Following a serious accident, Christopher Todd Penn, a DJ and co-founder of music store Good Records, passed away on April 23; he was 54. Penn fell while at work and sustained serious damage, causing paralysis from the neck down.
His wife Jenn shared the news of his death, stating that "his injuries were just too great for his ravaged body to continue."
"These are the hardest words I have ever had to write, to witness and process. My kids have lost heir father, I lost my partner of 21. years, his brother has lost hishero, many have lost a dear friend, and Dallas has lost a treasure," she said.
The accident occurred on March 17 when Penn was taking down advertising decals on the front window of Good Records, when the decal unexpectedly gave way and he fell backwards landing directly on his back. His friend and Good Records co-owner Tim DeLaughter described the fall as "catastrophic," stating that "his spinal cord was bruised and paralysis was immediate from the neck down."
Penn remained in the hospital until he died.
No visitors were allowed but a GoFundMe raised more than $200,000 for Chris' wife Jennifer, and their three sons Oliver, Archie, and Grover.
Penn grew up in San Antonio and graduated from Texas A&M in 1993, then moved to Dallas to work with Tripping Daisy, running their merchandise table. He spent his life in the music industry in many capacities including performing as a DJ, producing shows, running a music label, and co-founding Good Records, with DeLaughter and DeLaughter's wife Julie Doyle in 2000.
Chris Penn, left, with Alice Cooper, whose reunion he helped instigate.Courtesy photo
The store, as well as Penn himself, earned great affection from the local music community by hosting frequent in-store events, including performances, signings, listening parties for new records, and meet-and-greets with a broad spectrum of national touring acts: from Tommy Tutone to Jason Boland to the famous reunion of Alice Cooper — a reunion that had stuck to this day: In July, the legendary rock band is releasing a new album called The Revenge of Alice Cooper, featuring all the original members.
In her post, Jenn hinted that a memorial concert was in the works.
"Early on in his recovery, we would stay up late into the night brainstorming bands we could ask to play his benefit concert," she said. "I remember saying to him, 'think pie in the sky, nobody is too big.' When he said Willie Nelson, I thought, 'well maybe not THAT big.' For a time, this gave his mind something to focus on and look forward to. That concert will happen and he will be there with us. Stay tuned as we iron out all the details.
She called Chris "an incredible force of nature and his heart always seemed to have room for more connection ... more love ... more friendships. That is who Chris was. That will be his legacy for our kids."
