About the foundation
Our Story
The nonprofit arm of World Famous V.I.P. Records, carrying more than five decades of Long Beach music history forward for the next generation.
Who we are
A family legacy with a community mission
The VIP Family Foundation, Inc. is committed to promoting positive transformation and creating opportunities for success in music, arts and media.
Our focus is offering education, training and mentorship to young people in underserved communities, while honoring the cultural legacy of World Famous V.I.P. Records. We also serve as the custodian of the historic V.I.P. Records sign, an iconic symbol of West Coast music for more than 55 years.
Led by the Anderson family, the foundation turns the spirit that made V.I.P. a safe creative home for generations of artists into programs, events and a permanent cultural destination for Long Beach.
What drives us
Mission, vision & values
Mission
Open doors for young artists
Empower youth through music education and provide opportunities for artistic expression, especially for young people in underserved communities.
Vision
A home for music history
A world-class V.I.P. Records Music Museum and Media Arts Center in Long Beach, where music history lives on and new voices rise.
Values
Inclusive. Creative. Rooted.
Inclusivity, mentorship and creativity, with deep respect for the artists, producers and community leaders who came before us.
The V.I.P. legacy
Where West Coast hip-hop found its voice
Cletus Anderson opened the first V.I.P. Records in South Central Los Angeles in 1967. In 1978 the Long Beach store opened at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, and under Kelvin Anderson Sr. it became World Famous V.I.P. Records.
More than a record store, V.I.P. was a safe place for young people to create. In a studio at the back of the shop, a young trio called 213 (Snoop Dogg, Warren G and Nate Dogg) recorded their first demo. Snoop later filmed his debut video for “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” on the store’s roof, putting the V.I.P. sign in front of the world.
Today V.I.P. Records remains a destination for music lovers who travel to Long Beach just to see it, and the foundation exists to make sure that legacy keeps lifting up the next generation.
Milestones
More than five decades of music and community
1967
Cletus Anderson opens the first V.I.P. Records in South Central Los Angeles.
1978
The Long Beach store opens and becomes Kelvin Anderson Sr.’s World Famous V.I.P.
213
Snoop Dogg, Warren G and Nate Dogg record their first demo in the V.I.P. studio.
2017
Long Beach City Council votes unanimously to make the V.I.P. sign a historic landmark.
Today
The family launches the V.I.P. Records Music Museum & Media Arts Center campaign.
A Long Beach landmark
The historic V.I.P. Records sign
With its whistling figure and “World Famous” record, the V.I.P. sign is one of the most recognizable symbols of West Coast hip-hop. In December 2017 the Long Beach City Council voted unanimously to designate it a historic landmark.
As the sign’s custodian, the foundation is dedicated to honoring and commemorating the remarkable musical contributions of this family-owned brand and its community service. Support the “Where’s the Whistler” campaign and help give this landmark the home it deserves.
Community partners
A strong support system makes things happen
Just as we provide a solid support system for our young artists, our community does the same for us. We are proud to partner with these organizations.
Join the movement
Help write the next chapter
Whether you give, volunteer, mentor or partner with us, you help keep the V.I.P. legacy alive for the next generation of artists.