The fourth annual Record Store Day was celebrated by participating independent record stores across the country, including distributors in Ventura on Saturday, April 16.

Local independent record stores Salzers, Buffalo Records and Grady’s Records Refuge joined the celebration and each received great attention from the fans, with people lining up at the door before the stores opened. Grady, owner of Grady’s Record Refuge located at 2546 E. Main St. Ventura loved the attention his store got from this fantastic record store ‘holiday’.

“This was the first time I actually had people wait for me outside my door to open the store,” said Grady. “With all the attention surrounding it now, I know the next one will be even bigger.”

Record Store Day was founded in 2007 by Eric Levin, Michael Kurtz, Carrie Colliton, Amy Dorfman, Don Van Cleave and Brian Poehner as a celebrated recognition that combines those who sell music and those who make music. This day is about the art of music and what it brings to everyone worldwide.

Over 150 artists took full advantage of this celebrated day by handing out limited releases or unreleased music they make. Such artists included the Beastie Boys, Bob Dylan, Foo Fighters, the Beach Boys, Gorillaz and many more.

Salzers, also in Ventura, had a live performance cancelled at the last minute, but it didn’t stop them from having a huge day of great sales and music.

“90 percent of our shipment was sold out within the first two hours,” says Scott, an employee at Salzers.

Amoeba Records in Hollywood seemed to be the busiest of the record stores with appearances by a few musicians, including Henry Rollins of Black Flag fame.

“It was insane, line out the door, people here for hours,” says Yutaor, an employee at Amoeba Records. “Compared to last year, this year was kind like of a circus.”

This day is also a counter to the ever popular music download outlets. Due to music downloading sites like Limewire, iTunes and Rhapsody, record stores don’t get as noticed. So many artists have opposed the downloading sites and have praised the record stores for keeping the “heart” alive in music.

“They [record stores] were a library and a breeding ground for me when I was growing up – that’s where I got all my influences and how I learned to play. I was reminded of that yesterday at Criminal Records when I stopped in to do a signing there,” says famous musician Booker T, when interviewed about record stores and how they influenced his life.

In 2010, according to estimates, music sales were up by 109 percent compared to the week before RSD, and 2011 sales are predicted greater than those of 2010.

These record stores thrive on local attention and this sort of event helps them reach out to more audiences.