I worked at the store fulltime in 1977. I got fired twice. Glad to see that Jeff was finally able to build his electric Sarod.

@Linxyorca

Ай бұрын

why did you get fired 😭😭

@maxurban9284

Ай бұрын

@@Linxyorca I got fired because the owner's wife, Janet, disliked me. the second time i got fired ended my career at the Music Inn. It was a fun place to work while it lasted.

@JustFiddler

Ай бұрын

​@@maxurban9284why janet disliked you?

@maxurban9284

Ай бұрын

@@JustFiddler The Music Inn used to sell tickets to the Schaffer Music Festival. One time Blondie tickets went on sale and the line went around the block because an enormous amount of people showed up. Janet accused me of taking bribes from people on the line to let them cut ahead to the front. I have no idea why she thought this about me. Jerry and Janet were pretty eccentric. At one point after I no longer worked there Jerry put up a chain and charged people 50 cents admission to go into the store. If you bought something you would get the admission money back.

"you don't need Zen, you are already" that's the most gangster compliment ever

Jeff's story reads like Forrest Gump but with a hippie sitar player. It's beautiful! 😂

@livy1962

2 ай бұрын

My thoughts exactly.

@daleskidmore1685

Ай бұрын

And mine, ha, ha.

@bldallas

Ай бұрын

My first thought, too. Crazy, cool stuff.

@nobuzzlitebeer7258

Ай бұрын

Was going to comment the same thing.

@bigsykedaddy999

Ай бұрын

I came to the comments looking for this comment and was pleased to see it was the first one lol 👍

Hello everyone this was such a memorable vlog for my husband and I to watch. I love my family and to see my Uncle Jeff on youtube is great. Thank you for all your comments.

He’s an example of going where the flow of life takes you. People kind of look down on others who don’t go to college, get married, have kids, buy a home, save for retirement, blah blah blah…. And to be honest, society would crumble if everyone lived this way, but there are some of us who gain experience in one area for a while and then move on to another. I’m getting ready really soon to begin my next chapter of life. Many won’t understand, but I can’t wait to see where this takes me. Be well and live life!!

@lucybarney1

2 ай бұрын

I do hope your next move is a happy one,,,at 63 I’ve learnt that life seems to nudge you in directions at times, that on reflection you realise was for the better

@kellygrant3074

Ай бұрын

@csharp57 Would seem this gentleman did all of those things. In moderation? No one can own a shop in NY without a business acumen. Such a cool story, I could listen to this guy stretch the truth all day.

@multishit6664

Ай бұрын

being an evil pos helps

@clementineforever

Ай бұрын

❤ Yes 😅 Life sure is an adventure- It seems the whole world is shifting , A new Chapter is definitely opening ❤

@SaturnaliaJones

Ай бұрын

My next chapter is beginning as well. This video and your comment are most synchronistic. May we live it even half as gracefully as this gentleman. ❤

Jeff repaired an old oud for me about twenty years ago, He was one of the only people on the planet who could've save this special instrument and I still appreciate him and his work till today.

@goodun2974

Ай бұрын

I wonder if David Lindley ever visited this store. I bet he would have loved it! Oud, Bouzouki, probably a few Saz, banjos and fiddles....any Wessenborn lap steels?

I feel like I just lived 5 lifetimes through his story and now I'm exhausted. Kudos to Jeff for living life to it's fullest.

Great story. There must be 100,000 people that have a story about crossing paths with Ali. He was always out and about in different communities. He loved stopping and talking to people. He was such a great man. A friend of mine was still in HS in the early 60s and he was out and about in Manhattan near the garden one day and he saw 2 big black men coming out of a restaurant and he immediately recognized that it was the champ. Ali was crossing the street walking toward my friend and he said, "Ali you are the greatest." Ali smiled at him and said, "No son, I'm not the greatest this man is." My friend was so transfixed on Ali he was oblivious to the other man. He looked over to the other big man and recognized him instantly. It was Malcolm X.

remember being so in awe of this man and his store when i was a teenager! happy its still there, really a time machine to a totally different era of the neighborhood long before it was filled with vapid yuppies who seem totally clueless to the beautiful and rich history of the neighborhood they gentrified. thank you for doing this piece!

@VictorRochaGaming

2 ай бұрын

Where in the Village is the store?

