M A R S

The Musician's Planet

It stood for "Music And Recording Superstore."

This was a store chain with locations across the southeastern U. S. A.
There were two near me, and I used them extensively to equip my groups
LONELY HEARTS
ELMWOOD COURT
EDDIE AND THE CRONTABS
and numerous school ensembles.

The merchandise included a wide selection of guitars, keyboards, and drums.
There was a separate room filled with international percussion instruments, e.g.
GUIRO
AFOXE
CONGA
CLAVES
CABASA
BONGOS
DJEMBE
BODHRAN
MARACAS
TIMBALES
VIBRASLAP
BAMBOULA
BOUGARABOU
and   much   more!
There was also a separate room filled with deejay and lighting equipment.
Plus everything one would typically need in terms of live sound and recording.

They had huge stores to hold their huge inventories, and low prices!
My guess is that's what put them out of business . . .

~ FURTHER READING & VIEWING ~

Here's Madhu from Chennai, India with the curator visiting MARS.
(That's not the only reason he came to the States.)