OBITUARY: Harry L. DeMille

Harry DeMille, co-owner and co-founder of Wax N Facts in Little 5 Points, died April 20, 2025, after a long battle with cancer. He was 74.

The "Facts" half of Wax N Facts (Danny Beard being the "Wax" half of the venerable used record and book store), DeMille and Beard can be credited with revitalizing the then-decaying neighborhood (along with Sevananda and Charis Books) when they first opened the store nearly fifty years ago.

An affable man who always maintained a smile or a grin, DeMille was the quiet partner, one might say, who stayed the course of the store while Beard started DB Recs. Certainly, DeMille was the antithesis of the curmudgeonly, used record store owner that has become the stereotype; his kindness and benevolence exceeded only by his knowledge of music and literature.

From the family’s posted obituary:

“DeMille was in born in Atlanta, GA, on February 13, 1951, to Janet Smith DeMille and Harry Ware DeMille III, both native Atlantans. He was the first of four siblings.

“He attended Druid Hills High School in Decatur. He played the clarinet in the school’s marching band and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout as a member of Decatur’s Troop 175. After graduating high school in 1969, DeMille studied English literature and French at Georgia State University. He greatly admired the French language and its literature, an interest he maintained throughout his life.

“After running an independent custodial service, Harry decided to try his hand at a business enterprise based on his love of music and wide-ranging knowledge of a variety of musical forms and artists. He and a partner cobbled together their resources and on June 6, 1976, they launched Wax ’n’ Facts, a store dedicated to new and used records and books.”

DeMille is survived by his wife of 45 years, Alice Kelly, with whom “he had a partner in life — the sweet comfort of companionship — that makes the ordinary magic and the extraordinary possible.

“In addition to Alice, Harry is survived by his siblings, Carol Bridges and David DeMille of Decatur and Donald DeMille ofPine Lake, GA; nephew Dale Bridgesof Canton, GA; as well as a treasure trove of in-laws, nieces, and nephews inArkansas and Alabama who all loved him dearly.

“In lieu of flowers, donations can be madeto Druid Hills High School, 1798 Haygood Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30207, attn: Bookkeeper/Arts and Music Program; or to your favorite charity.”

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, May 31, from 2 to 5:00 PM for family and friends at the First Existential Congregation of Atlanta, 470 Candler Park Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30307.

Harry DeMille will be greatly missed.

When DeMille’s death was announced on social media, there was an outpouring of emotion not only from friends, but musicians, past and present record store employees from across the state, and customers whose lives were touched, and musical tastes shaped, by Demille. Below is a small percentage of the comments and posts.

Coleman Smith: Sorry to hear this. Wax and Facts has been there for 50 years, a mainstay. Harry was always kind.

Martin Kearns: One of the sweetest people I’ve known.

Marvin Jackson: Such a kind soul and a joy to be around.

Melissa A. Holbrooks: What a Great Guy!

Carla Worley: He was a super nice guy.

Mark Wilson Cline: What a wonderful human.

Bill Sheffield: Peace.

Amy Linton: I’m sorry to hear …I loved that place and I got a lot of good music recommendations from him. RIP to a beloved friend to many.

Michael Moran: I spent so many hours as a teen, and young adult digging through records in that store. He was a great guy!

Rex Patton: He was a good man.

Christine Allen-Bentley: Such a cool place!

Jonny Hibbert: He was always patient, and ever subtly amused with me. Didn't we love Harry.

Sam Humenik: I liked Harry. He'll be missed for sure.

John Speaks: One of the best

Debra Hiers: Sad to hear.

Margie Thorpe: R.I.P. Harry and my deepest condolences to all that knew him. Thanks to Danny and Harry for changing the history of Atlanta with their path.

Clare Butler: Condolences to his family and all who knew him.

James Kelly: One of the primary reasons I moved to Atlanta in 1983 was because I loved Wax ’N' Facts so much. Harry DeMille and Danny Beard were two of the first people I met, and I knew I had to be part of that scene. Harry never wavered in his welcoming personality, and I will cherish my friendship with him over all these years. Sending condolences to Alice DeKelly , Danny and Sean Lee Bourne , all of the former and current employees of Wax & Facts that benefited from the time they spent with Harry, and to all his customers and friends, there are so many of us. My heart hurts today.

Rick Glover: Very much missed, some great conversations.

Jinny Hawkins: Always enjoyed seeing him and chatting about music.

Matt Arnett: What a terrible loss.

Judy Kuniansky: Thank you for making all of us welcome and for your patience. Condolences to everyone who treasured his friendship.

