Thanks for starting this thread,
So cool to find information about John Hillyard! I spent many days in the shared brick building of his used record store in downtown Merced, Ca., where I first met John Hillyard in the early 1990s. I discovered his shop about 1991 in Merced, and remember he shared this giant red brick building visible from highway 99 on W. 16th with two other vendors, and neither were too happy at him the day I went in as John had recently caused a fire in the building he shared, burning candles or incense that I overheard the day I visited. The fire caused smoke damage to many of his and the others records in the building. Much of my collection came from John.
A lot was some real rare stuff, "The Champs" LP for example with the motorcycle front cover, and I was blown away by what he had!
I visited his shop about twenty times in the early 90s and remember he moved to the last shop I visited on Main St. in downtown Merced, this a much smaller building than the brick building. I remember talking to him many times about his early music work, and he didn't like to brag, but he was proud of all the bands he had worked with thru the years. He didn't like taking checks from me as he sadly wanted to go get a few beers from the liquor store across the street as soon as he got some cash. I had hoped he was still around but knew better. I was happy to see a picture of him somebody posted, and to find out what finally happened to him.
thanks,
Steve Russell
Fresno, Ca.
