United Records

Last updated

United Records
United-Group-LOGO-WHITE-1-modified.png
Founded1951 (1951)
FounderLeonard Allen
Lew Simpkins
StatusActive
GenreVarious, with a focus on Pop and Rap
Country of originUnited States
Location Chicago
Official website https://unitedgroupmusic.com

United Records was an American record company and label founded in Chicago by Leonard Allen and Lew Simpkins in 1951. [1]

Contents

United issued records by such artists as Tab Smith, Jimmy Forrest, Gene Ammons, Memphis Slim, Roosevelt Sykes, the Four Blazes, the Moroccos, Robert Anderson, and the Staple Singers.

In May 1952, United was joined by a sister label, States. United released 116 singles in a series that ran from 101 to 217, skipping 135 and 200. The company also released 2 10-inch LPs, but never got into 12-inch LPs. Tab Smith was United's biggest contributor. He laid down 85 tracks, releasing 24 singles (a fifth of the company's entire output) and United's first LP.

After the company closed, Savoy bought the masters by Gene Ammons and the Staple Singers. The rest of United's output was eventually acquired by Bob Koester of Delmark Records, which has made most of it available through LP and CD reissues. [2]

When both sides were later pressed as a 7-inch single on United Records, United's Nashville-based distributor IRDA inadvertently placed "Sha-La-La" on the A-side of the record's promotional copies.

In 2021, United Music Group launched its commercial modelling division in Europe with a total of £38.5M transacted and clients such as Gymshark, Urban Outfitters, Sephora and L'Oréal. [3]

Releases

See also

Related Research Articles

Jerome Richardson was an American jazz musician and woodwind player. He is cited as playing one of the earliest jazz flute recordings with his work on the 1949 Quincy Jones arranged song "Kingfish".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memphis Slim</span> American blues pianist, singer, and composer

John Len Chatman, known professionally as Memphis Slim, was an American blues pianist, singer, and composer. He led a series of bands that, reflecting the popular appeal of jump blues, included saxophones, bass, drums, and piano. A song he first cut in 1947, "Every Day I Have the Blues", has become a blues standard, recorded by many other artists. He made over 500 recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">States Records</span>

States Record Company was a Chicago-based record label. A subsidiary of United Recording, it was in business from May 1952 to December 1957. States focused on rhythm and blues, jazz, and gospel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roosevelt Sykes</span> Musical artist

Roosevelt Sykes was an American blues musician, also known as "the Honeydripper".

Arkansas is a Southern state of the United States. Arkansas's musical heritage includes country music and various related styles like bluegrass and rockabilly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Wilson</span> American blues singer and harmonica player

Kim Wilson is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for the Fabulous Thunderbirds on two hit songs of the 1980s, "Tuff Enuff" and "Wrap It Up."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junior Parker</span> American blues singer (1932–1971)

Herman "Junior" Parker was an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best remembered for his voice which has been described as "honeyed" and "velvet-smooth". One music journalist noted, "For years, Junior Parker deserted down home harmonica blues for uptown blues-soul music". In 2001, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. Parker is also inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Liggins</span> American R&B musician (1916-1987)

Joseph Christopher Liggins, Jr. was an American R&B, jazz and blues pianist and vocalist who led Joe Liggins and his Honeydrippers in the 1940s and 1950s. His band appeared often on the Billboard magazine charts. The band's biggest hit was "The Honeydripper", released in 1945. Joe Liggins was the older brother of R&B performer Jimmy Liggins.

<i>Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings</i> 1955 studio album by Count Basie and Joe Williams

Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings is an album by pianist/bandleader Count Basie and vocalist Joe Williams recorded in 1955 and originally released on the Clef label.

Thomas A. Brown, known as Tommy Brown was an American R&B singer who achieved most of his success in the early 1950s, particularly on records with The Griffin Brothers. He also toured with his won group, Tommy B. and his Teardrops.

The first season of the Theme Time Radio Hour, hosted by Bob Dylan, ran from May 3, 2006, to April 18, 2007 on XM Satellite Radio for a total of 50 shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bross Townsend</span> American jazz musician

Bross Elvie Townsend Jr. was an American jazz and blues pianist.

The third season of the Theme Time Radio Hour premiered on Wednesday, October 8, 2008, the same week that saw the release of a new edition of the Bootleg Series, Tell Tale Signs. Somewhat eerily, given that it aired during the week of a worldwide financial crisis caused by the collapse of the credit markets, the first show's theme was "Money: Part 1".

Lawrence "Booker T." Laury was an American boogie-woogie, blues, gospel and jazz pianist and singer. Laury worked with Memphis Slim and Mose Vinson but did not record his debut album until he was in his late sixties. He appeared in two films; Great Balls of Fire!, the biopic about Jerry Lee Lewis' early career, and the documentary Deep Blues: A Musical Pilgrimage to the Crossroads, in which musicologist, writer and blues producer Robert Palmer, along with Dave Stewart from the band Eurythmics, interview and play with blues musicians from Memphis, Tennessee, and the North Hill Country of Mississippi.

<i>Dig Him!</i> 1961 studio album by Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons

Dig Him! is an album by saxophonists Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt recorded in 1961 and originally released on the Argo label in 1961. The album was rereleased as We'll Be Together Again on the Prestige label in 1968.

<i>Left Bank Encores</i> 2002 live album by Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons

Left Bank Encores is a live album by saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons recorded in Baltimore in 1973 and released on the Prestige label in 2002. The album was recorded at the same concert that produced God Bless Jug and Sonny.

<i>All Star Sessions</i> 1956 studio album by Gene Ammons

All Star Sessions is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded between 1950 and 1955 and released on the Prestige label.

<i>My Buddy: Sonny Stitt Plays for Gene Ammons</i> 1976 studio album by Sonny Stitt

My Buddy: Sonny Stitt Plays for Gene Ammons is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt featuring selections associated with his fellow musician Gene Ammons recorded in 1975 and released on the Muse label in 1976.

References

  1. Rye, Howard (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 3 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 812. ISBN   1-56159-284-6.
  2. "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 20, 1976 via Google Books.
  3. "L'Oréal, world leader in beauty : makeup, cosmetics, haircare, perfume". Loreal.com.
  4. Campbell, Robert L.; Armin Büttner, and Dan Kochakian (2020). "23. Grant (Mr. Blues) Jones and his Orchestra". Red Saunders Discography. Retrieved 10 December 2022.