Cactus Music: Houston’s Home for Vinyl and Community

Nia Delmast
Jun 25
4 min read

Interview takes place on May 6, 2025 at Cactus Music in Houston, TX

Cactus Music blends right into the landscape of Montrose, among the vintage shops, plant stores, and coffee spots that give the neighborhood its distinct charm. Inside, there are rows upon rows of vinyl, quirky retail items, and cardboard cutouts of artists. If you’ve ever felt too mainstream or not cool enough to belong in a record store, the cardboard cutout of Taylor Swift would immediately put you at ease. Across the room is the stage where Cactus hosts live music performances. It is to envision how intimate a performance would be with the artist just a few feet away and the crowd close enough to feel a part of the performance rather than just a witness to it.

Cactus Music is more than a store, it’s a living archive, cultural space, and community hub that's helped shape Houston’s sound for decades.

Origins and Evolution

Cactus’s story began in 1946, when country music pioneer Pappy Daily opened Daily’s Record Ranch. The store became known for its on-air performances and artist appearances that helped launch the careers of legends like Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb. In 1975, Pappy’s sons Bud and Don opened the first Cactus Records and Tapes in an old grocery store. By the 1990s, Cactus had become a music and movie rental destination, adapting to every wave of change in the industry.

In 2006, long-time employee Quinn Bishop revived the brand with the help of new local partners—including Saint Arnold Brewery and New West Records. The modern Cactus Music continues to thrive just blocks from the original location, honoring its roots while looking ahead.

Inside Cactus Music with Quinn Bishop

In my conversation with general manager Quinn Bishop, he traced the store’s legacy back to its earliest days. “They’d come to the store, perform, sign records, and the whole thing would be simulcast on the radio to promote their show that night,” he said of artists on the Louisiana Hayride tour during the Record Ranch era. “That early energy of blending live performance with community—that’s still what we’re about.

”Today’s Cactus opened in 1975, and though it moved locations in 2006, it has remained a cornerstone of Houston’s music culture. “They were already customers,” Bishop said of the new ownership group. “They understood what Cactus meant and just wanted to see it continue.”

While the city boasts many great record stores, Bishop believes what sets Cactus apart is its legacy and its role as a community meeting place. “We’ve been a place where people congregate to talk about music for 50 years,” he said. “You can walk in and see a local band member, a Live Nation talent buyer, a journalist, and someone discovering vinyl for the first time—all in the same room.”

Cactus’s resilience was tested during COVID-19. “You couldn’t get records, and you couldn’t open the store—it was a lot,” he recalled. Still, their customers showed up. “People were calling, asking what they could buy. We sold a mountain of t-shirts. They kept us going.

”The pandemic also inspired lasting changes. Shortened hours improved work-life balance for staff. And in-store events—long a Cactus staple—remain a key part of their culture. “You can discover your new favorite artist here, just a few feet away from the stage, sipping a beer from Saint Arnold,” Bishop said.

”As for what lies ahead? “We’re always making little changes—like buying 3,000 salsa records and needing to make space for a salsa section,” he said. “But it’s our people—our staff and our customers—that keep the flame alive.”

Cactus as Community

Record stores can often feel like exclusive clubs for the musical elite, but Cactus Music invites everyone in. From Bishop’s approachable presence to the store’s welcoming layout, everything about it says, “come as you are.” As Bishop put it, Houston—and by extension, Cactus—isn’t just one thing: “It’s everything all at once.”

Cactus Music is bringing in a community that spans genres, generations, and all walks of life. It is the club where you are cordially invited to discover something new and embrace your guilty pleasures in an intimate space, over a Saint Arnold's brew.

Celebrating 50 Years of Cactus Music

This year marked Cactus Music’s 50th anniversary, and the store celebrated in a way that honored its legacy while exciting a new generation of fans. The crown jewel of the celebration was an in-store performance by the Alternative Indie band Khruangbin. “It was pandemonium in the best way,” Bishop said, smiling as he recalled the day. The event had been a long time coming—originally planned as a surprise New Year’s Eve pop-up in 2021, but postponed due to COVID-19. When Khruangbin finally hit the stage in April 2025, it felt like the culmination of years of resilience and love from the community.

“We kind of broke the internet for Houston that day,” Bishop laughed. The event served as a reminder that while the store’s format may change with time, its spirit remains the same: a place where music is felt, not just heard.

Charting the Next Chapter

Over the past 50 years, Cactus Music has continually adapted and evolved—from the erosion of traditional industry structures to the rise of streaming and the challenges of a global pandemic—and yet it still stands.

The store’s ability to pivot has been key to its longevity. Whether adjusting hours for staff wellbeing or navigating supply chain issues and tariffs, Cactus remains nimble. “Record stores are just a game of adjustments,” Bishop said. “It’s always shifting.”

Looking forward, Bishop is optimistic. “We’re still the place where music lovers of all stripes congregate,” he says. “And I truly feel that the resurgence of vinyl is building a long-term customer base that will sustain stores like ours for decades to come.”