Tom Tortoreo: I have a lot of respect for Harry. I lived directly behind Wax N Fact’s and got to know Harry interesting man, no bullshit.

Neill Bogan: I just recently found out he was sick. Really sorry to learn he’s passed on … I’m deeply proud that after years of not seeing me, Harry continued to just say, “Oh, hi Bogan” when I walked in the store — and that on my last visit I got a sit down with him up in the cubby. I’ll treasure that.

Kodac Harrison: He will be missed. RIP.

Jerry Fields: You expressed the wonderful qualities that he had and I appreciate it.

Gina Webb: What a loss to the music community.

Susan Archie: This hurts, and I didn’t even “know” the man … What a place they made.

Doug DeLoach: Great human.

Jon Byrd: Oh, no... such a fine human. Heartbreaking. Love to all my W'n'F family.

Martha Kennedy: Little 5 won’t be the same without him.

Patti Champion-Garner: This is such sad news to me . Harry was my buddy in my youth . Wax N Facts was one of my daily stops for information and fun. Long live vinyl and Harry who brought it to me .

Max Ker-Seymer: Awful news. Harry was so knowledgable of obscure music. A lovely guy…!

Stewart Brown: Harry was one of the bright spots in Little 5 Points, for many years. I moved there, on Elizabeth Street, when Wax-N-Fax opened, and stayed friends with them for all the years that followed. When cds became the rage, I took all my vinyl records down and sold them to Harry…easily, a small fortune in rare records.

It has been a sweet thing to look forward to visits there, and seeing his face, first thing, when I open the door, standing there, at the cash register….

Marty Feldman: Don’t go there much anymore but there was a time when Wax’n’ Facts was an integral part of my life.

Maureen McLaughlin: Harry was a sweetheart.

Jack Redus: Harry was one of the good ones.

James Mastro: A great shop and a great guy!

Jason Gorbett: That shop is my spiritual home. Saved my soul. Gave me hope.

Flora Catherine Beadles: Aww Harry RIP! You will be missed and thank you for the incredible gift of wax n facts. From the age of 15 on, it was my favorite record store.

Charles Nelson: A sad day for many of us who called Harry a friend and a customer.

Gena Grant: I met Harry at The Twelfth Gate. He was there a great deal, always friendly, and with a smile.

Grant Henry: Damn.

Dana Downs: Awww.

Nick Concorde: Long before I moved to Atlanta, I would make the three-hour drive from Augusta twice a month to shop at Wax ’n' Facts for import records to play on my radio show on WYMX; records that no stores in Augusta carried. I also began exploring and falling in love with ATL, which led to my decision to move here. Harry was a key factor in this. After ringing up my record purchases, he would warmly answer questions about the city, about things going on, and most importantly, off the top of his head he could provide incredibly detailed driving directions on how to get from Wax N Facts to various clubs, concert venues, and repertory cinemas around the city. He even included traffic advice. I tell ya, this was long before Google and Waze, and those services had nuthin’ on Harry!

Martin Atkins: Xxxxxx.

Kay Floyd Citron: Sad news to hear. But glad he was kept comfortable with hospice. Condolences to family and friends.

Faylynn Owen: A lovely man.

Mark Bromberg: Oh, damn. A real ATL rock ’n' roll hero.

Kerri Carlson: All our memories, all our blessings. so much love to Alice

Ansel Sigmar: Harry was a beautiful guy. Sorry to hear this.

Glenn Phillips: I had the good fortune to meet Harry back in the days when he'd come hear the Hampton Grease Band. He became friends with us, and he always had a way of lifting up the mood whenever he walked in the room. In the best way possible, he was unforgettable.

Tom Tillotson: I’m proud to say I was a happy customer for a long long time. He was always super super nice to me even when I was 18 years old 19 years old selling Grateful Dead stickers to them so they could sell them to the hippies and little five points. My sincere condolences

Farrell Roberts: Very sorry to hear that Harry has passed. Such a truly good guy!

Mark Talbott: Had a funny conversation with him once about The Rolling Stones. He informed me I knew nothing about rock ’n’ roll. This was as I was purchasing 23 albums by Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Link Wray and Johnny Cash. No rock ’n’ roll there.

Judy Black: He will truly be missed.

Michael Lachowski: Thank you.

Allen Law: I memba I bought my first misfits lp from him in 1987! RiP

DocPaula Lark: A good friend and person who will be missed. R.I.P. Harry. Condolences to his family and all who knew him.

Patrick Edmondson: Always loved talking to Harry even when he was being gruff. RIP.

Bill Worden: Over the years I had many great conversations with him enjoying a beer at the Yacht Club. Great guy … great store. —CL—