@truckerkevthepaidtourist

2 ай бұрын

​@@VictorRochaGaming169 West 4th Street Music Inn Instruments Very important you include the extra n

@bigtoelittlefinger6133

Ай бұрын

Wowzurs man

@bigtoelittlefinger6133

Ай бұрын

❤

@bigtoelittlefinger6133

Ай бұрын

Much love fae bonnie Scotland buy the way am 47 tomorrow woohii

Jeff is a legend. He was my first sitar teacher and has been a good friend over decades. He taught me so much about music, and inspired me to dedicate myself to the sitar. He's always got a great story to tell, and remains one of the most influential figures in my life. G-d bless him.

@neelmurgai8732

Ай бұрын

I remember Jeff telling me about you when I had some lessons with him. Amazing stories

@user-vj4qe1el3w

Ай бұрын

Right on with the G-d !

right on, Brother: MUSIC + HUMAN CONNECTIONS + CREATIVITY = ADVENTURE = DESTINY. Live long and prosper!

My two teenage sons and I stopped in because in years ago when we were window shopping, oblivious to the history of the store. My son struck up a conversation w Jeff about the drums in the basement. We spent hours checking out different world drums, hanging out. He made an impact on our lives because of his kindness and patience. This is exactly what makes NYC and the village incredible. Thanks for putting this out there it - we also spent hours talking to the owner of Kaufmans army surplus - the owner there is another incredible person w world knowledge and class. FYI

This man's life story is incredible. He should write a book about it so it can be made into a movie or something. We could all learn so much from him.

@Rockjesu

Ай бұрын

Or Just read the fuckin book dude

Follow your Muse, wherever it may lead. Very inspirational.

I'd like to say what a special old dude you are - I'm a musician and have worked in a couple of stores. One thing you never forget is the smell when you first walk in - same as the smell when you open a case. It's a beautiful thing. Thankyou.

@goodun2974

Ай бұрын

Gotta love the smell of old wood! As a now-retired electronics tech, I've worked on a lot of old tube guitar amps, and you just gotta love that smell that comes out when they get warmed up!

Who knew owning a sitar could get you in the room with so many legends 😅 mine just gives me blisters.

In 1978 my friend Frank said he'd see an ad in the Village in a store on a corner which I think was a Stationary store maybe of a Les Paul Guitar for sale. I had been saving up little by little for a long time a week maybe later we got on the Subway in Queens to the Village to where he had seen the ad. When we got there the ad was no longer up. So we asked the person working there about it and she suggested we go down the street that there was a guitar music store. So deflated I walked down and saw this Music Inn looked just like this back then. No Les Pauls but up there was an old Les Paul Junior. My friends Frank being one of them talked about how fantastic Leslie West was with his Les Paul Junior. So we asked to see it and Frank is whaling away on it making faces like Jimi Hendrix & Little Richard Whoooo that kind of thing and a guy walks by mocking him but Frank is a fantastic guitar player. And I asked Frank how is it..I don't think I ever played it and he said " best guitar Ive ever played" I was like Ill take it. The owner was very kind with me as I didn't have enough money for it. Id brought $255 exactly for that Les Paul and this was $450. But the guy running the place which may be this man was very kind and I begged him man..and he gave it to me for $320 and my Univox Les Paul (a good one) I gave him all I had and was left only with the Subway fares for us to get back home. I soon went back with the Univox and rest of the money and I got it. That's really the most precious thing I have, if I had to select only one. That one is special when I play it I am better than what I am and I used that guitar to death. At first it wouldn't tune as someone had put a Tune o magic bridge on it in the wrong spot. Which led me to Pasqual at Alex's Music Guitar Repair who looked at it and the moment he saw it he said..it won't tune because the bridge is 1/4" out of place. Just looking at it. He was some guy I tell you he was at the Gretsch Factory when it was in New York putting the necks on the bodies for Fred Gretsch. That guy was wonderful taking care of us all our lives. Last time he repaired one of my guitars he was I think 95 years of age in 2016 and still good in Alex's Repair. Wonderfull guys Pasqual Alex & Carlo Greco and this guy at the Music Inn who was soft hearted enough to let me have this guitar. God Bless em all.

@alrivers8458

Ай бұрын

Thanks So Much for sharing such lovely moments and memories

@luke-xz1gb

Ай бұрын

loved reading this!!! i have a luthier/repairman who im lucky enough to call a good friend that is the exact same. just one look "its got x y z no wonder it isnt working properly"

I pray that store stays there forever. What a historical gem!

This is the best video I have seen in a long time. What a wonderful life.

What am I watching here? Omg, I can’t even believe the life he’s had. I’m in tears!

I stumbled on this store while wandering around in the village. There are instruments all over except for where you're walking. I talked to Jeff and he did some repairs on a guitar of mine. He sold a steel guitar headache I owned, thanks Jeff! I really enjoyed this video and am pleased to see Jeff alive and kicking and the store pretty much as I recall it twenty years ago. The Music Inn is a very rare and special place. Wishing you all the best now and in the future.

