Decca
Formed in 1934 as American subsidiary of British Decca with Jack
Kapp as President: bought from UK Decca in the mid-40s and later
taken over by MCA who dropped the Decca label for the MCA label
in the seventies. A&R in the 50s: Dave Kapp: Milt Gabler,
Jimmy Hilliard, Bob Thiele, Paul Cohen, Owen Bradley (Nashville)
Music Directors: Gordon Jenkins, Dick Jacobs.
Black pop: Mills Brothers, Ink Spots, Al Hibbler, Ella
Fitzgerald.
Rhythm and Blues: Louis Jordan till 1950, Buddy Johnson, Lionel
Hampton, Lucky Millinder.
Gospel: Marie Knight, Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Country and western; Red Foley, Ernest Tubbs, Webb Pierce, Kitty
Wells.
Rock and Roll: Billy Haley and His Comets.
Country Pop: Bobby Helms, Brenda Lee.
Subsidiaries:
CORAL: Formed 1949.
Pop: McGuirre Sisters, Teresa Brewer.
Rock and Roll: Buddy Holly.
BRUNSWICK. Revived 1957.
Rock and Roll: Crickets.
Rhythm and Blues: Jackie Wilson.
Mercury
Founded in 1946 in Chicago with Irving Green as President.
Absorbed Majestic Records in 1947. A&R Mitch Miller
1948-1950) Art Talmadge, Arnold Maxin, Bob Shad, Clyde Otis.
Pop: Georgia Gibbs, Ralph Materie, Xavier Guat, Patti Page, Rusty
Draper, Crew Cuts, Diamonds, Johnny Preston.
Rhythm and blues bands and combos: Buddy Johnson. Eddie Vinson,
Sil Austin.
Rhythm and blues ballad singers: Dinah Washington, Sara Vaughan,
Brook Benton.
Vocal Group: Platters.
Rock and Roll: Freddie Bell and the Bellboys, The Big Bopper.
Swamp Pop: Phil Phillips, Jivin' Gene.
Subsidiary
Smart. Formed in 1961.
Pop: Bruce Channel, Joe Barry.
RCA-Victor
The Victor Talking Machine Company was formed in October, 1901 by
Emile Berliner and Elridge Johnson, the inventors of mechanical
recording and reproducing machines. All six of the records
estimated to have sold a million records in the United States
prior to 1920 were issued on Victor, including two by Al Jolson
and one by Caruso. In 1929 Victor was taken over by the Radio
Corporation of America (RCA). A&R staff: Charlie Green, Manie
Sacks, Steve Sholes. Music Director: Hugo Wintethaler. Head of
Nashville Division: Chet Atkins.
Pop: Perry Como, Kay Starr, Lou Monte, Prez Prado, Harry
Belafonte, Eartha Kitt, Neil Sedaka.
Country: Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, Skeeter Davis, Don Gibson. Jim
Reeves.
Rock and Roll: Elvis Presley, Janis Martin.
Black Pop: Jesse Belvin, Sam Cooke, Isley Brothers.
Subsidiaries
Groove. Formed in 1953 under the supervision of Bob Rolontz.
Rhythm and Blues: Du-Droppers, Mickey and Sylvia, Piano Red.
X
Formed in 1953 renamed VIK in 1956.
Pop: Norman Petty Trio, Joe Valino.
Columbia.
Founded circa 1885. Musical Director and A&R chief during the
fifties: Mitch Miller.
Black ballad singer: Johnny Mathis.
Country and Western: Gene Autry, Marty Robbins.
Rock and Roll: Sid King, Ronnie Self.
Pop: Doris Day, Guy Mitchell. Frankie Laine, Johnnie Ray, Four
Lads, Rosemary Clooney, Jo Stafford.
Subsidiary labels
Epic
Black ballad singer: Roy Hamilton.
OKEH
Rhythm and Blues: Treniers,Chuck Willis, Larry Darnell, Paul
Gayton, Titus Turner, Annie Laurie, Chris Powell.
Rock and Roll singer: "Screamin'' Jay Hawkins.
Capitol
Founded by Glenn Miller, Buddy DeSylva and Johnny Mercer in Los
Angeles in 1942. Bought by E.M.I. 1956. Music Directors: Les
Baxter, Billy May, Nelson Riddle, A&R:Ken Nelson,Volye
Gilmore, Dave Cavanaugh, Dave Dexter Jr..
Black ballad singers: Nat "King" Cole, Julia Lee,
Nellie Lutcher.
Country and western: Hank Thompson, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ella
Mae Morse, Merrill Moore, Ferlin Husky.
Black vocal group: Five Keys.
Rock and Roll: Gene Vincent, Esquerita, Johnny Otis.
MGM
Formed in Hollywood in 1946 a division of the film company.
A&R: Arnold Maxin and Morty Craft: Nashville: Jim Vinneau
Music Director: Leroy Holmes.
Country and western: Hank Williams.
Black Pop: Billy Ecksine, Ivory Joe Hunter, Tommy Edwards.
Pop: Conway Twitty, Connie Francis.
Subsidiary
CUB
Black Pop: Impalas, Jimmy Jones.
ABC- Paramount:
Formed in Hollywood in 1955. President: Sam Clark. A&R Music
Directors: Don Costa, Sid Feller.
Pop: Paul Anka.
Black Pop: Lloyd Price.
Rock and Roll: Danny and the Juniors.
Subsidiary
APT
Vocal group: Elegants.