From the earliest days of Syrian immigration, music, either by itself or as an accompaniment to singing, dancing, or poetry recital, was heard at baptisms, weddings, and the frequent evening parties. Later, music began to be approached more professionally: musicians performed on stage, men and women produced recordings of Arabic music, students attended music classes with one of the Syrian "professors," and men started music labels and music stores in which to sell their recordings. Alexander Maloof was a composer, teacher, and record producer, and Abraham Macksoud owned a music store, first at 80 Greenwich and then at 90 Washington Street, where he sold phonographs and records.