I bought a Donso n'Goni from Jeff about 20 years ago, play it every day and think of him from time to time. A very interesting man and a treasure of a store. Much more life for you my friend.

I stumbled into Jeff's shop as I was wondering around the Village one day. Not something you forget! But I never knew about all that stuff with George Harrison, Muhammad Ali, the Black Panthers, Chuck Berry, Sly Stone (+ family) or Ellsworth Kelly. And all so casual? There is blessed and then there is blessed. Jeff is blessed! And so am I to have met him that one time.

I remember stopping in here in the late '70's! WOW! What a life lived!!

I used to take tabla lessons around 1981 with a teacher named Vassant Rai who had a studio a few blocks away. I'd stop into this store all the time. Jeff always seemed grumpy to me. I'm glad he has a happy side.

@jensenlewis631

Ай бұрын

Do you know if anyone took over Vasant Rai's school after his passing?

@peternyc

Ай бұрын

@@jensenlewis631 I don't think so. His studio closed after his passing? Did you know him? He was such a kind person. Those days of gentle people seem to forever gone.

@jensenlewis631

Ай бұрын

@@peternyc Hi No my friend and teacher Steven James learned from him and he would always talk about Vasant Rai, and gave me a few tapes of him, I put him right up there with Ali Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar.

@peternyc

Ай бұрын

@@jensenlewis631 Wow, so cool. He was like an angel. So kind and generous. I was and still am heavily into the Mahavishnu Orchestra, especially the second formation with Narada Michael Walden on drums. Vassant said he tried to get John McLaughlin and Michael Walden to collaborate with him, but it didn't work out. Does your friend Steven still play? If he does and he's on KZread, can you send me a link? Nice talking to you! Keep up the good spirit!

Makes me realize we EACH have a story (& this man does TERRIFIC job of telling his own!!) Thanks for presenting!

Wandered into the store in the early 90's during a visit to N.Y.. Amazed and happy to see it still exists. What a fascinating, delightful, and colorful character the owner is, had no idea. Really touched by the video, thanks.

It's so wonderful to hear a story of someone who always bounced and never burst, and now seems to be just floating. This was extremely important to me and I have so much gratitude for him, this shop, the comments below, and the awesomeness of others.

@human__lives

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories!

Dude was always in the right spot and the right time. Totally blessed!! I enjoyed this video so much

@human__lives

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!! Don’t forget to subscribe to Human Lives channel to see more videos!

@paulgentile1024

2 ай бұрын

" hey hippie, get your ass over here hippie"😂

@boscodooley8561

Ай бұрын

I know right.. It almost sounds like horse shit. Right...

Had the opportunity to sit in front of the Music Inn and play guitar with Jeff. It was beautiful and a morning to remember always.

Amazing life story Intwined in modern and American culture, art, music and politics! We need to keep the culture and enjoyment of instruments in new generations, it’s become less over time. And keep the joy of going into the local music store.

The Muhammad Ali story brought tears to my eyes. He was a truly Great Man.

I remeber visiting Jeff in his place some years ago. Entering his shop was like stepping into another dimension! Jeff was very kind and gentle, he tell us his story and then led us to the basement, where he let me try an electric sitar prototype. What a magic morning it was! Some year later, in the middle of lockdown, to see the "Music Inn" used like location for the "Mrs Maisel" it was a mind-blowing experience, a sort of imaginary window that keep us jumping to NYC again. Great Jeff! Greetings from Italy, we love you!

Jeff it's great to see you again, it brings back memories of that flute you sold me a while back.

I stumbled into that store 20 years ago and talked with Jeff. We only talked about lap steel guitars and Hawaiian guitar music. I wish I had known he had all of these stories too. What a great dude, an American original.

@goodun2974

Ай бұрын

I wonder if David Lindley ever visited this store; he would have loved it! I remember an old Rolling Stone article that began "David Lindley has found the Oud of his dreams in a New York music store", and went on to a discussion about "Jumbush" (Chumbus): " 'You play the Jumbush?' said the owner incredulously". I wonder if Jeff had any Weissenborn lap steels when you were there.....

@goodun2974

Ай бұрын

PS, it looked like Jeff was restringing a Mohan Vina at one point in the video.

What a truly fascinating man and life. Asked to be in a rock band ( who were they I wonder ) in San Francisco after being assistant to Ellsworth Kelly in New York, having random encounters with George Harrison, Muhammad Ali and Chuck Berry, playing with Bobby Darin etc,etc. Then working part time in this music store till he inherits it and still runs it. His mother and father sounded fascinating as well. Loved this.

