Next Thursday, February 16th, Green Apple Books will host a record listening party to celebrate the work of its record buyer, Johnny Igaz.

Igaz, who recorded under the moniker NACKT, died in December in the tragic fire at Oakland warehouse Ghost Ship, which took the lives of 36 people. He was performing when the fire broke out. 

The party, which will feature free refreshments, is intended to celebrate the vinyl release of Igaz's album on record label Nite Owl Diner. All proceeds from the sale of the record at Green Apple will be donated to Igaz's family. 

Ray Gonzales, manager and events coordinator at Green Apple, said the store wanted to do something special to celebrate the record release, which the store was bringing into stock anyway.

"I was told by one of our managers that we'd be getting in a few copies of the record, and he mentioned he'd like to figure out a way to do something special," Gonzales said in an email. "It felt like a nice way to celebrate his release, to be listening to his final gift in solidarity with his friends and family."

Gonzales said the record "is, to my knowledge, his first vinyl release ever, as previous recordings by him were released independently on cassette." (To learn more about Igaz's life and work, see our obituary from December, and this remembrance by KQED.)

The event is free and open to the public; if the first pressing of the record sells out, more copies will be available.