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Tower Records Documentary 'All Things Must Pass' Generating Sacramento Film Festival Buzz

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A documentary about the rise and fall of Sacramento-based Tower Records is getting a lot of buzz at the 20th annual Sacramento Film Festival.

CBS13's Ron Jones sat down with the director of "All Things Must Pass," Colin Hanks.

"That's as close to a light bulb moment as I've ever had," Hanks said. "It's just something I felt needed to be done."

The main character is Tower Records founder Russ Solomon. Back in his heyday, Russ established a record retail empire with 200 stores in 30 countries on 5 continents. That powerhouse ran began in 1960 in Sacramento.

Producer Sean Stewart says the documentary examines the iconic company's explosive growth and tragic economic end.

"As music fans and Tower Records fans, it's really a no brainer for us to see what was there and dig a little deeper," he said.

In 1999 Tower Records made $1 billion. Seven years later, it was bankrupt.

All that's left of the Tower Records legacy are artifacts and memorabilia safely guarded at the center for Sacramento history at McClellan Park.

"There are a bunch of people from Sacramento, lived in Sacramento and they got to go around the world and really do some impressive and incredible things."

Hanks says what will never fade or gather dust are the people who build and, for a moment in time, kept that music selling machine rolling.

"There were people who dedicated their lives. If this film helps celebrate that, all the better," he said.

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