Way f'n cool! I am in my 7th decade of my life and seeing Jeff gives me hope for my aging.

WOW!!! Thats a lot of living.

That store is a treasure trove and the owner is the real treasure, he is a gem of a human being. Just hope he will find a young person suitable for taking over the shop one day, like he did deservedly with the original owner 😊

Wow…talk about an ode to serendipity. Here’s the story behind the storied Music Inn, the Greenwich Village odds and ends music store that’s been around for as long as I can remember. I spent an hour or so there 5-6 years ago with a young musician friend to show him around. This is a delightful short doc that has some surprises. Human Lives did a great job of presenting Jeff's life and work. Superb!!

@human__lives

Ай бұрын

Thank you for your kind words! Don’t forget to subscribe for other interesting stories!

From what you described in your early life and the people you met sounds like you were destined to be famous. It's amazing you past it up and went a different way . Beautiful story. Many blessings!

What an uplifting human story. Love it. World needs more

@human__lives

Ай бұрын

I’m glad you enjoyed it! Don’t forget to subscribe for more interesting stories!

Greatest music store on earth !!!

Tells his 4 hour life story in 20 minutes and I'm exhausted. Sounds like one delusion after another . . except it ain't. Master class on Living a Life. You're famous in my book, Hippie Jeff 💖

I've bought and traded there...what a charmed life you have had; thanks for your kindness, sir

Thank you Jeff you are great and wonderful person God bless you 🙏 ❤

Truly an amazing story

Life well lived 🫶🏼

I first met Jeff while Hitchhiking as a young man, he is perhaps one of America's greatest treasures right up there next to Rock & Roll and Amy Joy's Doughnut's. My Grandparents were from '' The Old Country ''and spoke Yiddish. I drove my Grandmother every Saturday down to the Jewish Community Center to visit with her friends. Most of them had tattoo's on their left arms from the Nazi Camps. They were all small smiling people all bent over with age and hung all over with many beautiful wrinkles. We shared stories ...

I have been to this store a few times and I love it there. Its an amazing place where you can just hang out and play music.

What a wonderful movie about a beautiful person.

Thank you for this, I visited the store in 2013. Amazing vibe and stuff 👍

A man that follows his own compass

If forest gump ran a music store….

The video is only 19 minutes because he got bored of it and decided to go do something else. 😆

Jeff's story is very much like Forrest Gump in the way things just fall into place for him by happenstance. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Fantastic story of a fantastic life. I lived in Manhattan for 20 years, and made my living mostly playing music, so I imagine that I must have dropped by your shop. I hope you're feeling well, as I know what it's like getting on in years and dealing with health issues. All the best to you Jeff, I hope you have another 20 years at least running your historic music store!

Hello JEFF - I have been in your store and it was wonderful - -I remember the sitars in the windows as well as inside your store - - a wonderland of instruments -crammed tight - no place to really walk around - but all in all a great experience - Joe Nania - Harlem New York -

«You don’t need zen, you already!» killed me haha. What a fantastic life this guy has lead.

One of my first stops when I first moved to NYC back in the day. Lovely piece of nostalgia 🎸😎

I dropped by the store a few years ago and chatted with him. I did not know his history until watching this video. IT IS COMPLETELY CRAZY THAT HE WAS ALMOST ABORTED!!! His store is unique and there are only a few others like it in the U.S.

There are times in life when a story or a person personifies free spirit and adventure. I think his life should be a movie and I hope that store continues to exist. Part of HIStory! Jeffrey Slatnick There are many like him, which we need.

This is what I love about the USA...❤

@danny834

Ай бұрын

yeah but this all happened in the 70s and 60s and maybe 80s

What an interesting story. What a legend.

This definitely made my day watching this yogi named Jeff who is from another world, Love from India!

I used to go in there quite a bit. It was an interesting place to go whenever I was in the village. I used to do an acoustic unplugged set of classic rock songs right down the block from there. That was a great time.

Dude has led a charmed life! What a long, strange trip he's been on!

thanks for your story and you

I wished I knew of this store when I visited NY. Would of loved just to sit in the store with Jeff... What a great story!

What a treasure of a great guy in a store full of treasures.

Somebody needs to turn this mans incredible life into a film...amazing story ❤

Fascinating story and a wonderful life you have had. Loved every minute of it thank you for sharing.

@human__lives

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Don’t forget to subscribe for more interesting stories!

This man lived 3 lives!

