Long before he became known as “Pops” in Long Beach, Kelvin Anderson Sr. was a kid on a Mississippi farm, walking dirt roads and rising with the sun to the sound of roosters. One of 10 children, his days revolved around chores and family. But in 1972, a call from his older brother and a one-way flight to Los Angeles rerouted his path and ultimately helped shape a music movement.
“When I was in high school, my brother, Cletus Anderson, called and told me, ‘When you graduate, you’re coming to L.A. to work with me,’” Anderson said. “That’s exactly what happened. I went to work for Cletus who opened the first VIP Records location in California in 1967.”
Guided by his late brother, Cletus, who passed away on January 28, 2024, Kelvin carried forward a legacy that left a lasting impact. At its height, VIP operated eight locations throughout Los Angeles County, including Long Beach, Compton, Inglewood, and Los Angeles.
Since then, VIP Records in Long Beach has become a cultural landmark. In 2017, the city designated the store’s rooftop sign a historic landmark and one of only two Black-owned sites among more than 200 recognized by the city.
Anderson credits his brother with teaching him the value of independence and innovation.
“Cletus always said he didn’t want to make a lot of money from a few people; he wanted to make a little money from a lot of people,” Anderson said.
The brothers pioneered in-store music to attract customers and used memorable marketing slogans like, “When you think low prices, think VIP Records.”
Anderson has now spent 53 years with VIP Records, a historic Black-owned record store credited with helping to launch the music careers of many well-known entertainers.
In the late 1980s and early ’90s, Anderson converted a storage room into a small recording studio. It was there that a young trio, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, and Nate Dogg, recorded a six-track demo as the group 213. Initial interest was slow, but things shifted when Warren G played the tape at a party at Dr. Dre’s house.
Dre was hooked. Soon after, Snoop joined him in the studio, leading to his breakout moment. The music video for “What’s My Name?” was famously filmed on the roof of VIP Records.
“That moment put VIP Records on the global map,” Anderson said. “Today, about 70% of our customers are tourists from around the world.”
Now, Anderson is working to ensure that the legacy lives on by launching a Black music museum. He hopes to build it at the current VIP Records site, though he’s open to other locations. His goal: to educate future generations on the evolution of music from vinyl and 8-tracks to cassettes, CDs, and the streaming era.
The museum is envisioned as both a tribute to the Black artists who have influenced every genre of music and a center for music education and cultural preservation. Bringing this vision to life will require strong community support, including donations, advocacy, and raising awareness.
“People come into the store just to talk and hear the history,” Anderson said. “That’s how I know the museum will be something special.”
Though Anderson says he doesn’t sing, dance or rap, he’s developed a reputation for having a great ear.
“I can’t write a song or play an instrument or dance, but I can tell you when you’ve got a hit,” he said. “Artists used to invite me to their listening sessions just to hear my thoughts on new music and marketing strategies.”
For many, Long Beach hip-hop was their introduction to the genre.
“It’s more than a record store,” Anderson said. “VIP Records is a part of rap and American history.”
As Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, Anderson hopes to elevate the VIP Records sign as a key tourist attraction and to unveil a fully realized Black music museum alongside it.
“This is about creating a space that celebrates talent and educates people about the roots of music,” Anderson said. “But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.”
“It’s not just about preserving records,” he added. “It’s about preserving the roots of a movement and making sure future generations know where the sound came from.”
Donations to the museum project can be made at https://bit.ly/VIPFound. Community members are encouraged to get involved, share the story, and help keep the legacy of music, culture, and education thriving in Long Beach.
