Music, memorabilia and memories: Record Bonanza delivers that and more

Remember that scratchy sound the needle of your turntable made when it dropped onto a favorite album or current hit 45?

It was a sound music-lovers remember fondly because the magic of music would follow seconds later. For generation after generation, it was thus.

And those generations celebrate that sound, vibe, and the musical memories every year at the Record Bonanza music memorabilia show in Canby.

Bonanza founder Don Rogers is excited about what this year’s 41st edition of the event will deliver on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ackerman School, 350 SE 13th St. in Canby.

And those who choose to stop by will have an opportunity to step back in time to music, concerts, art and so much more that helped define their generation – no matter which generation they call their own.

Rogers said he expects 60-65 dealers at this year’s event, and they’ll bring all kinds of memorabilia to the Ackerman gym, as well as a weather eye for acquiring wanted items.

It’s buy, sell and trade at the Record Bonanza each year, something that brings music lovers together for a day of fun and musical memories.

“When we started this, there was no way in the world I thought that 40-plus years later I’d still be putting on a show,” said Rogers.

But his love of music’s past keeps pushing him on year after year.

Rogers witnessed the downsizing of the record industry for 10-15 years as the CD seemed to sweep in and take over the market, but things have changed, he said. Actual record sales have rebounded quite nicely, and while they are not the dominant musical acquisition method they once were, seeing people put needle to record again does his heart good.

And Record Bonanza has become an increasingly popular place to find not only albums and .45s, but also posters, concert handbills, photos and plenty more across nearly 10 decades of music-making.

“You know, in the Portland area, before Covid, there were maybe a dozen or dozen-and-a-half record stores there. Now, there are at least 50 record stores in Portland. It has been interesting to see that it has come back at that strength.”

Keeping the memory of music from bygone eras alive and in the light is an important goal for Rogers and his crew. This year’s show will have buyers coming in from all over the country.

He also noted that the show has had some special guests, like members of the original Crickets, as well as band members from The Kingsmen and the guitarist for Gene Vincent.

But there’s more to it than buying and selling music memorabilia for Rogers.

“A lot of times, I’m not selling records, I’m selling memories,” Rogers said. “It’s kind of a cultural thing. The surprising thing to me is how many young people we get – under 30. And they are buying vinyl.”

To learn more about Record Bonanza, call Rogers at 503-651-2780.