Seems like yesterday running down 4th st to play basketball w Jeff. He was pretty good and liked to throw elbows. 😊

@johnsilva9139

6 сағат бұрын

Probably learned to throw elbows in Newark in his high school days.

I remember Jeff. I bought so many great things there and had some nice conversations with him after awhile. Last time I was there he was sick upstairs and some young relative there hanging with his friends and keeping the doors open . There weren’t many if any instruments. Nobody knew anything. It was a sad moment.

I regularly sleep for 36 hours straight and once watched a youtube video about this super interesting guy who owns a music shop in NY

@tonyp.bahama9368

Ай бұрын

Sounds like heaven

This story made my whole day, and it's only 7:07 A.M. Thanks!

Here’s a man who really knew how to live. I would love to meet him one day.

Haha....due to one hell of a cold winter, I stumbled onto this store and met the man! I looked up at the ceiling where dozens of exotic. lutes and far eastern instruments were hung! What a trip of a store! A landmark no doubt!

Quite an interesting life!

What a story love to meet this man

Old hippies never die, they just fade away.

He is blessed with an amazing history!

wow! this man is a legend!...his story just like novel..

Fascinating life

I met Jeff during my years living in the village by Washington Square. Kind and mellow man. Visit the store to buy strings for my sitar and chat about music and his cool collection of world instruments. Glad to see he is still around. Thanks for the nice video, brought back memories of me jamming with other musicians at Washington Square often....just 1 block away from my apartment. Great music all around: the Blue Note, Smalls, the 55 dive, Poison Rouge, Birdland in midtown, Village Vanguard on Bleecker St. I do miss NY !

What a terrific memory of this jewish hippie artist Jeffrey Slatnick! It's incredible how precise and fluid are his stories: Ali, Guthrie, Berry, her mother in the Yiddish teather, Harrison, Frisco's Haight & Ashbury, the 10 plagues in Ancient Egypt, peace... My best wishes from México❤

Wow, sometimes the KZread algorithms bring you a gem of story! This is a gem!!

@human__lives

Ай бұрын

Thank you! Don’t forget to subscribe for more videos!

Jefe is a legend. Shout out to the ol man. One love

I must visit this place!! It doesn’t get anymore genuine then that

I saw Ali in Chicago driving his convertible Rolls Royce. He was an instantaneous crowd magnet and he enjoyed every single second of it. Bigger than life man.

1.70 Absolutely perfect 👌

I've bought so many cool instruments here. Great quality

Good Lord. I had to pause after 3:54 min. to take it all in. What a life.

Most people would have wrote a book about one of these major life experiences, this man experienced so much it would be a series ! Lol awesome to watch such an amazing life

Andrè 3000 def. scooped up some sitars. Everything in Jeff's life made me smile.

This blew my mind, his luck is up there with forest Gump! such an amazing man!

WOW! what a life!!!

There is a special symbiotic relationship every musician has with their luthier - you rely on each other for your livelihoods and Jeff of the Music Inn has been far more than even that for me. His story is in the video, and our story is below. After getting stuck in the NYC subway turnstile with my upright bass, not being able to go forward or backwards, I thought, that's it - there has to be another way. Not a week more went by before I found myself at The Music Inn, where, looming amongst the balalaikas, ouds, and baglamas, was an ancient mariachi bass, and, inspired by its beauty and tone, I began saving my precious gig money to buy it, thinking I could save myself a lot of hassle if that's all I had to carry. I came back with the money, and it was sold, but he ordered another, and a month later, I got a call from Jeff that I could pick up my very first guitarron. It was a store, a repair shop, and a place to hear great stories. Every rock band on tour since the sixties had made the pilgrimage and had their horizons expanded by the sheer volume of instruments from around the world crammed into this tiny place you had to pay a dollar to enter (refundable from a PURCHASE). In addition to the guitarron (which Jeff had a bright idea to install a ramped fingerboard on to ease the action, allowing me to play the crazy gypsyklezmertango music of my first successful band) I came to him with my fretless bass VI for him to install a sitar bridge on it, and it has appeared on some of my most cherished recordings. There were so many stories of last minute repair (one where he stayed in the shop after hours so I could grab a bass the next morning before starting a seven week tour) When I left the states, the only instruments I brought with me were that Guitarron and Sitarbass, inspired in part by his stories of travel. Serendipity has guided my hand ever since, and I will be eternally grateful to Jeff, for his wisdom, inspiration, talent, and for having the sense to know that hiring me to work there would have been the worst mistake of my life (I'd still be there now, and have no adventures at all, if he had). Thanks Jeff. You deserve an Oscar, and a Grammy.

Simple people often times have the most interesting stories 😀