“Hutch” Carlock Passes

Elbert Hutchinson Carlock, known throughout the Nashville music community as “Hutch” Carlock, died Tuesday, April 20, at age 86.

In 1953, Carlock founded Music City Record Distributors, Inc., one of the largest wholesalers of records, tapes, CDs and DVDs in the United States. The company also operated the Cat’s Records retail chain for many years. Last fall, most of the Cat’s stores were closed, although one remains in South Carolina, and there are still stores with that name operating on Gallatin Road in Madison and on Lebanon Pike in Hermitage.

Music City Record Distributors grew from Carlock’s initial $500 investment to become a business whose annual dollar volume was said to be in excess of $24.5 million. The firm, located on Lincoln Street in Nashville, employs approximately 45 workers. It is currently operated by Hutch’s son, Bruce Carlock.

Hutch Carlock was a founder of the Country Music Association as well as a charter CMA board member.
In addition to son Bruce, he is survived by son Hayes Carlock and daughters Karen and Jeana Carlock, all of Nashville.
Visitation will be Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from noon to 1 p.m. at Spring Hill Funeral Home, 5110 Gallatin Road. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. on Friday with burial to follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Carlock’s favorite charities — Alive Hospice, the Arthritis Foundation, the American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts of America or the Mouth & Foot Painting Artists Association.