25. ^ "MILES DAVIS: THE COLLECTED ARTWORK" CELEBRATION HOSTED BY THE MILES DAVIS FAMILY, Fusicology, 9 November 2013, retrieved 23 March 2023
  26. ^ Regan Dickinson (12 July 2013), Printing Iggy, Blondie, Dylan, Lennon, Jimi and More for an Iconic Musical Exhibition, LexJet Blog, retrieved 23 March 2023
  27. ^ "NYC photo legend's first U.S. photo exhibit at LA's Mr Musichead Gallery" (Press release). Shorefire Media. Shorefire Media. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  28. ^ Princely Sum, InsideHook, 18 February 2014, retrieved 23 March 2023
  29. ^ Alyson Camus (5 May 2014), 'Moz Goes to Hollywood: Morrissey/The Smiths' New Exhibit By Kevin Cummings, RockNYC, retrieved 23 March 2023
  30. ^ Chris Murray (23 June 2015), First Exhibition Ever of Rare Photos of Tom Waits Opens in Los Angeles, Govinda Gallery, retrieved 23 March 2023
  31. ^ Chris Murray (12 April 2016), Dylan Photo 'Mecca' in Los Angeles with Ted Russell and Dan Kramer Exhibitions, Govinda Gallery, retrieved 24 March 2023
  32. ^ George Pennachhio (19 May 2016), Photographer Markus Klinko creates rare David Bowie photo exhibit in Hollywood, Eyewitness News ABC7, retrieved 24 March 2023
  33. ^ Paul T. Bradley (5 July 2016), ASBESTOS KILLED WARREN ZEVON — NOW HIS SON IS FIGHTING TO BAN IT ONCE AND FOR ALL, LA Weekly, retrieved 24 March 2023
  34. ^ Exhibition spanning over 30 years of Baron Wolman's work opens at Mr Musichead Gallery, Art Daily, 16 August 2016, retrieved 24 March 2023
  35. ^ LOS ANGELES EXHIBITION AMERICAN VALHALLA IGGY POP & JOSH HOMME THE ART OF POST POP DEPRESSION, American Valhalla, 18 April 2016, retrieved 24 March 2023
  36. ^ Chris Murray (1 May 2017), The Smiths Exhibition in Los Angeles Opens this Week, Govinda Gallery, retrieved 24 March 2023
  37. ^ Paty Elias (18 January 2018), Rock Gods: Fifty Years of Rock Photography by Robert M. Knight -at Mr. Musichead until February 3rd., Los Angeles Daily News, retrieved 24 March 2023
  38. ^ Steve Appleford (23 May 2018), Bruce Springsteen: See Intimate Eighties and Nineties Portraits From New Gallery Show, Rolling Stone, retrieved 24 March 2023
  39. ^ 14 BEST THINGS TO DO IN L.A. THIS WEEK, LA Weekly, 15 March 2019, retrieved 24 March 2023
  40. ^ Siran Babayan (7 August 2019), ART PICK: WOODSTOCK 50TH ANNIVERSARY GROUP SHOW AT MR. MUSICHEAD, LA Weekly, retrieved 24 March 2023
  41. ^ Lina Lecaro (8 January 2020), EVENT PICK: CELEBRATE THE KING'S BIRTHDAY AT ETERNALLY ELVIS EXHIBIT, LA Weekly, retrieved 24 March 2023
  42. ^ Hope C. Tarr and Kendell Shaffer (1 October 2021), She's Got the Beat, Baltimore Magazine, retrieved 24 March 2023
  43. ^ Christina Fuoco-Karasinski (25 October 2022), 'Recovering photographer' rediscovers his love, LA Downtown News, retrieved 24 March 2023
  44. ^ ROCK-N-ROLL VISIONARY: ALAN ALDRIDGE'S "TRIPPING THE ART FANTASTIC", L.A. Weekly, 30 April 2009, retrieved 23 March 2023
  45. ^ Chuck Walker (12 May 2017), Robby Krieger's "Light My Fire" Art Exhibit for Charity at Mr Musichead Gallery, California Rock News, retrieved 24 March 2023
  46. ^ Lucretia Tye Jasmine (23 October 2019), Queen of Acid Rock, Grace Slick, Shows Her Heart and Speaks Her Mind at Mr Musichead Gallery, The Los Angeles Beat, retrieved 24 March 2023
  47. ^ How one artist rearranges art and music into songbook collages, Goldmine, 18 August 2022, retrieved 24 March 2023
  48. ^ Music Verses Art – work by collage master Hayato Takano at Mr Musichead beginning July 14, Hollywood Times, 17 June 2022, retrieved 3 April 2023
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