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King Records (United States)

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King Records
File:Kingrecordslogo.png
Parent companyGusto Records
Founded1943
FounderSyd Nathan
Distributor(s)Gusto Records
GenreCountry
R&B
Bluegrass
Old-time
Country of originUS
Official websitewww.KingRecords.com

King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.

At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a King."[1] One of the label's most important hits was "I'm Using My Bible for a Road Map" by Reno and Smiley. Very important recordings in this field were done by The Delmore Brothers and Wayne Raney featuring their close harmony vocals, harmonica, electric guitar and string band playing. The Delmores also did their country boogie material on this label which was a precursor to rockabilly. Likewise, singer-pianist Moon Mullican recorded a country boogie style that was a precursor to piano-based rock 'n' roll. Major country hits on the label included "I'll Sail My Ship Alone", "Blues Stay Away from Me", "Chew Tobacco Rag", "Eight More Miles to Louisville", "Sweeter Than the Flowers" and "Cherokee Boogie".

The company also had a "Race Records" (African American) label, Queen Records (which was melded into the King label within a year or two) and most notably (starting in 1950) Federal Records which launched the singing career of James Brown. In the 1950s, this side of the business outpaced the hillbilly recordings. King Records was highly successful after the hiring of Ralph Bass and recorded R&B artists like Joe Tex,[2] Valerie Carr, Roy Brown, Jack Dupree, Otis Williams & the Charms, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, Ivory Joe Hunter and Johnny "Guitar" Watson. They also had a long legal battle with James Brown, after he repeatedly violated his King contract.[3] King also bought out several other record labels, including De Luxe Records (in 1952), and Bethlehem Records.

One of the most successful features of the label was its encouragement of the mixing of the country and R&B sides of the label. Many of the label's country singers such as Moon Mullican, Delmore Brothers, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Zeb Turner covered many of the label's R&B songs such as "Grandpa stole my baby", "Rocket to the moon", "Bloodshot eyes", and "I got loaded". Also, some of the R&B artists also provided pure country songs such as Bubber Johnson's "Keep a light in the window for me", which was recorded by Johnson and made famous by Moon Mullican. Likewise, R&B artists covered bluesy country artists' songs such as Wynonie Harris's covers of "Triflin' woman blues" and "Bloodshot eyes".

When Nathan died in 1968, King Records was acquired by Hal Neely's Starday Records and relaunched as 'Starday and King Records'. The legendary songwriting duo Leiber & Stoller bought the label in 1970, but sold it soon afterwards to Lin Broadcasting which in turn sold it to Tennessee Recording & Publishing, owned by Freddy Bienstock, Hal Neely, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller; who sold it in 1974 to Gusto Records. In 1971, James Brown's recording contract and back catalogue were sold to Polydor Records.[4] Since 2001, Collectables Records has been remastering and reissuing the King Records catalogue. King Records is now only used as a record label under the parent company, Gusto Records.

King Records logo from 78rpm record sleeve

King Records artists

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Labels associated with King Records

See also

References

  1. ^ King Records
  2. ^ See Joe Tex discography; King was a major singles release label for Tex during the early part of his career.
  3. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "James Brown Biography". Retrieved 2006-11-22.
  4. ^ Edwards, David (1998-01-10). "The King/Federal/DeLuxe Story". Retrieved 2008-10-06. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Brown's Ferry Four were Merle Travis, Grandpa Jones and the two Delmore Brothers. Eder, Bruce. "Brown's Ferry Four - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-12-28. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ The Sheppard Brothers were Merle Travis and Grandpa Jones.
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