Jazz Neon Sign
Jazz Neon Sign
What began as a Yellow Pages search for record stores culminated in years of community, friendship, music, and love.
Dr. Howard Rosen, jazz enthusiast and board-certified endocrinologist, left Philadelphia for Kansas City in the late 1980’s. With a passion for jazz since his college days, Dr. Rosen’s love for the genre could only grow deeper in Kansas City.
In a Yellow Pages search for record stores with a good jazz selection, Dr. Rosen found The Record Cabinet at 4208 Rainbow Boulevard in Kansas City, KS, near the University of Kansas Medical Center. In the window, its bright gold and blue JAZZ neon sign caught his eye.
Inside, he met shop owner and jazz aficionado James DeRigne. With their mutual love of jazz, the two men quickly became friends. Frequent store visits helped Dr. Rosen expand his record collection and meet other jazz devotees. Before long, the friendly group began listening sessions, much like a book club, but for jazz lovers.
As DeRigne moved The Record Cabinet, first to 4301 W 51st Street in Roland Park, KS, and then to 4120 Rainbow Boulevard, and finally to his home, his jazz listening friends followed. When he finally closed his business, it was also time to part with its neon JAZZ window sign.
Unbeknownst to Dr. Rosen, his wife Rosanne conspired with DeRigne to purchase the sign secretly. For Hanukkah that year, she orchestrated a scavenger hunt which ultimately led Dr. Rosen to his unexpected gift—the JAZZ neon. Delighted and amazed by her thoughtful planning, he exclaimed “How did you pull this off?”
Curious about the sign’s origin, Dr. Rosen tried unsuccessfully to trace its history. DeRigne’s widow, Kamiko, also a member of their jazz community, did not know where James acquired the sign. Whether purchased or custom made, perhaps one of our LUMI friends can help us solve this mystery.
With our sincere thanks to the Rosens, LUMI is delighted to share this classic symbol of Kansas City’s enthusiastic and enduring jazz community.
What began as a Yellow Pages search for record stores culminated in years of community, friendship, music, and love.
Dr. Howard Rosen, jazz enthusiast and board-certified endocrinologist, left Philadelphia for Kansas City in the late 1980’s. With a passion for jazz since his college days, Dr. Rosen’s love for the genre could only grow deeper in Kansas City.
In a Yellow Pages search for record stores with a good jazz selection, Dr. Rosen found The Record Cabinet at 4208 Rainbow Boulevard in Kansas City, KS, near the University of Kansas Medical Center. In the window, its bright gold and blue JAZZ neon sign caught his eye.
Inside, he met shop owner and jazz aficionado James DeRigne. With their mutual love of jazz, the two men quickly became friends. Frequent store visits helped Dr. Rosen expand his record collection and meet other jazz devotees. Before long, the friendly group began listening sessions, much like a book club, but for jazz lovers.
As DeRigne moved The Record Cabinet, first to 4301 W 51st Street in Roland Park, KS, and then to 4120 Rainbow Boulevard, and finally to his home, his jazz listening friends followed. When he finally closed his business, it was also time to part with its neon JAZZ window sign.
Unbeknownst to Dr. Rosen, his wife Rosanne conspired with DeRigne to purchase the sign secretly. For Hanukkah that year, she orchestrated a scavenger hunt which ultimately led Dr. Rosen to his unexpected gift—the JAZZ neon. Delighted and amazed by her thoughtful planning, he exclaimed “How did you pull this off?”
Curious about the sign’s origin, Dr. Rosen tried unsuccessfully to trace its history. DeRigne’s widow, Kamiko, also a member of their jazz community, did not know where James acquired the sign. Whether purchased or custom made, perhaps one of our LUMI friends can help us solve this mystery.
With our sincere thanks to the Rosens, LUMI is delighted to share this classic symbol of Kansas City’s enthusiastic and enduring jazz community.
