Businesses Backstage: Wit’s End Records
Businesses backstage brings a behind the scenes look at local favorites, and the stories behind the businesses that make Murray feel like home.
The Meaning Behind the Music
Wit’s End Records is one of Downtown Murray’s newest local businesses. Alongside shelves of music, books and artwork, owner Tim Peyton and his fiancé Lou Colby along with a community of friends have created a space that facilitates expression and community.
The storefront itself is a physical representation of Peyton’s lifelong love affair with music.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to own a record store,” Peyton said. “I collected CD’s as a kid and when I was about 12 or 13, I started collecting (vinyl) records and I just got the bug, you know?”
Vinyl records and physical media ignite a passion in Peyton. As customers flip through the bins of records, both pre-loved and new, they are able to see just how much music, and how many stories the world has to offer.
”I could talk all day… for multiple days even about records and the sound quality you get from that, but really… It's like a historical document," said Peyton. “There’s so many things on vinyl that you can only ever hear on vinyl. And I'm happy to have a place that’s keeping those pieces of history out there.”
To Peyton and Colby, physical music is about more than just collecting. Vinyl, CD’s and cassettes preserve not only the songs they contain, but the history and culture of when they were created.
More Than A Storefront
Complete with a small stage and various lighting set ups, the left half of the storefront serves as a place for community gatherings and artistic expression, a creative performance space. From art displays on the walls to concerts and non-profit meetings, Wit’s End has become more than a music store in the months since its opening last October.
“It’s getting harder and harder to find spaces, especially in small towns, where people can just be people together, and that’s what our performance space is all about,” Peyton said.
Peyton spent his childhood in Murray, surrounded by the local music scene, and after exploring big cities, he knew he wanted to bring a creative space back home. From slam poetry to karaoke and DJ sets, Wit’s End wants their performance space to bring all kinds of artists together, and provide a place for creative expression.
“I’ve been saying this place is by the people for the people. There are just so many people who helped us get this dream off the ground and who are still helping us with this. It’s just been so rewarding to have so much support from a lot of people in the area who want this to succeed. This is a community effort.”
For a full listing of upcoming events in the performance space, online ordering and an in-depth look at new selections, visit their website.
Written by Isabella Shevetz
