King Records Pt 2

02/23/21 • 39 min

As the '40s fade into the '50s, Syd establishes a toe-hold, then a foot-hold in the R & B market while maintaining King's presence in the Country market. Hear Earl Bostic, Tiny Bradshaw, Lonnie Johnson, Moon Mullican, Hawkshaw Hawkins, the York Brothers, Billy Ward and more on part two of our eight part series on King Records, Ohio's own great eclectic record label.

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King Records Pt. 1

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We begin our 8 part series on Ohio's great, eclectic record label King Records, started and owned by the wonderfully colorful and irascible Syd Nathan. We begin with Syd's journey into the record business and King's early years recording country singers like Grandpa Jones, the Delmore Brothers, and Merle Travis. We'll get to his entry into the "race" or R&B field with recordings by Bull Moose Jackson and Wynonnie Harris. There's plenty more to come in future shows including Freddie King, the Stanley Bros. and James Brown (whew, now THAT'S eclectic!) so stick with us.

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King Records Pt. 3

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The Blues on King. King wasn't a hard-core blues label the way Chess was, but blues was a significant part of its catalog. Hear John Lee Hooker, Smokey Smothers, Tiny Topsy, Cleanhead Vinson, Johnny Guitar Watson, and of course, the voice of Syd Nathan himself explaining just how things are and are going to be! Coming up next: Part 3, King Bluegrass.

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